FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2007

Lions start tennis season with new coaches in place

Joplin, Mo. - As the 2007 spring tennis season starts at Missouri Southern, the tennis program will be under new direction with Della Hagedorn to step in as the new head coach and her husband, Dave as the assistant.

Della is a graduate of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she played Division I Volleyball for the Cougars. A high school state champion in track, as well, Della has nearly 20 years of coaching experience in tennis, gymnastics and volleyball. She has been employed as a fitness, diet and nutrition instructor and currently owns her own photography business in Joplin.

Dave is a graduate of Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he was a Division I wrestler for the Aggies. Dave is an emergency room physician at St. John's Hospital in Joplin.

Both Dave and Della play tennis competitively at a 4.0 level. The two are the parents of six children between the ages of 14-21. Two of their children have played varsity tennis at Carthage High School.

"We are both extremely excited to come to Southern," said Della. "We know the strong tradition that has been built and want to continue the recent success and go even further."

Southern will continue its season this Wednesday traveling to Springfield to take on Drury.