April 25, 2003

Two signees announced for Southern volleyball squad

Missouri Southern head volleyball coach Debbie Traywick announced today that two former prep standouts, Amy Barnicle (Springfield, Mo./Willard HS) and Ashley Mehrer (Kansas City, Mo./Winnetonka HS), have signed national letters-of-intent to join the Lady Lions beginning in 2003.

"Ashley and Amy are two quality student-athletes that we're very excited to have in our program," said head coach Debbie Traywick, who is closing in on the 300-win plateau with a career record of 293-269 in 16 years.

Barnicle, a 5-6 outside hitter, helped lead the Willard High School Tigers to a 33-3 overall record in 2002, including a second-place finish at the Missouri Class 3 State Championships. As a senior, she notched 95 kills, 257 digs and 17 service aces. Her junior year, Barnicle tallied 256 perfect passes and was successful on 97 percent of her serves.

Barnicle, who intends to major in biology at MSSC, was also a three-year letterwinner and state qualifier at WHS in track & field.

"Amy is coming in on the honors program," Traywick said. "She has shown me that she has the drive to play at the college level. She wants to be at Missouri Southern and that's very important to us."

Mehrer is a two-time first-team all-conference performer and a second-team all-district pick. The 6-1 middle hittter led the Griffins in kills, blocks and service aces in each of her three years as a varsity letterwinner.

"Ashley will add depth for us at middle hitter and will give us more size at that position," Traywick said. "I think she can definitely push our middles that we already have in house."

Barnicle and Mehrer join Katie Patterson, a 5-8 outside hitter from Lee's Summit, Mo., as the latest additions to the Southern volleyball squad. Patterson signed a letter-of-intent with the Lady Lions in the November early-signing period.

The Lady Lions finished the 2002 season, Traywick's 14th year at the helm, with a 12-16 overall record including a 6-10 mark for a seventh-place finish in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Southern will return three all-conference performers in 2003, led by senior-to-be Kym Mutert, a second-team all-league setter.