Kelli Stewart joins Bearkat volleyball
7/22/2009 10:45:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Kelli Stewart, a 6-1outside hitter from Magnolia High School, will play volleyball for Sam Houston State University after transferring this summer from TCU.
Stewart was an Texas Class 4A All-State selection in 2008, leading the greater Houston area in kills with more than 600 during her senior season. She was named Montgomery County Volleyball “Player of the Year” and first team All-Houston after guiding Magnolia to the 2008 Texas Class 4A state tournament.
A three-time All-District honoree and four time Academic All-District award winner, she was selected to the 2007 United States Volleyball Association development national team and played for the South in the Texas High School Coaches Association all-star game in July 2009.
Stewart, a December 2008 high school graduate, attended TCU during the 2009 spring semester, playing on the Horned Frog varsity volleyball squad during the spring.
Her brothers, Chris Stewart and Randy Stewart both play for the Bearkat football team. Chris is a senior defensive tackle and Randy is a junior safety. Her father Randy played football as well for Sam Houston and her mother Ann ran track for the Bearkats.
Kelli Stewart is one of six freshmen who will join the Bearkat volleyball squad this year. Other newcomers include outside hitters Camille Alfaro and Kaylee Hawkins, middle blocker Becky Swann, setter Michelle Miller and defensive specialist Jamie Haas.
The Bearkats' 2009 volleyball recruiting class has been ranked among the top 90 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com. The web site annually ranks the top recruiting classes for NCAA Division I volleyball. The Bearkats were listed as an honorable mention selection (65th-90th).
“We're excited to have our program receive national recognition and we're looking forward to start getting ready for the 2009 season when the players report in August,” SHSU head coach Brenda Gray said. “Adding Kelli Stewart to a quality recruiting class such as this is a really big plus for the program.”
