Editor's Note: In commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the enactment of Title IX, Truman State University Athletics will recognize the important milestones and accomplishments of female athletes, teams and staff members throughout the celebration. Please check back often for more honorees.
 
Teri Clemens, Truman's 1978 Female Athlete of the Year, was a three-sport star for the Bulldogs competing in Softball, Tennis and Field Hockey and later gained notoriety leading the Washington (Mo.) University Bears to seven NCAA Division III Volleyball titles.

Clemens was a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldog field hockey team from 1974 through 1977. She was the softball team's leading hitter as freshman in 1975 hitting .393 with nine runs batted in and a 6-4 pitching record. In 1976, she hit .314 with a team leading 12 RBIs.

Clemens moved to the tennis courts for the 1977 and 1978 springs. She was 14-5 as the Bulldogs went 12-1 in '77 and 6-11 in 1978 as the team captured the MAIAW championship.

Following graduation, she began her historic coaching career by winning three Missouri state volleyball high school championships at Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis.

That string of championships earned her the head coaching job at Washington University in August of 1985. She led the Bears to the 1989 NCAA Division III championship and then built a dynasty that won titles from 1991 through 1996.

Clemens boasted the highest winning percentage all-time in collegiate volleyball with an .873 mark (529-77) during her 14-year career at Washington University. She was a 10-time University Athletic Association (UAA) Staff of the Year honoree and led the Bears to 11 of the first 12 UAA championships while going 136-1 (.993) in 12 years of conference play.

She was inducted into the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Washington University Hall of Fame in 1999.
 
In 2013, Clemens was honored by the NCAA as she was named to the Division II's 40^th anniversary tribute team.