Womens Pro Bio's

United States Handball Association
2333 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85716
Telephone: 1-(520)-795-0434
E-mail: handball@ushandball.org
WEB: http://ushandball.org

USHA Women Professional Players

Lynn Alesi

Des Plaines, Illinois

Lynn is a young player who hasn’t had the opportunity to play in most of the big events. She broke into the rankings at the Las Vegas Nationals, earning tenth place by defeating Courtney Peixoto and Rachel Kos. Lynn is a student at Texas A & M University, and she started playing at a very young age with Don Quinlan’s Lattof YMCA program. Lynn is a very smooth, stylish player, and she will be a player to watch climb up the ranks this year.

Yvonne August

Castro Valley, California

Yvonne has finished in the top eight of the Four-Wall Nationals and Women’s Classic and Pro for the past eight years when she has played, only taking time off to have her two children, Julia and Matthias. She is a very strong and fiery competitor. Opponents better beware of her blasting fists. Yvonne is always fit and cross-trains by jumping rope, cycling, and running. Handball is a tradition in her family, with nine of her ten brothers and sisters playing.

Anna Christoff

St. Paul, Minnesota

Anna has been a long-time dominating force in women’s handball. She tied for first in the pro rankings with Priscilla Shumate, but since she fell to Shumate at the 2002 Nationals, she takes the number two spot. Anna won the 2001 National Title and the 2002 Women’s Classic. Partnered with LeaAnn Martin, she holds the National and World Doubles Titles.

Since Anna began playing in the Juniors, she has won numerous titles, including nine of the last fifteen National Four-wall singles championships. She is very intense and has excellent feet. She hits the ball harder than any of the women. To train for handball, she runs, lifts weights, and cycles.

Debra Forrester

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Debra has been competing as a top women’s player since the inception of the women’s division at the national level. She placed seventh at the 2001 Spring Classic, and fifth at the 2001 Women’s Pro. Debra often supports the women’s age-group divisions at National and World events, rather than playing in the pro division. She has won the World Senior Women’s Doubles Title with partner, Jan Dale-Breed. Debra plays Jan often in their hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Debra has two teen-age daughters, Megan and Lauren, and is married to Kim, another accomplished handballer. Debra is also a pilot!

Jessica Gawley

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Jessica won many National Junior competitions in Canada and the U. S. She made the quarters in the last World Tournament. She has also been the World Doubles Champion, and Canadian and U.S. National Doubles Champion with partner Lisa Fraser-Gilmore. She placed sixth at the 2001 Nationals. Jessica missed all of the 2002 season events, due to her work and the difficulty of travel from her home. Her strong showings in her few events still keep her ranked at number twelve. This lefty has great footwork and is always on her toes. Her digs make her an awesome doubles player.

Jessica trains by running and playing a lot, especially with her large handball-playing family. She works with the Canadian Mounted Police Force and lives in Regina.

Lisa Fraser-Gilmore

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Lisa has won the USHA Women’s Classic nine out of the eleven years. She also won the 1997 and 1998 U. S. H. A. Nationals singles titles. Lisa has won numerous doubles titles with partner Jessica Gawley. She finished third in the 2001 Nationals and second in the last Classic. Lisa missed the Dallas Pro Stop and recent Nationals due to an injury and family obligations, which could affect her rank. It will be exciting to see her return and how she plays. She is known for her very low, blasting serves and kills that roll flat.

Lisa has twins Harrison and Hannah who keep her very busy. She teaches physical education and coaches at a private school in Winnipeg, where she has introduced handball to many of her students. Lisa trains specifically for handball by strength training and speed work.

Maggie Grelle

Boston, Massachusetts

Maggie placed ninth in the SMSU Classic and the San Francisco Pro Stop. She started playing when earning her Bachelor’s Degree at SMSU, where a teammate from her field hockey team recruited her. Maggie has since earned a Masters Degree and works as a research associate at a pharmaceutical company in Boston. She is fast on the court and hustles for everything. Her strong ceiling game and anticipation make her a player who others had better not volley with. Handball fits like a glove for this all-around athlete, and she also enjoys running, field hockey and biking.

Holly Jonely

Oliver Springs, Tennessee

Holly defeated Mandy Rounseville to place seventh at the SMSU Classic in the fall of 2001. She hasn’t been playing handball very long, as she started in her twenties and rapidly picked up the sport. Holly was a varsity soccer player in college, so she is wiry and fast on her feet. This extremely fit athlete is up-and-coming and veterans had better beware.

Vanessa Kamp

Silver Springs, Maryland

Vanessa had a remarkable showing at the 2001 Women’s Classic in Houston, finishing fifth and defeating such accomplished players as Sydell Smith and Stephanie Lowe. She placed eighth in the 2001 Nationals. She has not been to a ranking tournament since that time, as she moved to the Washington, D.C. area after earning her Masters Degree and has been busy with her new job. Vanessa has always been an athlete, earning honors in volleyball, basketball, and running track before her uncle, Richard Ramirez, introduced her to handball.

Stephanie Lowe

Fullerton, California

Stephanie can outrun anyone; she just loves a tiebreaker. Her positive approach and outgoing personality make her a favorite among the fans. She earned eighth place at the Las Vegas Nationals and had a good finish in Austin at the last Women’s Pro, defeating Amber Rounseville for seventh place. She has placed as high as fifth in the pro field (Baltimore, 1999).

Lavonah Madden

Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada

Lavonah’s home location makes it hard for her to make every event, but she always makes it in the top seven when she plays. She won the Women’s 35+ Singles in Las Vegas and earned seventh in the pro division, defeating Stephanie Lowe. She had some great wins in the recent Women’s Pro Stop in Austin, defeating Debra Forrester in the round of sixteen, and then in the playoffs for fifth, edged Yvonne August 11-10 after defeating Amber Rounseville in her prior match. This lefty is methodical and precise with every shot.

