Emporia ? The women’s volleyball coach at Emporia State University is suing the school for $200,000 on the grounds of gender discrimination, a hostile work environment, unequal pay and Title IX violations.

Maxine Mehus claimed she was paid $15,000 to $20,000 less a year than her male head coach colleagues at Emporia State.

Mehus, who has coached volleyball at Emporia State for 15 years, is paid $46,499 annually, according to figures released Sunday by athletic director Kent Weiser.

According to those figures, Mehus is the fifth-highest paid of nine coaches at the school. The highest-paid coach is second-year football coach Dave Wiemers, who makes $63,000 per year.

The only other female coach is second-year softball coach Stacy Gemeinhardt, the lowest paid of the nine coaches at $24,508.

Emporia State does not have a men’s volleyball program.

“I’ve pursued avenues on campus to get this resolved, to no avail,” Mehus said. “It left me with no other alternative than to pursue this in this manner. I feel strongly that the facts of the case will prove themselves out.”

Mehus, who is 451-201 at Emporia State, also is upset that she has only a 10-month contract and has teaching duties. Only three of the nine coaches have 12-month contracts. Mehus is one of three coaches with teaching responsibilities.

Mehus, who also coached volleyball at Peru State College in Nebraska, has a career record of 605-325-18. The Hornets were 20-13 last season and finished fifth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Assn. with a 7-9 conference record.