By ISU Sports Information
CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Illinois State head volleyball coach Melissa Myers will be inducted into the California University of Pennsylvania’s 22nd Athletic Hall of Fame Class on Saturday at the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame dinner, in the Performance Center of the Natali Student Center on the university’s main campus.
Myers is one of seven former student-athletes and coaches receiving the honor.
Myers, who will enter her 10th season at the helm of the Illinois State volleyball program in 2017, served as head coach of Cal U’s women’s volleyball team from 2002-07. Myers compiled an overall record of 161-49 and led the Vulcans to five NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, three regional finals, two PSAC championships and the 2007 NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship in her six seasons at Cal U.
“These are moments in our career that allow us to reflect and remember all of those who helped contribute to the success we had as a program,” Myers said. “I couldn’t be more grateful to Dr. Tom Pucci and Dr. Karen Hjerpe for providing me the first opportunity to be a head coach. Their support was instrumental. And the student-athletes I had the privilege of working with were the core to any success we had as a program.”
Myers led Cal U to three-straight 30-plus-win seasons, from 2005-07, including a 35-4 overall record and perfect 16-0 mark in PSAC play, in 2007. The season was highlighted by a 33-match winning streak and three players from the team earned All-America status. Myers was twice named the PSAC Coach of the Year and Atlantic Region Coach of the Year during her tenure at Cal U.
The hall of fame induction will be the second for Myers. She was previously recognized by her alma mater with induction into the Juniata College Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. A standout member of Juniata’s volleyball and track and field teams, Myers is the only two-sport All-American in school history.
As head coach of the Illinois State volleyball team, Myers has posted an overall record of 168-116. In her tenure at Illinois State, she has coached 20 All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, seven American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) all-region picks, three MVC Liberos of the Year, two MVC Newcomers of the Year, an MVC Setter of the Year and an MVC Player of the Year.
Her most successful season came in 2014, when the Redbirds went 27-6, including a perfect 18-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play during a school-record 23-match winning streak. Illinois State captured MVC regular-season and tournament titles in 2014 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Myers was named both the MVC and AVCA North Region coach of the year following the season.
