Jan. 23, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University Director of Athletics Dan Schumacher has announced the hiring of Lorelee Smith as head women's volleyball coach.

Smith, assistant women's volleyball coach at the University of Central Missouri the past five seasons, is the fourth head coach in the 33-year history of the Lewis women's volleyball program. Smith replaces interim head coach Dan Friend, who guided the Flyers to their first Great Lakes Valley Conference title in 14 years and seventh NCAA tournament appearance in program history.

At Central Missouri, Smith worked under head coach Peggy Martin, the winningest active head coach on the NCAA Division II level. The Jennies finished in the top 10 nationally and had nine All-America selections during Smith's time as an assistant.

Smith responsibilities with the Jennies were full recruitment, game preparation, practice assistance, on-floor coaching, training and conditioning, video review and summer camp organization. She also assisted in the UCM athletic media relations office and in the day-to-day operations of the university's multipurpose building.

Prior to joining the staff at Central Missouri, Smith served two seasons as girls' junior varsity volleyball coach at John Adams High School in South Bend, Indiana.

Smith played college volleyball at the University of North Carolina-Asheville under head coach Julie Torbett. An Academic All-America selection her senior season, Smith was a four-time all-conference and two-time all-region pick. She also was a Big South Conference Scholar Athlete. Smith finished her collegiate career as the university's, conference's and region's all-time assist record holder.

Smith has played volleyball professionally with the Midwest Professional Volleyball Association. She competes in the United States Volleyball Association and is a contracted tour player and spokesperson for Extreme Volleyball Professionals, a beach volleyball tour.

A native of Mishawaka, Indiana, Smith is a graduate of Mishawaka High School. She received her bachelor's degree in management/marketing from UNC-Asheville in 1998 and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from UCM.

"I am excited for the opportunity to be a head coach at Lewis University," Smith said. "Lewis student athletes have a history of success on the court and in the classroom, and I look forward to building on those successes.

"I'm grateful to Dan Schumacher and the entire search committee for the chance to lead this program. Dan impressed upon me his vision for the future of Lewis Athletics, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the mix.

"I feel the women's volleyball program is on the doorstep to becoming a national power in D-II, and it's my goal to make that happen. The Chicago area is a hotbed for some of the best volleyball talent in the nation, and I definitely plan to take advantage of Lewis' location in that regard."

"Lorelee brings to Lewis a tremendous resume of success both as a student athlete and a coach," Schumacher said. "She has a blueprint for success and the drive to mold Lewis into a perennial national championship contender. The Lewis volleyball program will reach new heights on and off the court under her leadership."