St. Louis, MO – The American Midwest Conference (AMC) announced its 2026 Hall of Fame Class featuring two athletes, Amy (Mesh) Frederick, a former volleyball player from Columbia College and Karisa Hendrix, a former softball player from Williams Baptist University.
"Congratulations to Amy Frederick and Karisa Hendrix on their selection as the Class of 2026. Both had stellar careers and were bestowed with numerous honors during their playing careers; the Hall of Fame is where individuals with such accomplishments are recognized and honored," AMC Commissioner Will Wolper said. "With the addition of Amy and Karisa as the Class of 2026, the American Midwest Conference Hall of Fame continues to honor those who excelled and brought distinction to the Conference."

Amy (Mesh) Frederick is one of the most impactful athletes in the history of Columbia College volleyball, helping to elevate the program to national prominence during her 1994–1998 career. A four-year starter, Frederick anchored a Cougar squad that amassed an extraordinary 182–29 record and advanced to four consecutive NAIA National Tournaments. Her presence on the court played a pivotal role in securing four conference titles and three region championships, establishing Columbia College as a perennial powerhouse.

Frederick distinguished herself not only through team success but also through remarkable individual achievements. She became the first player in program history to earn NAIA All-America honors in three consecutive seasons, while also collecting First Team All-Region and First Team All-Conference accolades three years in a row. Her performances on the national stage earned her spots on the NAIA National Tournament Team twice, reflecting her ability to excel at the highest level of competition. Across the 1995–1997 seasons, she was among the top athletes in the region and the nation, earning All-American, All-Region, and All-Conference recognition in multiple forms.

A dominant presence at the net, Frederick left an enduring legacy in the Columbia College record books. She holds the single-season record for assist blocks (230) and ranks second in total blocks in a season (282). She also posted single-season totals with 54 and 52 solo blocks, and she concluded her career ranked fourth in solo blocks (106), second in assist blocks (344), and fourth in total career blocks (450).

After earning her degree in business administration, she was inducted into the Columbia College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

"Amy Mesh Frederick's induction into the AMC Hall of Fame is a moment that means so much to all of us at Columbia College," shared Columbia's Director of Athletics Cindy Potter. "Amy set the standard for excellence in our volleyball program, not just with her remarkable talent and competitive drive, but with the way she carried herself as a teammate and leader. Her impact is still felt today, both in the legacy she left on the court and in the expectations, she helped shape for our student-athletes. We are incredibly proud to see her honored in this way, and there is no one more deserving of a place in the AMC Hall of Fame."

AMC Hall of Fame
Class of 2023 – Bob Burchard (Columbia men's basketball coach and AD) and Dan Hogan (Columbia men's head soccer coach/Lindenwood-Belleville men's soccer head coach/Health Sciences & Pharmacy men's soccer head coach)
Class of 2022 – Scott Cummings (AMC Sports Information Director/McKendree SID) and Harry Statham (McKendree men's basketball head coach)
Class of 2021 – Dennis Currier (Harris-Stowe men's soccer coach) and Anthony Stockton (William Woods track and field athlete)
Class of 2020 – Lowell Pitzer (AMC Commissioner/Missouri Baptist AD, men's and women's basketball coach, Faculty Athletics Representative) and Valerie Beeson (AMC Eligibility Chair/Harris-Stowe Faculty Athletics Representative)