Melcher is the sister of current Sacramento State senior setter and second team all-Big Sky Conference performer Natalie Melcher, and Schoener’s cousin (Karen Schoener) was a member of Sacramento State’s national championship winning team in 1981.

Schoener, who is a 5-11 middle/right-side hitter from Placerville, Calif., led Union Mine High School to its third-consecutive Sierra Valley League championship this year. She has been named all-league each season since her sophomore year and posted 353 kills with just 54 errors in 487 total attacks this season (.614 hitting percentage). In addition, she tallied 83 total blocks, 78 of which were solo blocks.

Schoener led Union Mine to a 26-7 overall record and a 13-1 mark in the Sierra Valley League this season, and the Diamondbacks begin play in the state playoffs tonight in Moraga, Calif., against Campolindo High School.

“Anna is a quality middle blocker who will be a nice addition to our offense,” Colberg said. “She is an intense player who can block and attack well. Anna has a big upside, will continue to improve and eventually be a force in the Big Sky Conference.”

Melcher, a 5-10 setter from Redlands, Calif., has been named all-Citrus Belt League every year since her freshman season at Redlands East Valley, and led the Wildcats to a 27-3 overall record and a league championship (14-0 league record) this season. She tallied 77 kills, 128 digs, 660 assists and 54 service aces this past year, and helped lead the Wildcats to 20 victories in their last 21 matches before finally losing in the Southern Section playoffs two week ago to Long Beach Poly High School.

Melcher has played club volleyball for Rancho Valley (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) since 1998. She was a member of the Rancho Valley 18-under team which placed first in the Southern California Volleyball Association (SCVA) and second at the Volleyball Festival in 2005. In addition, the team advanced to the Silver Bracket and placed 11th at the Junior Olympics.

“Melissa sets for one of the better club teams in California and has a lot of high level experience,” Colberg said. “She will be able to come in right away and combine with (current Sacramento State freshman) Rose Burke to form a very solid setter core for us next year.

“I am very pleased and excited that both Melissa and Anna will be joining our team next season.”

Sacramento State (25-7), which has won 15 matches in a row and won its fourth-consecutive Big Sky Conference Tournament championship this past weekend, will play in the NCAA Tournament (first/second rounds on Dec. 1-4) for the eighth time in nine years. After playing at the Bankers Classic in Stockton, Calif., this week, the Hornets will learn who and where they will play at the NCAA Tournament this Sunday, Nov. 27, when the NCAA makes its selections. The selection show can be seen live on ESPNEWS at 11:30 a.m. PST.

2006 Sacramento State Signings

Name Pos Yr Ht Hometown/Previous School

Melissa Melcher S Fr. 5-10 Redlands, Calif./Redlands East Valley HS

Anna Schoener MH/OPP Fr. 5-11 Placerville, Calif./Union Mine HS