SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State volleyball program announced today that a pair of student-athletes, Natalie Melcher and Shannon Arts, have signed with the program and will enroll at the University in the fall of 2002. Melcher will enter as a sophomore and Arts will be a freshman.Melcher, a 6-1 outside hitter from Redlands, Calif., played with Cal Poly last season where she appeared in seven matches. A 2001 graduate of Redlands East Valley High School, Melcher was named one of the top 50 high school seniors by Volleyball Magazine in the spring of 2001. She joins former Hornet Jill Haas as the only players in Sacramento State history to be named to the magazine’s top 50. While at Redlands East Valley HS, she was a two-time all-Citrus Belt League selection and was named to the Sun Newspaper all-county team.
Melcher was a three-time scholastic all-California Interscholastic Federation honoree in high school and is the school’s record holder in the high jump (5’2”).
“Natalie should be able to step in on the right side and provide the big block,” Sacramento State head coach Debby Colberg said. “She has very nice hands and I think she’ll be more of an offensive threat on the right side than we’ve had here in a long time.”
Arts, a 6-0 middle hitter from Valdez, Alaska, comes to Sacramento State from Valdez High School. The 2001-02 Gatorade State Player of the Year, Arts led Valdez HS to the Class 3A state championship and a 21-1 overall record in 2001. A four-year member of the varsity squad and a three-year starter, Arts was named to numerous all-tournament teams including being honored as the Regional Tournament MVP on two occasions.
As a junior, Arts was named team MVP after compiling 243 kills, 223 digs, 191 blocks and 28 service aces.
“When I watched her play, I was very impressed with her natural blocking technique and I think she’ll do very well for us,” Colberg said. “She possesses all the skills of a good middle blocker in terms of having a nice arm swing and overall ability. She has a very good presence about her and she’s very smart on the court.”
The signing of Melcher and Arts mark the first Sacramento State signees of the year. The Hornets, who finished last season with a 20-9 overall record and a 12-2 Big Sky Conference mark, will be seeking their sixth-consecutive regular season conference title next year.
2002 Sacramento State Signings
Name Pos Yr Ht Hometown/Previous School
Shannon Arts MH Fr. 6-0 Valdez, Alaska/Valdez High School
Natalie Melcher OH So. 6-1 Redlands, Calif./Cal Poly
