WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Officials at Missouri State University-West Plains inducted former Grizzly Volleyball standouts Felicia Jones (2003-04) and Courtney Hendrickson (2004-05) to the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame during the team’s season home opener Saturday, Sept. 8, at the West Plains Civic Center.
A large crowd of Grizzly Volleyball fans were on hand for the ceremony, which took place prior to the game. A “meet-and-greet” reception for the honorees was held immediately after the game.
Grizzly Booster Club Chairman Russ Gant recognized each player individually and highlighted their numerous accomplishments.
Jones, a 5-foot, 10-inch outside attacker from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, helped guide the Grizzlies to second and seventh place finishes, respectively, in the 2003 and 2004 NJCAA Division I Women’s National Volleyball Championship Tournaments. In addition, she was named to the all-tournament team at the 2003 national tournament.
She was a second team NJCAA and AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-American in 2003 and NJCAA first team All-American in 2004.
Jones remains among the statistical leaders in the Grizzly Volleyball record book.
• first in career attacking attempts;
• third in career kills and points earned;
• eighth in career service reception rating;
• 11th in career digs.
Jones continued her career at Ohio State University where she played outside attacker her junior year and middle attacker her senior season. She also helped guide the Buckeyes to a “Sweet 16” appearance in the NCAA national tournament during her senior year.
She graduated from Ohio State in 2007 with a degree in sociology and returned to her hometown where she works as a fifth grade teacher and coaches club volleyball.
Hendrickson, a 5-foot, 8-inch outside attacker from Florissant, joined Jones in guiding the Grizzlies to a seventh-place finish at the 2004 NJCAA national tournament, and she helped the Grizzlies return to the event in 2005 and place third.
She was a two-time first team All-Region 16 Team selection, and she was a second team NJCAA All-American selection in 2005.
Hendrickson, too, remains in the Grizzly Volleyball record book in several categories.
• seventh in career attacking attempts;
• ninth in career points earned;
• 11th in career kills and service reception rating;
• 14th in career attacking percentage.
She continued her career at Drury University and was named to the Great Lakes Conference team her junior and senior seasons. Her senior year, she was second on the team in kills and third in points per game.
Her 29 kills in one game during the 2007 season is second only to Grizzly Volleyball Head Coach Paula Wiedemann’s 31 in the Panthers’ all-time record books.
Hendrickson graduated from Drury University in 2008 with a degree in exercise science and, after serving as assistant coach of the Grizzlies in 2009 and 2010, returned to the St. Louis area where she works for World Wide Technology.
Both players were given standing ovations when presented with the awards, causing several tears of gratitude to be shed by Jones and Hendrickson, and both praised the support they received from the students, faculty, staff and fans while playing for the Grizzlies.
They also expressed their love and gratitude for their respective “host” families who provided a home away from home for them in West Plains.
This is the 16th year of the Grizzly Athletics Hall of Fame. Grizzly Hall of Fame Selection Committee members include Chairman Russ Gant, Ron Shemwell, Bo Pace, Carolyn Smith and Quanna Hafer, all of whom are members of the Grizzly Booster Club Executive Board of Directors.
Caption for Photo:
TWO FORMER MEMBERS of the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team were inducted in the Grizzly Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday, Sept. 8. Felicia Jones (2003-04) and Courtney Hendrickson (2004-05) received their plaques from Grizzly Booster Club President Russ Gant prior to the Grizzlies’ season home opener in the West Plains Civic Center. From left are, Grizzly Booster Club Executive Board members Frank Mydler and Bo Pace; Missouri State-West Plains Chancellor Shirley Lawler; Missouri State University Board of Governors member Carol Silvey; Grizzly Volleyball Head Coach Paula Wiedemann; Hendrickson; Jones; and booster club board member Carolyn Smith; emeritus board member Chuck Kimberlin; and booster club board members Brandi Gobel, John Kenslow and Russ Squires. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)