Three Lions on All-MIAA Volleyball Team

Missouri Southern State University senior Jackie Gallagher (Glendale, Ariz.) finished the regular season ranked second in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in kills and third in points. Today, the 5-foot-11 senior was named a second-team choice for the second straight year on the All-MIAA Volleyball Team.

Gallagher heads up a group of three Lions to receive all-conference volleyball honors. Junior Denise Lancaster (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and sophomore Ashley Mehrer (Kansas City, Mo.) were named to the honorable mention unit.

Gallagher finished the 2004 season averaging 5.15 points and 4.55 kills per game to lead the Lions to a second straight berth in the MIAA Postseason Tournament. She also finished third on the team with 363 digs (3.0 per game) and tied for ninth in the MIAA with 0.33 service aces a game (40 total).

Gallagher leaves as MSSU’s career leader with 4.49 kills per game. Her 551 kills this season ranks third on the Lions’ single-season chart.

Lancaster, a 5-8 setter, joined Southern this season from Redlands College in Oklahoma City. She stepped into the setter role, despite coming to the club as a junior college all-region right-side hitter, and finished the season with 1,342 assists (11.57 per game), seventh on the MSSU single-season list and the team’s most since 1996. Lancaster ended the regular season ranked fourth in the MIAA in assists. She also charted 102 kills, 34 service aces, 317 digs and 45 blocks.

Mehrer was, like Gallagher, one of five Lions to play in every game of every match this season. Mehrer ended the year with 131 blocks (1.08 per game), the most by a Southern performer since Stephanie Gockley knocked down 133 in 1996. Mehrer, who ends her sophomore year also finished second on the team with 323 kills (2.67 per game) and led the Lions in hitting (.285), finishing the regular season ranked ninth in the MIAA in the latter category.

Mehrer’s 131 total blocks this year ranks sixth on the Southern single-season list. Her 99 block assists is the second-highest total in school history.

Missouri Southern finished the 2004 season on Tuesday night with a 3-1 loss at No. 16 Washburn in the first round of the conference postseason tournament. The Lions ended head coach Chris Willis’ first-year at the helm with a 14-18 record overall and 6-10 in the MIAA for a sixth-place tie in the league standings. Southern, which defeated then No. 22 West Texas A&M on Sept. 10, made its second straight appearance in the league tourney and was ranked No. 9 in the South Central Region as of Wednesday.


	Nov. 11, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Three Lions on All-MIAA Volleyball Team Senior Gallagher picked for second-team laurels Missouri Southern State University senior Jackie Gallagher (Glendale, Ariz.) finished the regular season ranked second in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in kills and third in points. Today, the 5-foot-11 senior was named a second-team choice for the second straight year on the All-MIAA Volleyball Team. Gallagher heads up a group of three Lions to receive all-conference volleyball honors. Junior Denise Lancaster (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and sophomore Ashley Mehrer (Kansas City, Mo.) were named to the honorable mention unit. Gallagher finished the 2004 season averaging 5.15 points and 4.55 kills per game to lead the Lions to a second straight berth in the MIAA Postseason Tournament. She also finished third on the team with 363 digs (3.0 per game) and tied for ninth in the MIAA with 0.33 service aces a game (40 total). Gallagher leaves as MSSU’s career leader with 4.49 kills per game. Her 551 kills this season ranks third on the Lions’ single-season chart. Lancaster, a 5-8 setter, joined Southern this season from Redlands College in Oklahoma City. She stepped into the setter role, despite coming to the club as a junior college all-region right-side hitter, and finished the season with 1,342 assists (11.57 per game), seventh on the MSSU single-season list and the team’s most since 1996. Lancaster ended the regular season ranked fourth in the MIAA in assists. She also charted 102 kills, 34 service aces, 317 digs and 45 blocks. Mehrer was, like Gallagher, one of five Lions to play in every game of every match this season. Mehrer ended the year with 131 blocks (1.08 per game), the most by a Southern performer since Stephanie Gockley knocked down 133 in 1996. Mehrer, who ends her sophomore year also finished second on the team with 323 kills (2.67 per game) and led the Lions in hitting (.285), finishing the regular season ranked ninth in the MIAA in the latter category. Mehrer’s 131 total blocks this year ranks sixth on the Southern single-season list. Her 99 block assists is the second-highest total in school history. Missouri Southern finished the 2004 season on Tuesday night with a 3-1 loss at No. 16 Washburn in the first round of the conference postseason tournament. The Lions ended head coach Chris Willis’ first-year at the helm with a 14-18 record overall and 6-10 in the MIAA for a sixth-place tie in the league standings. Southern, which defeated then No. 22 West Texas A&M on Sept. 10, made its second straight appearance in the league tourney and was ranked No. 9 in the South Central Region as of Wednesday.