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)