Former UMKC volleyball player Morgan Voorhes and head coach Christi Posey were both inducted into the Kansas Volleyball Association Hall of Fame in Topeka, Kan., on June 6 as members of the fourth class of inductees.
Voorhes, who wrapped up her ‘Roo playing career this past season, was inducted as a member of her 2010 St. James Academy team, the first team inducted under the inaugural team category.
“Our team was so honored to be inducted to the KVA Hall of Fame,” Voorhes said. “We have joined many fantastic coaches, leaders and players in history, including Coach Posey, who deserved this induction many years ago! This induction brought my St. James family back together and the time we spent seeing all the parents and fans was the best reward we could have ever received. The time I spent as a member of the 2010 St. James Academy Varsity Volleyball Team will forever be some of my favorite memories on the court.”
During the 2010 season, the Thunder won their third of six straight state titles, finishing the year with a 44-1 record, capped with a dominating win over Hayden in the championship match. That year, St. James suffered its only defeat at the hands of rival Bishop Miege, who the Thunder defeated on several other occasions throughout the seasons, while also knocking off St. Joseph’s and Bishop Kelly, who featured Stanford All-American Inky Ajanaku.
“My senior season team was full of some of the hardest working individuals you will ever find,” Voorhes added. “Coach Nancy Dorsey liked to call our team the Peanut Gallery because our tallest player was pushing 6’1, we were a team that didn’t look intimidating but we could outplay anyone. I am so thankful that our team was honored by the KVA. I feel like current high school teams can use us as an example of what cohesiveness on and off the court looks like. It’s hard to find a high school program that contains girls that have the same goal and are willing to work that hard. Of course attaining a state title has always been a goal at St. James, but that year we knew we had something special and eventually National Champions was put on the list.”
Posey, meanwhile, joins the hall of fame after serving as the head coach at a pair Kansas high schools, most recently at Blue Valley Northwest in Olathe, Kan., from 1993-2000. During that time, Posey led the Huskies to KSHSAA state tournaments in each of her eight season, winning the state championships in 1996 and 1997, while finishing third three times. At Blue Valley Northwest, Posey also served as head girls’ basketball and assistant softball coach for the Huskies and was named a member of its inaugural Husky Hall of Fame class.
“Being named to the Kansas Volleyball Association Hall of Fame has great meaning to me because of the many volleyball connections I share,” Posey said. “The KVA was the first professional organization I joined as a young coach and I had the opportunity to serve many roles including President at one point. I learned a great deal from many KVA coaches and I’m flattered to be part of that group forever. Another reason this is special is because one of our former Roos, Morgan Voorhes, was inducted with her 2010 teammates at St. James Academy High School. Nancy Bell Dorsey is the head coach of that group and Nancy was a senior right side hitter on the first team I coached at KU. One of the most rewarding moments about a coaching career is to see former student-athletes reach great heights. I’ve been blessed to have numerous players go on to outstanding moments in their own lives and it makes me very proud.”
While coaching the Huskies, she was named the 1999 Johnson County Volleyball Coach of the Year by the Kansas City Star, the 1997 Coach of the Year by the Kansas Volleyball Association and Kansas Sport Magazine after leading her team to a perfect 44-0 record, including a second-straight KSHSAA state championship and the 1996 Coach of the Year by Kansas Sport Magazine and Sports Connection after guiding her team to a 41-3 record and the state championship.
Before taking over the coaching duties at Blue Valley Northwest, Posey served in the same position at Halstead (Kan.) High School from 1983-90 where she was selected to serve as head coach at the 1990 Kansas Volleyball Association’s annual All-Star Game after being named co-Coach of the Year by the KVA. Four times her squad’s qualified for the state tournament, including a third place finish in 1990.
In her 18 years as a high school coach, Posey compiled an overall record of 392-171.