Frederick native Judith Whims-McGraw assumed the reigns of the Hood College volleyball team in 2003 and has seen the team improve under her direction in each season. For the 2007 season she looks to do the same leading the Blazers into their inaugural season in the Capital Athletic Conference.

Last season she led her team to a third place finish in the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference regular season standings. As the No. 3-seed in the conference tournament at Gambill Gymnasium, Hood's postseason was punctuated by a dramatic five-set upset over the two-time defending champion College of Notre Dame (Md.) Gators in the semifinals. Hood lost in the championship match to top-seed Mary Baldwin College.

The success of team led to the recognition of six all-AWCC selections -- the most of any of the league teams. Lindsey Nagy was named to the all-conference first team, while Starr McDavid, Ashley Bryan, Jamie Bussey, Hilary Cook and Caroline Woodhams all received honorable mentions.

In prior seasons, Whims led the Blazers to two third-place showings in 2004 and 2005, and a fourth-place finish in the AWCC in 2003. From 2003 until 2005, Whims-McGraw's squads gradually improved against AWCC opponents. The team went 7-5 in 2003, 8-4 record in 2004 and 9-3 in 2005. In 2005 her peers rewarded her success with the AWCC Coach of the Year award.

Whims-McGraw's accomplishments during her playing career run deep, and she has carried that over into the coaching realm. She served as the head volleyball coach at Middletown (Md.) High School in 2000 and from 1999-2001, she coached in the Frederick Area Volleyball Organization. She is also a volunteer with the Frederick County High School Volleyball Summer League and is a member of two professional organizations, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the National Association of Sports and Physical Education.

In 2002 at Shepherd, Whims served as the team captain and earned second-team All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors. She was also named to the WVIAC All-Tournament Team and earned WVIAC Player of the Week for the third week of September. She was an honorable mention All-WVIAC selection in 2001.

Prior to Shepherd, Whims-McGraw captained the volleyball squad at Frederick Community College in 1996 and 1997. She also played basketball under legendary coach Jack Mehl and helped lead FCC to the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament in 1997.

Whims is a 1996 graduate of Governor Thomas Johnson (Md.) High School. She served as team captain in 1994 and 1995 and led the Patriots to the state championship match in 1995. She married Mickey McGraw in March of 2006. The two welcomed a daughter, Jade, into the family in August 2006.

Glen Whims, a Frederick native, returns for his second season on the Blazer coaching staff. He spent 10 years coaching youth football, basketball and soccer. Whims has worked with the City of Frederick and Western Frederick Athletic Association. He is married to Tina Whims and is the father of Coach McGraw, as well as Dorian and Jasmine Whims.

Cindy Niver enters her fifth season as an assistant coach, with the Hood College volleyball program. Niver has assisted Whims since her start as head coach for the Blazers.

Niver was a four-year starter for Waynesburg College as a middle and right side hitter. She was voted honorable mention All-Presidents' Athletic Conference as a freshman and a junior and was named to the PAC Athletic Honor Roll as a senior. She also served as a team captain her final two seasons.

Niver, who earned her bachelor's degree in advertising from Waynesburg in 2001, is an IT specialist with the Social Security Administration in Baltimore. She is also a volunteer emergency medical technician at her local fire department. Niver and her husband, Jason, live in Eldersburg, Md., with their two cats.