"This was a very difficult decision for me... especially when it came time to make phone calls to my girls on the team," said Lingerfelt.
Coach Lingerfelt served Montreat not only as a caring and dedicated coach, but as a star athlete as well. She was a four-time All-Conference infielder and helped lead the Lady Cavaliers to a two-year dominance of the AAC and NAIA Region XII culminating with a 36-9 record in 2001, a team that was ranked as high as 22nd in the nation. Montreat made back-to-back appearances in the NAIA National Tournament under Lingerfelt's leadership. A two-sport star, she is also the ninth all-time leading scorer in Lady Cav basketball history with 1019 points.
"Unfortunately, we are saying good-bye to a friend. Crystal has served Montreat both as a student-athlete and as a coach and we will miss her greatly. However, I am excited about the new opportunity that she has. She feels like God is moving her in a different direction and I look forward to seeing His plans for her unfold," said Montreat's athletic director Jonathan Bennett.