Hall of Fame
Topping an impressive list of dominant Regis University setters during the mid to late 1990’s era was Melinda Almazan, who suited up at Regis from 1995 to 1998.
Almazan, unquestionably one of the top setters in Regis volleyball program history, graduated from Regis in 1999 as one of the most highly decorated athletes in the history of Ranger Athletics.
Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Almazan first donned a Ranger uniform as a freshman in the fall of 1995. Following in the footsteps of former Ranger setters Irene Arguelles (1988-91; former NCAA career assist leader) and Renee St. Marie (1991-94; two-time Second Team All-American), Almazan began her collegiate career with, needless to say, the highest of expectations. By the time her last match was played in the fall of 1998, the legacy she left behind would become the new standard for excellence at Regis.
A four-time All-Conference and three-time All-Region selection, Almazan amassed the second-highest career assist total (5,297) in Regis volleyball program history. Twice named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s (RMAC) Volleyball Player of the Year, Almazan was also a First Team All-American selection in 1997 and 1998. Furthermore, Almazan was twice recognized as Regis University’s Female RMAC Honor Scholar-Athlete of the Year (1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons), the highest honor a student-athlete in the RMAC can achieve.
At the conclusion of her senior campaign, Almazan was selected as the NCAA II Player of the Year by the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association). However, the most prestigious honor that Almazan would go on to receive was still to come.
In the summer of 1999, Almazan was selected to receive the 1998-99 Honda Award as the NCAA II Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. Presented by The Honda Awards Program, the Honda Award is presented annually to the most outstanding collegiate women athletes in 12 sports.
“We were very honored to have had someone of Melinda’s stature represent our team and Regis as a whole,” said Regis University head volleyball coach Frank Lavrisha of Almazan’s Honda Award.
In addition to her athletic success, Almazan had amassed a 3.914 cumulative grade point average when she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Regis University in May of 1999 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Spanish. At commencement Almazan garnered the Wall Street Journal award for excellence in Business and the Regis award for excellence in Spanish. Highly respected by her classmates and the faculty at Regis, Almazan was named Regis University Female Athlete of the Year in 1998 and Regis University Crest Club Female Athlete of the Year in 1999. Almazan, a volunteer assistant coach with the Ranger volleyball team in the fall of 2002, garnered GTE Second Team Academic All-American honors her junior year and GTE First Team Academic All-American laurels as a senior. A four-year member of the Dean’s List at Regis, she also earned CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-American honors and was a three-time Academic All-Conference performer.
“Melinda was consistently the best of the best,” stated Barbara Schroeder, former Regis University Director of Athletics. “She not only left her mark at Regis, she left a legacy.”