2002:
Chosen to participate in the USA Volleyball A2 Training program...was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection... was third on the team and sixth in the Big 12 Conference in kills (445)...was third on the team in hitting percentage (.271)... was named the AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week and the Big 12 Player of the Week on Sept. 30 after recording back-to-back 20-kill matches against then-No. 20 Texas A&M and then-No. 23 Colorado...had a total of five 20-kill matches, including both NCAA Tournament matches... added 58 blocks (12 solo and 46 block assists) and 58 digs...appeared in the ‘Faces in the Crowd’ section of the Oct. 21 issue of Sports Illustrated...averaged 3.67 kills per game and hit .274 in conference matches...had a season-high .667 hitting percentage against West Virginia on Sept. 7...was named to the all-tournament team at the Crimson Tide Invitational...had double-digit kills in 26 of the 33 matches she played in...recorded a career-high 28 kills in Mizzou’s first round win in the NCAA Tournament over Northwestern... followed that with 22 kills against Northern Iowa in round two...had a hitting percentage over .400 six times...had a season-high six blocks against Kansas on Oct. 19.
2001:
Was a very valuable addition to the Tiger lineup in 2001... reached double figures in kills 12 times and exceeded the 20-kill mark four times...had at least 20 kills in three of the final five matches of the year... recorded a career-best 23 terminations against Texas in the Tigers’ 3-2 win over the Longhorns...had a huge night at the net against Texas A&M on Sept. 22 putting down 13 kills and stuffing a career best seven block assists... was one of three Tigers to reach the 20 kill plateau in Mizzou’s NCAA Tournament match against Illinois with 20 kills...was a finalist for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
2000:
Averaged 1.36 kills per game in 25 games for the University of The Pacific squad that finished the 2000 season at No. 8 in the final AVCA/USA Today Coaches Poll...recorded a .265 hitting percentage and 11 total blocks.
At BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN AND CENTRAL HS:
Attended Briarwood Christian HS in Birmingham, Ala. through her junior year...A five-year letterwinner in volleyball, competed for Briarwood Christian HS varsity volleyball team as an eighth-grader...Was named the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Central HS... An all-city and all-district selection at Central as well, was honored with second team all-state kudos...Led her Briarwood Christian team to three consecutive state championships her freshman through junior seasons...Was recognized with all-state tournament, all-county, and all-state honors her freshman and sophomore seasons, and was named Most Valuable Player of the state tournament her junior campaign after leading the state in blocks and kills as a junior...Squad placed third at the Junior Olympics in 1999... As a sophomore, made the Youth National Team and trained in Lake Placid, NY and was named first alternate on the traveling team.
Personal: Mary Lauren Smith...born August 21, 1982...majoring in Business Management...wants to own large beauty salon in Atlanta...lists snowboarding and traveling as hobbies...favorite book is Harry Potter...listens to a lot of loud music prior to matches...says that “there is no other place I would rather be than right here-right now.”
