Lions picked seventh in MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

In spite of his late start in 2004, head coach Chris Willis still managed to guide the Missouri Southern volleyball team to another berth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament.

In 2005, the MIAA’s coaches again see the Lions in a dogfight for a conference tournament berth.

Missouri Southern’s volleyball squad was picked for seventh place in the 2005 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll announced this week.

Southern received 24 points in the poll, which was led by four-time conference champion Truman State. TSU claimed five of the nine first-place votes and edged No. 2 pick Central Missouri State by two poll points. With CMSU collecting three first-place votes, Washburn got the other and placed third with 49 total points in the rankings.

Pittsburg State (fourth), Emporia State (fifth) and Northwest Missouri State (sixth) ranked just ahead of MSSU. Missouri Western and Southwest Baptist finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in preseason balloting.

The Lions, 14-18 overall (6-10 in the MIAA) in 2004, return four starters led by junior Ashley Mehrer (Kansas City, Mo./Winnetonka) and sophomores Ashley Wright (Everton, Mo./Miller) and Amy Barnicle (Springfield, Mo./Willard). Mehrer, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, averaged 2.67 kills per game while hitting .285. She also posted 131 total blocks (1.08 per game, T-3rd in the MIAA), the most by a Lion since Stephanie Gockley in 1996.

Barnicle, the Lions’ libero, or defensive specialist, set a school record with 600 digs last season as a redshirt freshman and ended up third in the league with 4.96 digs a game. Wright, a 6-foot-1 middle/right side hitter, averaged 2.47 points and 2.03 kills as a redshirt freshman last year.

Southern must replace a major void left by departed senior Jackie Gallagher. A second-team Daktronics All-South Central Region pick, Gallagher finished second in the MIAA last season in both points (5.15 per game) and kills (4.55 pg).

Willis, whose first MSSU squad tied for sixth in the final conference standings, has announced five signees for the coming season, including a freshman setter in Sarah Joles (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) and four hitters –– Cherie Baugh (Joplin, Mo.), Katie Gage (Lamar, Mo.), Ashley Hill (Blue Springs, Mo.) and Megan Norman (Stockton, Mo./NE Oklahoma A&M).

Missouri Southern opens the 2005 season with the MSSU Invitational on Aug. 26-27. Robert Ellis Young Gym and the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center will play host to the 11-team tournament which features 22 matches in two days. The Lions open the regular season on Aug. 26 vs. Quincy (Ill.) at 3 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. matchup with Central Arkansas. On Aug. 27, Southern continues with a 1 p.m. meeting with Henderson State (Ark.), and a 7 p.m. clash with Missouri-St. Louis in the tournament finale.


	Aug. 2, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lions picked seventh in MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll In spite of his late start in 2004, head coach Chris Willis still managed to guide the Missouri Southern volleyball team to another berth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament. In 2005, the MIAA’s coaches again see the Lions in a dogfight for a conference tournament berth. Missouri Southern’s volleyball squad was picked for seventh place in the 2005 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll announced this week. Southern received 24 points in the poll, which was led by four-time conference champion Truman State. TSU claimed five of the nine first-place votes and edged No. 2 pick Central Missouri State by two poll points. With CMSU collecting three first-place votes, Washburn got the other and placed third with 49 total points in the rankings. Pittsburg State (fourth), Emporia State (fifth) and Northwest Missouri State (sixth) ranked just ahead of MSSU. Missouri Western and Southwest Baptist finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in preseason balloting. The Lions, 14-18 overall (6-10 in the MIAA) in 2004, return four starters led by junior Ashley Mehrer (Kansas City, Mo./Winnetonka) and sophomores Ashley Wright (Everton, Mo./Miller) and Amy Barnicle (Springfield, Mo./Willard). Mehrer, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter, averaged 2.67 kills per game while hitting .285. She also posted 131 total blocks (1.08 per game, T-3rd in the MIAA), the most by a Lion since Stephanie Gockley in 1996. Barnicle, the Lions’ libero, or defensive specialist, set a school record with 600 digs last season as a redshirt freshman and ended up third in the league with 4.96 digs a game. Wright, a 6-foot-1 middle/right side hitter, averaged 2.47 points and 2.03 kills as a redshirt freshman last year. Southern must replace a major void left by departed senior Jackie Gallagher. A second-team Daktronics All-South Central Region pick, Gallagher finished second in the MIAA last season in both points (5.15 per game) and kills (4.55 pg). Willis, whose first MSSU squad tied for sixth in the final conference standings, has announced five signees for the coming season, including a freshman setter in Sarah Joles (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) and four hitters –– Cherie Baugh (Joplin, Mo.), Katie Gage (Lamar, Mo.), Ashley Hill (Blue Springs, Mo.) and Megan Norman (Stockton, Mo./NE Oklahoma A&M). Missouri Southern opens the 2005 season with the MSSU Invitational on Aug. 26-27. Robert Ellis Young Gym and the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center will play host to the 11-team tournament which features 22 matches in two days. The Lions open the regular season on Aug. 26 vs. Quincy (Ill.) at 3 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. matchup with Central Arkansas. On Aug. 27, Southern continues with a 1 p.m. meeting with Henderson State (Ark.), and a 7 p.m. clash with Missouri-St. Louis in the tournament finale.