Former West Texas A&M University All-American volleyball player Julie Myatt O'Dell has been inducted into the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor, announced today (July 12) by the LSC office.

Myatt O'Dell, who is WTAMU's first-ever inductee, played for the Lady Buffs from 1986 to 1989, leading the Lady Buffs to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time ever in 1989. The Lady Buffs compiled a 99-46 record during her four years, including 89-24 under former head coach Kim Hudson the final three years.

Myatt O'Dell and her twin sister, Jill Myatt McDonald, came as freshmen from Tascosa High School in Amarillo, Texas, to play for former head coach Carmen Pennick. After a disastrous 10-22 start, Hudson replaced Pennick, and the start of 18 consecutive winning years began for the Lady Buff volleyball program. Myatt O'Dell was selected the LSC Freshman of the Year in 1986, the first of many award for the standout front line player.

Both twins were second-team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) in 1988, and then Myatt O'Dell became the Lady Buff's initial first-team AVCA All-American in 1989. During that season Myatt O'Dell had 535 kills and a hitting percentage of .356.

When she finished her career, Myatt O'Dell held the school record for block assists in a season, in addition to single match records for digs and block solos, and was ranked in the top five in all career statistics. She currently holds the LSC record for individual block assists in a match with 27, which is also the WTAMU record. Myatt O'Dell also still holds the Lady Buffs' single match digs record with 56 and is tied for the record for solo blocks with nine. She is currently second in total career blocks with 545, and fifth with 69 career service aces.

"It's a nice recognition, and something I can share with my kids," she said. "And I can tell them stories when their mom played volleyball. I am very glad to receive this honor."

Myatt O'Dell stated that she was proud of the fact that she was a part of the turnaround of Lady Buff volleyball.

"Coach Kim Hudson came in and started recruiting local girls to play at WT," she said. "I have a lot of respect for Coach Hudson, because she instilled a different attitude, since she was strict and believed in discipline to make us better players. She was all about winning, but she was very fair."

Myatt O'Dell graduated from WT in December 1991 with a Bachelor of General Studies. She was inducted into the WTAMU Athletic Hall of Champions, along with her sister, in 1996.

She lives in Haslet, Texas, with her husband, Jeff, and their four daughters ages 12, 10, 6, and 4.

The award will be presented to Myatt O'Dell this fall at a home WTAMU volleyball match.