Krivak, a first-team All-Ohio Division III selection this year, averaged 22.2 points per game and established a Columbia High School career scoring record of 1,619 points.
"In addition to being a very good basketball player, Jamie is an outstanding athlete and will add considerable athleticism to our team," Allen said. "She is a good ball-handler and a solid shooter and could challenge for a starting spot. She certainly will help shore up our depth in the backcourt."
The Division III Player of the Year in the Northeast Lakes District as a senior and in Lorain County for three consecutive years, Krivak helped Columbia High School compile a 76-16 record during her four-year varsity career. She also lettered in volleyball and softball and anticipates an elementary education major at The University of Akron.
Krivak becomes the second student-athlete signed by Allen, who accepted the head coaching position on April 19. Amanda Croston, a 6-1 guard-forward from Lorain Catholic High School, was the first player inked by the former head coach at the College of Wooster.
Eller, who was a unanimous first-team Mid-American Conference choice last fall as a sophomore forward, arrived in Bradenton earlier this week and will depart June 30.
"This is a tremendous honor for Allen," stated Zip head coach Ken Lolla, "and a feather in our cap here at The University of Akron."
Eller led the Zips in scoring in '96 with eight goals and five assists (21 points). He led Mentor High School to the 1994 OHSAA state championship and has played with the club team "Internationals" in his home area.
Cynthia Sperry served as an assistant coach under Allen at Wooster last season and brings eight years of coaching experience to the Zips. A 1985 graduate of Ashland University, Sperry served as the assistant women's basketball and head track coach at Urbana University from 1986-92 before moving on to Hiram College, where she was the assistant women's basketball and head soccer coach from 1992-94. "Cindy's energy level is way beyond imagination," said Allen. "Add that to a tremendous work ethic and knowledge and it's easy to see why Cindy is loved and admired by her athletes."
Coming to the Zips from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron is Nancy Beatty. Beatty has served as head girls basketball coach at St. V-St. M since the fall of 1991, compiling a 111-33 record in those six seasons to go along with the 1995 State Championship. Since 1994, she has also served as Athletic Director for the high school, and served as head volleyball coach from 1991-95. "Nancy adds a great deal of experience and knowledge to an already solid staff," said Allen. "Nancy is well-known throughout the Akron community as an accomplished high school coach, and is an excellent motivator." Beatty joins the staff as restricted earnings coach.
Allen, formerly the head women's basketball coach at College of Wooster, was appointed as UA head coach on April 19, 1997.
The Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, Howell was the unanimous selection for Female Athlete of the Year. A leader at the plate and on the mound for the Zips in 1997, she led the league with a .442 batting average (15th in the nation) and 42 RBI. Her 17 doubles equalled the school record and ranked second in the MAC. As the ace of the Akron pitching staff, the right hander had a record of 15-8, including a no-hitter thrown against Penn State on April 23, and a 1.64 ERA. "Shelby got hot at the beginning of the season and stayed hot throughout," said head coach Deanna Parks. "She was a huge contributor to othe team's success, and was a major part of our run production. The whole team knew that if Shelby came up to bat, she would come through for us." The Zips finished the season with an overall record of 29-22 (19-12 MAC) and made their second consecutive appearance in the MAC post-season tournament.
For Petrucci, this is the second consecutive year he has been named Male Athlete of the Year at The University of Akron. The Zips' right fielder led the squad in nearly every offensive category again in 1997, including batting average (.420), hits (79) and home runs (10). He also led the team and the MAC in RBI with 65. For his efforts, he was named first-team All-MAC and first-team All-Mideast Region. It is the second year in a row that Petrucci has been named to the number one All-MAC team. Called "the best player in the Mid-American Conference over the last two years," by Zip diamond boss Dave Fross, Petrucci set UA season records this year with 24 doubles, 36 extra-base hits and a .729 slugging percentage. He posted new UA career standards in total bases (410), extra-base hits (97), runs batted in (171) and doubles (61). He also compiled the second-best career batting average in UA history (.377). The Zips completed the 1997 campaign with an overall record of 31-23 (14-17 MAC).
Nominations and voting for the Athlete of the Year awards are done by coaches and administrators of The University of Akron department of athletics.