University of Tennessee Athletics
Volleyball Adds Hanakova to 2008 Class
May 02, 2008 | Volleyball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ??? For the first time in eight years, the University of Tennessee volleyball roster will feature a junior college transfer, as Michaela Hanakova is set to join the team for the 2008 campaign after spending the previous two seasons at Salt Lake Community College. A 5-8 setter from Brno, Czech Republic, Hanakova was a first team NJCAA All-America selection in 2007.
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???We are very excited about the addition of Michaela to our program,??? UT head coach Rob Patrick said. ???She and (incoming freshman) Kelsey Mahoney provide us with tremendous experience and depth at the setting position, which is something that we have not had in a long time at Tennessee.
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???I feel that her experience internationally, coupled with Kelsey???s high-level club experience, puts our program in good hands,??? Patrick said. ???Michaela is a proven winner and we are extremely excited and fortunate to have a player of her caliber join our team this fall.???
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Hanakova becomes the first junior college player to come to UT since Laura Paul joined the program from Southwest Missouri State ??? West Plains for the 1999 and 2000 campaigns. Her arrival came just one year after Erika Brez came to Rocky Top from Parkland College in 1998. The only other two junior college players to have competed at Tennessee were Afreda Booker and Lisa Huntley who donned the Orange and White during the 1979 and 1980 seasons after two years at Miami Dade Community College.??
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After leading SLCC to a 44-2 overall record and a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament in 2007, Hanakova earned a multitude of individual honors, including all-tournament team, as well as All-West Region First Team and Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year accolades.
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Statistically, ???Misha??? averaged 11.34 assists per game, in addition to marks of 1.97 digs, 1.16 kills, 0.43 aces and 0.41 blocks per frame. She also hit at a .395 clip with 114 kills and just 30 errors in 263 swings.??
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In 2006, Hanakova earned second-team all-region and honorable mention All-SWAC accolades after pacing the Bruins with 10.56 assists per game, which was good for third in the conference. She also received academic all-region laurels for her outstanding work in the classroom.
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Prior to arriving at Salt Lake, she guided her club team, VK KP Brno, to back-to-back Czech National Championships in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Following the second title, Hanakova was named the MVP (setter) of the Czech junior major league.
