Volleyball Completes Coaching Staff

OMAHA, Neb. -- Ryan Meek has been named an assistant coach and Micah Rhodes a volunteer assistant coach with the Creighton Volleyball program, head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth announced today.

Meek fills the vacancy that opened when Tom Mendoza was named head coach at High Point last month, while Rhodes replaces Kyle South, who was hired as an assistant coach at Oral Roberts in March. Meek and Rhodes join Angie Oxley Behrens on Booth's staff.

Meek has spent the last five seasons as head coach at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., where he helped the Warriors to a 110-64 record.

The Warriors went 29-9 overall in 2015 as Meek was named the National Coach of the Year at the Division III level by the American Volleyball Coaches Association after helping Hendrix to the national semifinals. He also earned Southern Athletic Association Coach of the Year honors for the second year in a row after winning back-to-back regular season and conference tournament titles. His 2015 squad finished with a No. 8 ranking in the AVCA Top 25 poll. Hendrix finished second in the nation in attacks, third in digs, fifth in assists, sixth in kills and 12th in total blocks.

In 2014, the Warriors set a program record with a 31-6 record and won their first SAA regular season and tournament titles. Meek's squad advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with 43 votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll. He earned SAA Coach of the Year honors for his efforts. The 2014 Hendrix team finished 10th in the nation in kills, 14th in hitting percentage, 16th in blocks and 17th in assists per set.

In 2013, Meek guided the Warriors to their first winning season with a school-best 20-12 record. Hendrix also finished tied for third place in conference and advanced to the SAA Tournament finals.

In his time at Hendrix, Meek has coached one AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, two SAA Newcomers of the Year, nine all-conference first team selections, six second teamers and four honorable mention student-athletes.

Prior to joining the Warrior staff, Meek spent two seasons at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. He was the top assistant for the Lions and was named interim head coach in February 2011. While at MSSU, Meek helped the Lions to their first regional ranking since 2006 and he coached four All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association players.

Meek served as a volunteer assistant for the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville from January 2007-July 2008 where he coached one All-Southeastern Conference selection and an All-SEC Freshman Team performer.

From 2004-06, Meek was the head girls varsity coach and assistant boys coach for Simi Valley High School in California. He led the SVHS girls to three consecutive top five regional rankings and the state playoffs for the first time in school history. The boy's squad received a national ranking and Meek coached 10 future collegiate players.

Meek was the starting setter for Quincy University in Illinois in 2003, where he led the Hawks in assists and finished third in the league in assists per set. In 2002, Meek led Moorpark College and the state of California in assists, while finishing second on the team in digs. He also set the Moorpark single-season assists record.

Meek was a three-year letterman at opposite and outside hitter at Simi Valley High. He led the team in kills and digs for two seasons and helped SVHS to a top 10 national ranking as a senior in 2000.

Meek received his B.A. in Public Administration from Arkansas in 2008.

"Both Angie and I felt a great connection with Ryan when he came on the interview," said Booth. "I think he's somebody that is driven to take the program to greater heights and not be satisfied with where we are. He's a proven winner and we're really excited to have him bring new ideas and new energy to Creighton Volleyball."

Rhodes has spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Buena Vista, where he worked alongside Lori Slight to help the program turn the corner and work to become a contender in the Iowa Conference. The team landed a First Team All-Conference and Freshman of the Year performer in the 2013 season - the first all-conference selection for the Beavers since 2011. Then in 2014, the team posted its highest overall win total (25) since 1986, and tied for second in the Iowa Conference standings - its best regular-season finish ever.

Last year's team finished 18-16 overall, with Rhodes taking charge during during league play after Slight took a leave of absence. He helped coach the program's first IIAC Most Valuable Player (Maddie Bardole), and also the program's first All-American (Jade Schaap) during the 2015 campaign.

Prior to joining the bench in 2012, he served as a student manager at Nebraska from June of 2008 through May 2011, while also serving as a practice assistant, office staff member and video coordinator. During that time, the Huskers posted an overall mark of 86-13, including a 53-7 record in Big 12 conference play.

He was the Vice-President of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Men's Club Volleyball team during his senior year in 2011. A three-year starting outside hitter, Rhodes was on a team that made three consecutive NIRSA national tournament Sweet 16 appearances from 2009-2011.

Rhodes received his B.A. degree in advertising and public relations from UNL in the spring of 2011.

"Everyone's that worked with Micah on and off the court speak so highly of who he is as a person," noted Booth. "I know that he really impacted the Buena Vista program a great deal and we're excited to have him be part of our program."

Creighton is two-time defending BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time last December before finishing up 27-9. The Bluejays are expected to return four starters from last year's team, including All-Americans Jaali Winters and Lauren Smith.

Players Mentioned

Lauren Smith

Jaali Winters

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