MAY 13, 2002
Volleyball Squad Announces Signing of Melanie Jones
The Bulldog volleyball team's 2002 recruiting class continues to grow. Head coach Qi Wang has announced the signing of another player for the upcoming season, bringing the total number of newcomers in the latest recruiting class to nine.
Melanie Jones (Independence, Mo./Fort Osage), a 5-11 outside hitter, has signed a national letter-of-intent to join the Truman State University volleyball team in 2002.
Jones won eight varsity letters during her high school career, including four in volleyball. She was an all-conference and all-district selection in volleyball as a senior and earned honorable mention all-league accolades in basketball. In track & field, she was a second-team all-district performer in the shot put.
As a senior, Jones pounded out 351 kills to go with 240 digs, 31 service aces and 44 blocks. She was named first-team all-area by the Independence Examiner as she helped her team to the championship match of the district tournament. Jones also received recognition as one of the Kansas City Star's Scholar Athletes for 2002.
Jones, who played on the same club team as Truman signees Tiffany Graham (Holden, Mo.) and Jennifer Hunter (Pleasant Hill, Mo.), is the sixth member of the 2002 recruiting class from the Kansas City area.
The Bulldogs are expected to return three starters from the 2001 team that finished with a 37-2 record after claiming championships in the South Central Region and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Conference and regional coach of the year Qi Wang guided the 'Dogs to a perfect 16-0 ledger in MIAA action, as the team advanced to its first ever NCAA Division II Elite Eight and finished with a No. 3 national ranking.
2002 Bulldog Volleyball Recruiting Class
Jordanne Foster
6-1, Middle Hitter
Rolla, Mo. (Rolla HS)
Tiffany Graham
6-0, Middle Hitter
Holden, Mo. (Holden HS)
Jennifer Hunter
6-0, Middle/Outside Hitter
Pleasant Hill, Mo. (Pleasant Hill HS)
Melanie Jones
5-11, Outside Hitter
Independence, Mo. (Fort Osage HS)
Jenna Kearns
5-11, Middle/Outside Hitter
Bloomington, Ill. (Bloomington HS)
Amy Kreimer
6-0, Right-Side/Middle Hitter
Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs HS)
Megan Remley
6-1, Middle/Outside Hitter
Kearney, Mo. (Kearney HS)
Lauren Scannell
5-9, Outside Hitter/Libero
Swansea, Ill. (Athoff HS)
Micaela Walter
6-0, Middle Hitter
Topeka, Kan. (Shawnee Heights HS)