The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Messersmith's Contract Extended Two Years
5/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
May 8, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Kerry Messersmith, who has turned around the fortunes of the UAB volleyball program in dramatic fashion the past two years, has received a two-year contract extension.
Messersmith's new pact calls for an extension through the 2011 season.
She led the Blazers to their second straight Conference USA Tournament championship match appearance en route to a runner-up finish to Tulsa in 2007 after the team posted its first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1992-93.
In 2007, the Blazers finished with an overall record of 24-10 and 12-4 in Conference USA. In just two seasons at UAB, Messersmith has compiled an overall record of 51-20 and 22-10 in C-USA.
The runner-up C-USA finish last fall came a year after the Blazers captured the 2006 conference tournament championship in compiling a record of 27-10.
"We are pleased to provide Kerry this extension," said UAB Athletics Director Brian Mackin. "The volleyball program has experienced a significant improvement under her guidance in her two years as the head coach. The team won a conference championship in the first year and reached the tournament final last season. We obviously feel the program has made great strides and we look forward to continued success."
Messersmith guided three Blazers to All-Conference USA status in 2007 as Nevena Stefanov was voted to the first-team, while Casey Dent and Fernanda Domingos were named to the second-team. Furthermore, Lilly Domingos was named the C-USA Newcomer of the Year. Messersmith came to UAB in 2006 with a proven track record of resurrecting collegiate volleyball programs and her first season at UAB may have been the most miraculous turnaround she had yet to mastermind.
The Blazers were a combined 15-37 in the two seasons prior to Messersmith's arrival at UAB, including a 1-24 campaign in 2004. The program had never won a Conference USA championship and had never earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
