German-born Melissa Waelter to join Eastern’s team next season

By Peter Sowards

SENIOR REPORTER

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Staying true to a philosophy of acquiring international talent, Wade Benson and the EWU volleyball program have landed another international recruit.

German-born Melissa Waelter, a 49-match starter in two seasons at South Alabama, will transfer to Eastern and join a recruiting class that includes three players of Serbian descent.

Benson described the thinking behind acquiring players with international backgrounds.

“Years ago we were very highly regarded as a volleyball program, and we were able to begin to start getting the high level U.S. players,” Benson said. “It’s kind of taken just a small step down in the last couple years, so we’ve kind of gone international because we’ve had some contacts, and we’re hoping that they bring a little more experience until we can get the highest level U.S. recruits again.”

One of the contacts to which Benson refers is Nicole Keyshock, South Alabama’s volleyball coach during the 2011-12 season, Waelter’s freshman year. After South Alabama opted not to renew Keyshock’s contract, Amy Hendrichovsky was named head coach.

“A lot of times when there’s coaching changes, sometimes it doesn’t match,” Benson said. “Before I left Florida … I told [Keyshock], ‘Hey, if any of your foreigners want out, let me know.’ [Keyshock] gave me a call and said, ‘Hey, this gal’s a potential fit for you.’”

Hendrichovsky said she enjoyed Waelter off the court but that the two had personality conflicts. “Maybe over there she can have a better relationship with the new staff,” Hendrichovsky said.

Benson lauded Waelter, listed as an outside hitter, as a player with no weaknesses.

“She’s a five-tool player,” Benson said. “She plays with the all-around game, she doesn’t have to come out in the back row and she handles the ball real well. She attacks well. She is a really steady, mature kind of player and will add to our mix real nice as far as we’re going to have a lot of depth.”

Waelter visited the EWU campus in April and made her commitment two days later.

“I thought everybody was very welcoming and polite,” Walter said of her experience in Cheney. “Everything’s pretty new and very green, natural. I liked that everybody’s outside. I thought it looked like a good community.

“I met the girls [on the volleyball team] on my visit, and my first impression was very positive. Everyone was being nice and welcoming. I also watched them play during a scrimmage, and I am very excited to be a part of this team.”

With Waelter’s extensive experience at South Alabama and as a club player in Germany, she brings a lot to the table. “I believe I can help the team evaluate the opponents’ strengths and habits,” Waelter said. “It is also important to be able to mix up your own play to make it harder on the other team to adjust.”

Benson said Waelter traveled back to Germany on May 10. She will head back to the U.S. mid-July and arrive on campus approximately the last weekend in July to get acclimated. The 2013-14 volleyball season commences with its first practice on Aug. 9.

Born in Arnsberg, Germany, Waelter graduated from Franz Stock Gymnasium in Arnsberg in 2011. She ranked eighth in the Sun Belt Conference in kills per game as a sophomore with 3.08 per contest.

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