Volleyball Signs Craighead and Bellomy to National Letters of Intent

Stacey Craighead

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Seton Hall head volleyball coach Maureen Rafferty Del Rossi announced Wednesday the signing of Stacey Craighead (Roanoke, Va.), and Melissa Bellomy (Arlington, Texas), to national letters of intent. Craighead and Bellomy will join the Seton Hall volleyball program for the 2006 season.

“I am thrilled about the addition of both Stacey and Melissa to our Pirate volleyball family,” Rafferty Del Rossi said. “Not only are they both talented athletes with a huge upside, but they are both wonderful young ladies with the desire to help make themselves as student athletes and this volleyball program the best it can be. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with both of them next year and to see how they develop within our team concept.”

Craighead, a middle blocker, comes to Seton Hall after a record-breaking career at Cave Spring High School. She currently holds both the all-time kills and blocks records at Cave Spring, and helped lead the team to a 72-6 record from 2003-05, with Cave Spring currently competing in the final four of its state tournament. During her senior season, she was selected to her All-District First Team and was named the District Player of the year, and the Regional Player of the year. Craighead was named to the First Team All-District, All-Region and All-State after her junior year. Her honors also include being named to Prepvolleyball.com’s “Senior Aces” national list.

Melissa Bellomy

“Stacey is an extremely athletic and physical volleyball player, who has a strong jump and has the ability to put some power behind her swing,” Rafferty Del Rossi said. “Stacey is also a very versatile attacker who will be able to compete for us on the outside or right side and also has experience starting in the middle for her high school and club team. Stacey is also a fierce competitor that will add a spark to the court.”

The six-foot-one-inch middle blocker Bellomy hails from Arlington Martin High School, where she was a member of the District 7-5A championship team, boasting a perfect 14-0 record. Arlington Martin also won its area championship in 2005 and has reached the quarterfinals of its state tournament. In 2004, Bellomy played right side at Arlington Martin, and was named to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram 2004 7-5A Second Team All District.

Bellomy was also a member of the USAV Club team, where she competed in the 14, 15, 16 and 17 Open divisions at the Junior Olympics. Her best finish in the Junior Olympics came in 2003, when USAV, her Texas Advantage Volleyball club team, finished 5th in the 15 Open Tournament and Bellomy was named to the 15 Open All-Tournament Team.

“Melissa has competed at a very high level for several years both at the junior national level and in Texas 5A volleyball,” Rafferty Del Rossi said. “Her past experiences playing at a high national level and desire to compete will undoubtedly bring us additional depth to the middle blocker position. She is a long, lean athlete who is enthusiastic about the game, her development and her team mates.”

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Seton Hall University Athletics

Volleyball Signs Craighead and Bellomy to National Letters of Intent

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