Trailblazer middle blocker Jamie Russell signs with Stephens College

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore middle blocker Jamie Russell (East St. Louis, Ill.) signed her letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. Tuesday afternoon.

"I chose Stephens College because they have a great volleyball program and compete against some very competitive teams," Russell said.

Russell helped guide the Trailblazer volleyball team to a record of 37-15 over the past two seasons, while averaging 7.5 kills, 2.7 blocks and 2.5 digs per match at Vincennes, including leading the Trailblazers in points and kills her freshman season with 259.5 points and 226 kills.

Russell was also part of the first VU Region 24 Volleyball Championship team at the NJCAA Division I level this past season, the first Region title in the last 15 years for Vincennes.

"Being a part of last year's Region Championship team means a lot to me," Russell added. "It showed all the hard work and sacrifices my teammates and I had to go through to be able to make it that far and win."

Russell said one of the things she will miss the most about her time at Vincennes University is her teammates and the bond they have on and off the court.

Russell also said her biggest take away from these past two seasons at Vincennes is, "that nothing comes easy and to not take these two years for granted because they go by very fast."

Russell will be joining a NAIA Stephens College squad under newly hired Head Coach Mikayla Ell, who was brought on in February to guide a Stars program that finished 12-14 last season, with a 4-5 record in the American Midwest Conference (AMC).

"I am extremely excited to have Jamie Russell joining us in the fall," Stephens Head Volleyball Coach Mikayla Ell said. "She brings a lot of quality experience to the team and is going to make a big impact at the net. We are looking forward to welcoming her to the Stephens family."

"Jamie is a very versatile player," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "Her first year here she played more as an outside and she led the team in attack attempts. She actually has more experience in the past as a middle and we always knew that if we needed someone to put in the middle she could do that. Jamie was also able to play some back row and serve for us in the fall, something she did not do at all her first year. Really in every category of her game she's improved upon and become more consistent during her time here."

"The one thing that I would say about Jamie is that she is very active," Sien added. "She's really one of the more active middles I've ever had. One thing you are always going to get from Jamie is consistency. Her mindset is going to be the same day-in and day-out and as a coach you like that because you know what you are going to get."

"Jamie also has a really good work ethic, which sets a great example for any of the younger players on our team," Sien said. "She's not going to be the most vocal of leaders but she is very vocal as a player and everybody can learn from that. She's always calling for the ball and calling for sets, so our setters know that she's available to hit. We always want our middles to be vocal. That's why she was always a part of our offense. Her consistency is always something that is great to have as a coach both in her mindset and her play."

"I just don't think a lot of people understand how competitive the NAIA level is," Sien said. "My personal experience comes from coaching at a couple of NAIA schools, both on the men's and women's side, as well as continuing to follow along with the teams at that level."

"The NAIA is historically older than the NCAA and has some really fine athletes," Sien added. "For where Jamie is going, it is very competitive in the Midwest at the NAIA level and specifically where she will be playing. Stephens College is in the same conference with Missouri Baptist University, who have won back-to-back NAIA National Championships, as well as several other ranked volleyball teams. So, if you want competitive volleyball at the NAIA level, that's where you need to go."

"I believe that Jamie will do extremely well at that level," Sien said. "I would compare the competition level to maybe a high-level NCAA Division II or a smaller NCAA Division I level, but there are some pretty good athletes and players out there in the NAIA and it's just that most people either don't know about it or just ignore it. But Jamie should do extremely well out there, being as athletic as she is and drawing from my own experience of coaching at that level."

Russell plans to major in psychology at Stephens College. The Vincennes University Athletic Department wishes Jamie Russell good luck as she continues her career at Stephens College next season.