Volleyball News Releases

Meeker guides Iowa team at USA Volleyball High Performance Championships

MOUNT VERNON - Cornell College head volleyball coach Jeff Meeker coached the Iowa Region Junior Team to a 4-4 record in the Women's International Division at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships July 23-26 at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Meeker's squad, featuring 18-and-under players from all across Iowa, tied for second place in pool play with a 4-2 record with the Dominican Republic and Alberta. Iowa defeated Alberta in four sets and lost to the Dominican Republic in five, but finished seeded fourth in the tiebreaker based on overall set record in pool play.

Along with the Alberta win, the Iowa team posted five-set victories over Nova Scotia and USA Youth White and won in four sets over USA Youth Blue. In the Silver Bracket, the Iowa team fell in four games to both Puerto Rico and USA Select Red.

Fourteen teams competed in the Women's International Division, including five USA junior clubs, four USA region teams and five international squads. Meeker coached the Iowa Region Junior Team to a fourth-place finish at last year's championships in Tucson, Ariz.

"We came into this year's championships with high expectations and a goal of winning a medal," Meeker said. "Although we fell short of that goal, we played inspired volleyball and earned a great deal of respect. Our girls played their hearts out and had a chance to win every match we played against much bigger teams. We had an incredible week."

Meeker enters his eighth coaching season at Cornell this fall. The Rams, who return all six starters and their libero, open the 2009 campaign Sept. 1 at Monmouth (Ill.).