University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball Announces 2012 Walk-On Class
4/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
April 25, 2012
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Volleyball coach Abbey Sutherland announced the addition of three student-athletes who will join the program 2012 as walk-ons.
Heading the walk-on list include Mary Hannah Farnell of Mobile, Ala., Mary Pursell of Kenner, La., and Shelby Russell of Niceville, Fla.
"This 2012 walk-on class gives us addition depth at several positions," said Sutherland. "They are great students and will help us continue to work to get to the next level."
| 2012 Southern Miss Volleyball Walk-Ons | ||||
| Walk-On | Height | Position | Hometown | High School |
| Mary Hannah Farnell | 5-9 | L/DS | L/DS | McGill Toolen HS |
| Mary Pursell | 5-6 | L/DS | Kenner, La. | St. Mary's Dominican |
| Shelby Russell | 5-9 | L/DS | Niceville, Fla. | Niceville HS |
 | Mary Hannah Farnell • 5-9 • Libero/Defensive Specialist Mobile, Ala. • McGill Toolen HS |
Played for McGill Toolen High School where she was a three-year letterwinner ... A scholar athlete ... Helped her team finish first in the area and the region ... Ranked number one through the season ... Finished in the Elite 8 for 6A in the State ... Third on the team hitting ... Attended many Elite camps and was chosen to attend the USA Volleyball High Performance training camp ... The Press Register Southwest Alabama honorable mention ... Daughter of Tracy and Lalonie Farnell.
Club
Played club volleyball for Club Bomba, Eastern Shore and West Florida Revolution ... The West Florida Revolution team finished tied for fifth in 18 National Gold bracket at Big South
Why Southern Miss?
"I love the campus, the town and the students. They are inclusive and full of school spirit! It's just far enough away from home, a big school but not too big. Southern Miss is a school that is rich in tradition, there is so much pride with the graduates and I can't wait to be a Golden Eagle! Southern Miss offers the major I want, and I have heard that the professors care about your success. I have gotten to interact with the school and volleyball program through their camps held during the summer."
| Mary Pursell • 5-6 • Libero/Defensive Specialist Kenner, La. • St. Mary's Dominican HS |
4 year letter winner and starter at St. Mary's Dominican High School...Lou Reilly Memorial Award recipient for Leadership... 4-time 6-5A All-District selection ... 2011 District 6-5A Player of the Year... 2- time All-Clarion Herald team selection ... 2011 Clarion Herald Player of the Year winner ... 2011 Times Picayune Pre-Season and Regular Season All-Metro selection ... 2011 Louisiana All-State selection and 2011 Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association ... East-West All-Star Game West team member... 2011 PrepVolleyball.Com Top 150 Defensive Dandies List... Four-year High School Honor Roll member ... 3.33 GPA ... Daughter of Ricky and Susanne Pursell.
Club Louisiana Volleyball Elite 2010-2012 ... Team Ranked for three years in Top 30 Nationally in Open Division ... Finished 2nd in 2011 Big South National Qualifier in Open Division ... Six-time AAU Nationals participant ... Four-time Junior Olympic Nationals participant ... 2009 and 2011 USA Volleyball High-Performance participant
Why Southern Miss? "Before I even thought about college volleyball, Southern Miss was one of my top choices as a college to attend for academics. Not only is it in a great city and surrounded by a great community of people, but it has a great program for the major I want to study. So when Coach Abbey and Coach Amanda became interested in me possibly playing for them, I was ecstatic. I knew that they had a great volleyball program and an awesome group of girls because I actually knew quite a few of them from back home. I was excited at the thought of possibly joining this close- knit group of athletes, but what finally sold me on Southern Miss was when I first stepped foot on campus. I was not scared or nervous. There was no doubt in my mind, I felt like I was home."
| Shelby Russell • 5-9 • Libero/Defensive Specialist Niceville, Fla. • Niceville High School |
A four-year letterwinner at Niceville High School ... Voted her team's captain ... Named Big School All-Sports Association NWF Daily New Player of the Year ... Earned Niceville High School Most Valuable Player ... Was a Subway High School All-Star ... Helped her team capture three district and one regional championship ... Also helped her team advance to the state final four ... Selected to the All-Sports Association NWF Daily New Volleyball Team ... Daughter of Robert and Debbie Russell.
Club
Currently plays for U18 ProStyle Volleyball Club ... Played for U17 West Florida Revolution and U16 Pensacola Volleyball Club
Why Southern Miss?
"After my official visit, getting to know the coaches and the team, and spending time on the campus, I knew Southern Miss was where I wanted to go."
