Former USA Volleyball team member Mekana Barnes enters her second season as graduate assistant in 2013.  Barnes who formerly was a volunteer assistant for Regis during the 2010-11 season, comes to Regis after one season at the University of Albany.  Barnes works primarily with the middle hitters and also helps with recruiting and the popular Regis Volleyball Camps. 

Barnes graduated from Colorado State in 2009 where she was a 2007 Third Team AVCA All-American.  She played four years for the Rams at middle blocker where she was a three-time All-Mountain West Conference performer.  She ranks second in total blocks (571) and block assists (518) while also ranking third at CSU averaging 1.36 blocks per set.  In 2007 she was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year.

She helped lead Colorado State to four straight NCAA Tournament berths and following her senior season was a member of the USA Volleyball National Team that competed abroad.  Twice, she led the Rams to the Moutain West Conference Championship.  

Barnes also went overseas and played professionaly in Spain and Puerto Rico super leagues in 2010 and 2011.  She helped lead the Albany to a 21-9 record in 2011 including being undefeated at home including an America East Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Barnes will work specifically with middle blockers and will help with all the day-to-day operations for the Regis volleyball team.

Barnes lives in Centennial, Colo.