Michelle Mellard Class: Senior Hometown: Leawood, KS High School: Notre Dame de Sion Height: 6-3 Position: Middle Blocker Birthdate: 10/15/1984 Experience: 3V Major: American Studies

Dunning On Mellard: "Michelle has continued her growth as a player and as one of the leaders of our team. Her hard work in the winter and spring helped her improve as much as anyone on the team. She is very excited to have a great senior season on the court and as one of our team captains."

2006 Season (Senior):Played in 28 games in her final season for the Cardinal ... Collected 28 kills, including a career-high six kills versus Georgetown (9/15) in the Stanford Invitational and at Oregon State (11/17) ... Tallied 27 blocks on the season with a season-high seven blocks in a three-game sweep of Georgetown (9/15) ... Recorded a career-high .625 hitting percentage on Senior Night versus Washington State (11/25) ... Had five aces on the season with a career-high two aces at Washington State (9/21) ... Notched three digs against Virginia Commonwealth (9/2), Georgetown (9/15) and Oregon State (11/17) ... Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention.

2006 Game-By-Game Statistics

2005 Season (Junior): Played in 18 matches (24 games) • Collected two kills in four matches.

2004 Season (Sophomore): Played in nine games • Averaged 0.11 kills and 0.44 blocks per game • Recorded a career-high two blocks against Jacksonville (12/3/04) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

2003 Season (Freshman): Played in four matches (five games) for the Cardinal • Averaged 0.80 kills, 0.40 digs and 0.40 blocks per game • Notched her first collegiate kills against Bradley (8/30) as she recorded two kills on two attempts • Tallied her first collegiate dig and block versus Weber State (9/12).

High School: A 2003 graduate of Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City, Mo. • Four-year letterwinner in both volleyball and basketball • Captained both sports her senior year • Coached by Mary Lile (volleyball) and Kristy Guffey (basketball) • 2001 and `02 all-district selection for volleyball • A 2001, 2002 all-state and all-sectional choice • 2001 All-Metro Honorable Mention and 2002 All-Metro First Team • Collected a record 18 blocks in the state volleyball championship match • 2002 Johnson County Invitational all-tournament selection • Played club volleyball for Team KC.

Cardinal Catalogue: Daughter of Ken and Nancy Mellard • Has one sister, Rachel (24) • Hobbies include sports and reading • Full name is Michelle Elizabeth Mellard.

Michelle Mellard - Career Highs
Kills: 6 (2 times)
Attempts: 17 vs Georgetown (9/15/06)
Aces: 2 (2 times)
Digs: 15 vs California (11/18/05)
Blocks: 7 (2 times)
Assists: 6 at USC (11/26/05)

Getting To Know Michelle Mellard

Stanford will be fun to watch this year because:	Everyone on our team is so passionate about the sport as well as winning and working together as a team
My greatest athletic moment was:	Winning the national championship in 2004
The athlete I admire most:	Lisa Sharpley (former Stanford volleyball player). She exemplifies what Stanford Volleyball is all about.
Since coming to Stanford, I have learned:	You always have to believe in yourself and never give up on your goals no matter what obstacles are presented to you in your lifetime; never give up.
The current or former Stanford athlete I most enjoy watching perform:	Ogonna Nnamani
Best book I have ever read:	East of Eden
My favorite class:	Children, Youth and the Law taught by Professor Abrahams
Favorite Food:	I love seafood, especially shrimp and Mexican food
Least Favorite Food:	I really don't have anything I don't like
If I had to cook all of my meals, I'd probably survive on:	Peanut butter & jelly, and turkey sandwiches
My favorite movie:	Old School
My favorite TV show:	Friends
My Favorite Actor/Favorite Actress:	Vince Vaughn/Cameron Diaz
My ultimate Sportscenter highlight would be:	Being on the Top Ten plays of the day for a kill during a volleyball game, more specifically during the NCAA Final Four
My favorite musical group:	Dave Matthews Band and Counting Crows
The best advice I ever received was:	Always believe in yourself, stand tall and be proud of your height
The person or people who have had the greatest influence on my career:	My family; mom, dad and sister, Rachel
If I could invite three people in history to dinner, they would be:	Pope John Paul II, Princess Diana and Michael Jordan
I'd like to switch places for a day with:	Bill Gates
My advice to youngsters:	Try everything when you are young and enjoy yourself. Don't think that you have to choose one sport and focus entirely on one interest. Have ten different sports or activities that you love and do them all!
If I could bring anything from my hometown to Stanford, it would be:	My family
If I had one CD to listen to it would be:	Jack's Mannequin, Lost in Translation
One wish I would make for the 21st century:	That family values do not get lost with all the advancement in technology and science