LeaAnn Martin

Bellingham, Washington

LeaAnn is a Professor at Western Washington University, where she teaches in the physical education program. She has won numerous championships, including the National Four-Wall Doubles, the Women's Classic, and the National YMCA singles and doubles. LeaAnn is currently the Open Doubles National and World Champion (with partner Anna Christoff), Women's Commissioner for the USHA, serves on the Development Fund Committee, the National Schools Program Coordinator, and is a developer and trainer for the Teaching Certification Program for the USHA. In addition to running and strength training, she also trains in the martial arts (where she has a second degree black belt in karate).

Megan Mehilos

Addison, Illinois

Megan is the current Collegiate National Champion, and placed ninth in the 2002 Nationals and in the latest Women’s Pro event in Austin. She is really pushing the top players, as she took Lavonah Madden to a tie-breaker in Las Vegas, and Yvonne August to a tie-breaker in Austin. She also placed ninth in the 2001 Houston Women’s Classic. Megan trains hard and is very strong. She will be a junior at Lake Forest College, where she is an honor student. Look for her to make her big move this year and beat a top seed.

Courtney Peixoto

Watsonville, California

Courtney won the 17-&-Under National Junior Title in Phoenix, and is already finishing regularly in the pro top ten. She defeated Debra Forrester and Maggie Grelle in the Austin Women’s Pro to take the tenth place check. She also earned tenth place at the last Women’s Classic. Courtney just graduated from high school with honors and lives in Watsonville, California. She plans to attend the University of Arizona in the fall of 2002.

Allison Roberts

Lake Forest, Illinois

Allison is back; she earned fourth place at the last Women’s Pro and sixth in the 2002 Nationals. She has been a National finalist (including the first Women’s National 4-Wall final against Rosemary Bellini), and many-time semi-finalist at the pro level, and has racked up ten national 3-wall titles (five singles, five doubles). Allison’s overhand off-hand is stronger than anyone’s, and she can really kill the ball. She is an Economics professor at Lake Forest College in Illinois, where she lives with her daughter Katie, age 15, who displays similar talents on the court.

Amber Rounseville

Springfield, Missouri

Amber was introduced to handball through the Junior Development Program in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Handball was a natural for the athlete, and she rapidly advanced to national level play-- in the Juniors, Collegiates, and now, Pro. She is ranked #4. She finished fourth in the 2002 Nationals, third in the Classic, and eighth in the latest Women’s Pro. Amber is an adaptive player who can change the speed of the game and do what is needed to win. She has a deadly backwall game. Amber majored in Sports and Recreation at Southwest Missouri State, and now works with Springfield’s Parks and Recreation Department. She is also promoting the USHA Collegiate programs.

Mandy Rounseville

Springfield, Missouri

Mandy earned eighth place at the Springfield Women’s Classic, and tenth at the San Francisco Pro Stop. She started playing handball at the age of fourteen with her twin, Amber, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She went through the Junior Program at the local YMCA under coach Paul Smith when she was asked by a friend to go down to the YMCA to try handball. Mandy was a Collegiate All-American, playing for Southwest Missouri State University. Her training consists of running four or five days a week, lifting weights, and playing regularly with the SMS Handball Team. She loves traveling and cats.

Jennifer (Roberts) Schmitt

Tucson, Arizona

Jennifer has finished in the top five for over five years, though she has taken two maternity leaves during that time to have sons Taylor and Dylan. She earned fifth place at the 2002 Nationals and the last Women’s Classic, and third at the 2002 Austin Pro Stop. Before her last maternity leave, Jennifer was a regular in the semi's of each event, finishing third in the 1999 and 2000 Nationals, third in the 2000 Classic, fourth in the 2000 Women’s Pro, and second in the 1999 Classic. In 3-Wall, Jennifer has won two national doubles titles with sister Allison. Her left fist is a terror to opponents, powerful and hard to predict if it is going up or rolling.

Priscilla (Kojin) Shumate

Indianapolis, Indiana

Priscilla came back with guns blazing after missing the Fall Classic in Springfield. She dominated the 2002 Nationals and the last Women’s Pro event in Austin, defeating Anna Christoff in the final of both, 20 & 8, and 16 & 4, respectively. 2000 was a record year for Priscilla, as she claimed the USHA National 4-Wall, 1-Wall and 3-Wall titles. This was the first time anyone had won all three Open titles in the same year since Vic Hershkowitz in 1952. If that was not enough, she then added the Waterford Crystal World Championship Singles Title to her record year. She is a versatile player, as demonstrated by her 1-and 3-Wall prowess. When her power serve is on (which is often) it is so low opponents have to dive to retrieve it, or it just cracks out. She cuts the ball off with precision and accuracy and it is hard to pass her. Priscilla lives in Indianapolis with husband Brian, where she is a regional representative for Nike.

Sydell Smith

Brooklyn, New York

Originally a 1-wall phenomenon, Sydell has been a dominant force in the 3- and 4-wall women’s fields for several years. A versatile player, she plays and competes consistently at the top level in 1-, 3- and 4-wall. Sydell earned sixth place in the 2001 Fall Classic, eighth place in the 2001 Classic and Women’s Pro. She is great at cutting the ball off, and her speed enables her to get a lot of tough shots.

Sydell is married to Kendell Lewis and lives in Brooklyn with their two-year-old son, Kavon, and two older teenagers. This busy mom works for the New York City Court System.