April 14, 1997
Women's Volleyball Signs Christi Kelsey
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue volleyball coach Joey Vrazel has announced the signing of a fifth student-athlete to a National Letter-of-Intent to attend Purdue in the fall of 1997.
She is Christi Kelsey, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter from Eaton, Ind. (Delta H.S.), and she joins Yolanda Cumbess (Houston, Texas, Jesse H. Jones H.S.); Katie Gibbons (Naperville, Ill., Waubonsie Valley H.S.); Sarah Wengler (Pacific, Mo., Pacific H.S.); and Jennie Williams (Marysville, Mich., Marysville H.S.), who signed with the Boilermakers in February.
"I am excited about signing Christi for a number of reasons," Vrazel said. "First, she has the ability to help us in a number of areas. We initially recruited her as a backrow player, and we're also going to train her as a rightside hitter and a setter. She has outstanding ball control. Christi is a very stable player, she's the glue of her club team. She is very intense, and her knowledge of the game is a good as I've ever seen for a young player."
Kelsey earned all-state and academic all-state honors and played in the North-South All-Star Game as a senior. She was a three-time all-conference and all-county selection and led her team in digs during her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. Kelsey is her class valedictorian (the ninth to play volleyball at Purdue) and a member of the National Honor Society. She was a member of the 1994 USVBA 16-and-under national championship Munciana club team. Kelsey plans on majoring in business and aspires to be a lawyer.
The Boilermakers return nine letterwinners for the 1997 season, which opens Aug. 29-30 at the Florida State Tournament with Boston College and Mississippi State.
1997 Purdue Volleyball Recruits Name Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School) Yolanda Cumbess MB 5-11 Houston, Texas (Jesse H. Jones) Katie Gibbons OH 6-0 Naperville, Ill. (Waubonsie Valley) Christi Kelsey OH 5-8 Eaton, Ind. (Delta) Sarah Wengler MB 6-4 Pacific, Mo. (Pacific) Jennie Williams MB/OH 6-0 Marysville, Mich. (Marysville)
