Feb. 29, 2000
Two Missouri athletes signed national letters of intent to play volleyball for the University of Missouri, head coach Susan Kreklow announced. Chrissy Elder (Kansas City, Mo.) and Ashlee Johns (Nixa, Mo.) will be the first two athletes in Susan and Wayne Kreklow's first recruiting class at the NCAA Division I level.
Elder, a setter from Park Hill South High School and the Kansas City Star's All-Metro player of the year in 1999, was a three-time all-state selection. She was also recently nominated for the Kansas City Star's Scholar Athlete-of-the-Year. Elder was an all-conference and all-district selection four years running. Following her junior and senior seasons at Park Hill South, Elder was the Northland's Player-of-the-Year and team MVP. She also received all-metro honorable mention her junior year and was team co-captain and captain her final two seasons.
"Chrissy Elder brings tremendous athleticism to the squad. She is an intense competitor who possesses great footspeed and jumping ability. Although only 5'7," Chrissy plays much bigger and her sheer athletic ability allow her to make plays many other are not capable of."
Elder was also recruited by Pittsburg State, Creighton, North Dakota State and Kentucky.
Johns, a 5'11" middle blocker from Nixa High School, was named one of the top 75 recruits in the country according to All-Stater Sports Magazine. The four-year letterwinner was an all-state, all-Ozarks, all-conference and all-district selection all four years of her high school career. She was part of two fourth-place state finishes, one in 1997 and the other in 1999. During her prep career, Johns was named MVP of the Ozark Grand Slam Tournament (1998, 1999) and the Laclede County Volleyball Classic in 1998. She has been a member of the Club Bear Volleyball team since 1996.
In addition to her accolades on the volleyball court, Johns competed on her high school's track and basketball teams. She placed second in the high jump at the state championships in 1999. On the basketball court, she was an all-district selection following the 1997-98 season and a two-year varsity letterwinner (1997-98 & 1999-00).
"Ashlee possesses great quickness and jumping ability. She has a great future ahead of her and should compete for significant playing time as a freshman."