Volleyball To Host Alumni Challenge On Friday

Kansas City, Mo. -- The UMKC volleyball team will make its first public appearance of the 2008 season on Friday night, at it hosts the Alumni Challenge beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Swinney Recreation Center. A team of former Kangaroo volleyball student-athletes will return to campus to face off with the 2008 version of the Kangaroos.

In the match, UMKC will welcome back three former student-athletes that garnered all-conference honors during their time in Blue and Gold. Lindsey Hood (Zerr) (2000-03) and Vanessa Portela (2002-05) were all first team all-Mid-Con selections in 2003 and 2005, respectively. Angie Salmon (Jeffries) (1996-99), meanwhile, was a second team all-Mid-Con selection and an all-tournament team honoree in 1999.

Kristy Waltemeyer (2002-05), who has the second most career assists in school history with 4,528, will return to guide the Alumni offense, while 2006 graduate Angela Melka will be one of the team's outside hitters. Melka finished her career as just the second Kangaroo to have more than 1,000 career digs and 1,000 career kills. Recent alums Kim Freeman (2002-06), Kylee Stephenson (2004-07), Lauren Starks (2004-07), Jenni Glenn (Watts) (2001-04) and Hillary Zobeck (2004-05) will also participate in the event.

The 2008 Kangaroos will feature some of the old and some of the new. The team welcomes eight newcomers to the roster this season to go along with several key returnees including Mandy Tipton, Jamie Hagerman and Kelly Gettinger. Tipton enters the season ranked fourth on the career digs chart with 1,096. She needs just 144 digs to break Melka's school record of 1,239.

Hagerman, meanwhile, is the top returning offensive threat for the Kangaroos after posting 277 kills and 96 blocks in her first season in Kansas City. The Iowa State transfer had 10 or more kills in 13 matches, which led to her being named the team's Offensive Player of the Year. Gettinger also returns for UMKC after tallying a team-best seven double-doubles during her sophomore campaign, where she had 254 kills and 339 digs.

Among the newcomers, freshman Erin Wellwood is pushing for the starting nod at the setter position after having a stellar high school career at Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha, Neb. Wellwood finished her career by earning second team all-state honors, after finishing with 2,309 assists. Fellow freshmen Christiana McQuin, Kate Humphreys, Brittany Fossier, meanwhile, will all be key players at the net for the team.

Following the conclusion of the match, there will be an alumni reception at Californos restaurant in Westport. Call Kim Singer at 816-830-1860 to R.S.V.P. or for more information.