http://wasatchbeachvolleyball.com

The players are presented alphabetically:

Nicole Barnes

Born and raised in Utah. Nicole is 5'7" and 29 years old. She manages a fire and water damage clean up company that her parents started 30 years ago. She has been married for 9 years and has a 6 year old boy, a 2 year old girl, and one on the way! She played at Snow College and UVSC. Nicole was introduced to outdoor volleyball by Linda Byington. "She called and asked me to play in a coed tournament with her boyfriend. We killed everyone in our division and I've been hooked ever since!"

Sundi Brown

5'10

I started playing volleyball in high school (in Idaho Falls, ID.) After high school, I got married and moved to Utah to start my family and have lived here every since. A friend first convinced me to try outdoor doubles in 2004. I've been hooked ever since, and now I enjoy it more than indoor. I serve on the UOVA Board of Directors as the Secretary, and try to stay as involved as I can with the whole Utah volleyball scene.

Linda Byington

6' 1"

University of Utah

Linda was an all-conference standout for the University of Utah and was the first Ute to join the 300 hitting club. She played professionally for the Utah Predators, helping her team win the league championship and leading the league in blocks per game. Linda currently lives in Salt Lake City, has a 6-year-old daughter, and is an Operations Manager for Flying J. 2008 beach accomplishments include: 5th place at Santa Barbara EVP Tournament, 5th place Steamboat Springs Tournament, 9th place Motherlode Volleyball Tournament in Aspen, Colorado.

Helen Farr

6' 0"

BYU

Helen grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah. After playing volleyball for Spanish Fork High, she continued her career as an outside hitter for Brigham Young University. Helen helped her team to three consecutive elite 8 appearances, and graduated in 1999. Since then, Helen has received a received a master’s degree, been married, and now enjoys staying home with her daughter. Helen continues to love the game of volleyball and rarely misses an opportunity to play.

     Kristy Howard
5" 10"
University of Houston and SLCC
Kristy grew up in Salt Lake City. After graduating from Skyline High School she spent one year at the University of Houston, then returned to finish school at SLCC. Kristy and her team from SLCC took second place at Nationals. Kristy and husband, Eric Howard, have two children. In addition she has a full-time job. She doesn't get to play as often as she would like, but in her words "it is such an honor to be surrounded by all of the outstanding talent here in Utah."

Krista Jensen
5"11'
Krista started playing volleyball at a young age in Sacramento, California and fell in love with the sport. Playing as a middle blocker, she led her high school team to one of its best winning records in years. Between her high school and competitive club teams, Krista garnered several awards, including MVP (twice) and city all-league team in 2000. After turning down two college volleyball scholarship offers in California and Idaho to attend BYU, Krista started playing competitively in city leagues and local tournaments to fulfill her passion for the sport. This is Krista's first season playing in the sand doubles scene and she's quickly becoming hooked.

Cheryl King

Cheryl attended the University of Nebraska - Lincoln where she was an NCAA Division I All-American in track. Though the 400m was a thrilling challenge, she missed her other passion - volleyball. She started playing sand volleyball two years ago at a Queen of the Beach tournament and has been hooked ever since. (Thanks Linda!)

Cheryl is married to Benjamin King and they are expecting a baby girl in October.

Egan Metcalf

6' 2"

University of Washington

Egan is one of the biggest blocks in the women's game. She was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. After college she moved to Salt Lake City for her job at 3form, where she is a designer. Egan started playing outdoor 2 1/2 years ago and quickly became one of Utah's elite. "I never expected to be playing and enjoying volleyball this much after college let alone beach volleyball in utah! I looove it!"

Lindsey Metcalf

Draper, UT

6' 0"

Brigham Young University 2000-2004

Players Volleyball Club

Lindsey, a stay-at-home-mom, is married to Benson Metcalf. The Metcalfs have a three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son.

Nina Mortensen

6’ 3"

BYU

Nina was a 2-time All-American and conference player of the year who led her team to the sweet 16 while at BYU. She also led the Nation in blocks per game. In 2002, Nina played on the US National Team and was the A2 Captain. She played professionally in Finland in 2002-2003. Nina has a Masters Degree in Excercise Science; she was an assistant coach for UVSC (2003-2004) & BYU (2005-2006). In 2008 Nina and Brenda Whicker were the Salt Lake Gets Fit Champions.

     Heather Olmstead
5' 9"
Utah State University
Born and raised in Carpinteria, California, Heather grew up playing beach volleyball with her Dad and siblings. She played at Utah State from 1998-2001 and then played the 2003 season professionally in Rijeka, Croatia. Heather began her coaching career at Utah State, where she coached from 2003 until 2006. She is now an Assistant Coach at the University of Utah. Heather and her partner took 1st at the 2009 Life's a Beach tourney at Wasatch Beach.

Angela Peterson

6' 0"

New Mexico State

Angela was a club and high school volleyball standout in Utah. She went to New Mexico State University where she led her team to the NCAA tournament and received several honors including 2002 Conference Player of the Year. Angela is currently taking care of her 3 children while living in the Provo area. 2008 beach accomplishments include: 5th place at Santa Barbara EVP Tournament, 5th place Steamboat Springs Tournament, 9th place Motherlode Volleyball Tournament in Aspen, Colorado.

Adrianne Shewell
6' 2"
University of Utah
Adrianne grew up in Castle Dale, Utah and has always loved the game of volleyball. Adrianne played vball during her freshman year at The University of Hawaii, then transferred to the University of Utah. Her team at the U made a sweet 16 appearance and won the conference championship in 2002, her senior year. Adrianne, who is married and the mother of two beautiful children, works as a Labor and Delivery Nurse.


     Rebecca "Becky" Steel
5' 9"
College of Southern Idaho and University of New Orleans

Rebecca was recruited to play college basketball from American Falls, Idaho. The ultimate gym rat, she agreed to play both basketball and volleyball in both junior college and in the Sunbelt Conference. Rebecca has a passion for volleyball that will never subside and is excited about being in a position to spread her love for the game. She began coaching her daughter's club team in 2009 and expects to have 3 UOVA members in the family this summer. Rebecca balances a full-time career as a Director of National Accounts while striving to keep up with her husband Craig and four children.


     Traci Walsh
5' 8"

Traci is one of the winningest and youngest outdoor players in Utah. She has dominated the Utah beach scene for the past four years. She teamed with Helen Farr to place first at the 2009 Wasatch Beach Season Opener and won the 2009 Queen of Wasatch Beach the following weekend.

In 2008, Traci won tournaments at Bear Lake, Park City, Cottonwood Complex, Ogden and Bruin Fest. She has placed as high as 9th at the MotherLode tourney in Aspen, Colorado and 2nd at the Steamboat Springs Doubles Tournament.

Traci and husband Mike have two children and currently live in Bountiful.

Brenda Whicker

6' 0"

University of Utah

Brenda was one of the best players every to play at the University of Utah. She started and acheived honors all four years of her career. She left Utah as the career leader in digs, aces and kills. Brenda is a very versatile player who adapted to sand doubles easily. She and Nina Mortensen won the Salt Lake Gets Fit Tournament in 2008. Brenda is married to Jeremy Whicker, has 3 boys and loves being outdoors and active.

Thanks to Linda Byington, our Women's Player Representative, and all of these players for supplying the images and bios.

Bump. Set. Chill.