AURORA | Kelly Hanlon Dow didn’t spend much time at Metro State, but she definitely made an impression.
The former Overland High School volleyball standout played just one season for the Roadrunners after three at the University of Tennessee, but her strong 1998 season netted her a spot in Metro State’s 2012 class of inductees into its athletic hall of fame.
Hanlon Dow was one of five individuals — including former head baseball coach Irv Brown, head men’s basketball coach Joe Strain, women’s soccer player Kylee Hanavan and men’s soccer player Emilio Romero — plus the 1982 baseball team as Metro State’s 2012 class of honorees. The induction ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at the SpringHill Suites in Denver.
“I’m shocked that I got it in that I only played there one year; I played in 10 alumni matches, so maybe it’s because I always get out there and play,” Hanlon Dow said Monday. “I loved my experience at Metro, so it was a great way to end my career. I’m really honored to get this award.”
After leading Overland to a second consecutive Class 5A state volleyball championship in the 1994 season, Hanlon Dow went to Tennessee for three seasons before transferring to Metro State for the 1998 campaign. She still has a prominent place in the Volunteers’ record book in kills per set and total attacks.
Moving over to Metro State, she got to again play with former teammate Amy Buchanan and helped push the Roadrunners to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season championship and into the NCAA Sweet 16. Hanlon Dow was selected first-team All-RMAC and second team All-American after she averaged 4.3 kills per set and racked up 563 total kills, seventh on Metro State’s all-time list for a single season. Hanlon Dow graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Hanlon Dow said her fondest memories were making up poems or songs before matches that disparaged opponents, but created a bond on the team.
“It was such a fun team; it was a great group of girls to hang out and play with,” she said.
Hanlon Dow coached the varsity volleyball team at Aurora Central High School for the past five years, but now may do some coaching at North Middle School while she works in real estate.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
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