Melissa played collegiate volleyball at the University of Utah. She has coached for 17 years with clubs in Tennessee and Idaho. While coaching with Idaho Crush, she was on the coaching staff of the first team in Idaho to qualify in the Open division at the USAV qualifier, later achieving a 10th place in the Open division at the USAV nationals. Melissa has coached at Kimberly for 4 years, with 1st and 3rd place finishes at state. Melissa has also been awarded coach of the year fourth district. When she is not coaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 5 children, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, traveling, and spending time with her dogs and cats