The following is a spotlight on Arden Tierney, University of Richmond's 2023 nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. The Atlantic 10 institutions nominated a total of 17 outstanding student-athletes for the award (READ MORE). The A-10 will spotlight each of the institutional nominees.

Arden Tierney Profile

Arden Tierney ended her collegiate lacrosse career as the Atlantic 10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year, an All-Conference First Team selection, an All-Championship Team selection, All-American honors and by leading the Spiders to an A-10 title and an NCAA Tournament berth (where UR earned its first-ever postseason win). The three-year team captain, she began as an A-10 All-Rookie selection, marking the first of three straight award-winning years.

Tierney led the A-10 in several statistical categories, ranked second in the country in draw controls (8.0) and. assists (2.0) per game and she set single season and career draw control records at UR. The stats and accolades continue into her academic pursuits, as she graduated Summa cum Laude in 2023, was a three-time member of the Atlantic 10 women's lacrosse All-Academic Team. She was the Robins School of Business Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Most Outstanding Marketing student. She was the Lyon Scholarship recipient in 2023, granted by the UR marketing department.

Tierney served as President of the Richmond Chapter of Morgan's Message and also was a program Ambassador. A Student-Athlete Adviosry Committee (SAAC) mental health liaison and student-athlete peer mentor, she was nominated for the Spider Champion Leaders Program and the Spider Rising Leaders Program. She was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma business society.

Q & A

What would you consider the top moment of your college career?

Running to celebrate with my teammates after winning the 2023 Atlantic 10 Championship!

What was your favorite class/professor and why?

Any class with professor Bill Bergman was always my favorite. The meaningful connections he makes with his students and eagerness to set us up for success post-grad makes him stand out as a professor, mentor, and friend.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

Go to Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert in Europe in Summer 2024, run the NYC Marathon, see the Northern lights

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am proud to have helped lead our team to make history throughout the 2023 season; beating ranked opponents, winning A10s, and going onto NCAAs made this one of Richmond’s most successful seasons yet. I am proud knowing that our senior class laid a foundation for generations of Richmond players to come.

Who or What has been your biggest inspiration or motivation?

My parents are my biggest motivators in my life. They have made countless sacrifices to provide me with opportunities to play the sport I love, and have spent countless hours being my biggest fan. Everyday I play I am grateful for what they have done for me and strive to make them proud.

What are three words your teammates would use to describe you and why?

I think my teammates would describe me as hardworking, approachable, and competitive. I think these words would fit me because I always try to put extra work both on the field and in the classroom and I strive to a person that my teammates always know they could come to.

What is something you learned during the unique COVID year?

I learned that everything happens for a reason. Although COVID was a difficult time to be a student-athlete, some of my strongest friendships were born out of this period of time and I was given opportunities, such as an extra year of eligibility, that I would not otherwise have been given.