McMurry University Athletics

Mandy Findley (Hunter) was a volleyball phenom on some of McMurry's most successful teams in the late 1990s. She graduated from McMurry University in 1998 following a successful four-year athletic career.

Findley earned accolades in all four seasons with McMurry and was an integral piece for the team during the first official season of American Southwest Conference volleyball in 1996. She was a two-time first team all-conference selection as an upperclassman, an honorable mention as a freshman and made the UTPB all-tournament team as a senior.

The Brownwood, Texas native played for two coaches in her career and helped McMurry total a 58-43 overall record over a four-year span. Her final two seasons were played with current head coach Cammie Petree, as McMurry opened their first two seasons of ASC competition with a combined 20-2 conference record.

The 1997 season was a special one for Findley and her team, finishing with a 23-6 record and a perfect 12-0 mark in conference games. Not only did McMurry win all of their ASC matches that season, but also swept all of their opponents without losing a set to claim the conference championship.

Among Findley's teammates over the years are Tracee Nielsen and Shaynna Higley. Nielsen, like Findley, was a first team all-ASC selection and holds the all-time McM record for career service aces. Higley was also part of the 1997 team and frequently assisted Findley with double blocks.

In the record books, Findley ranks fifth in career kills with 1,042…one of six players to hit the 1,000 milestone. She also ranks third all-time in hitting percentage at .302 and fourth in both solo blocks at 144 and total blocks at 353.

One standout moment from Findley's career came from her sophomore season, as she exited a weekend match with a sprained ankle. The following Tuesday night, Findley was cleared to play and slammed 27 kills against cross-town rival Hardin-Simmons.

While at McMurry, Findley was involved in Delta Beta Epsilon and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She graduated in May of 1998 with a degree in multidisciplinary studies.

Findley went on to a successful coaching and teaching career immediately after college, taking her first head coaching job at Sweetwater High School in 1999. The year prior, Findley helped lead Amarillo High School to the 1998 volleyball state championship as an assistant. She also coached volleyball and softball at Abilene High from 2000-05, helping both programs make the state playoff every season.

Her 22-year career in education brought her to Midland, Texas, where she is currently a Department Chair at Abell Junior High School. Abell recently recorded the highest STAAR scores in the district in all areas of the test.

Findley (now Hunter) was married to Mark Hunter in 2006 in Brownwood. The couple have one 10-year-old son, Clayton, and reside in Midland.