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Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern volleyball team will open up the 2016 season today as the Lions participate in the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies Classic in Goodwell, Oklahoma.
The Lions will face off with the University of Texas - Permian Basin in the first match of the day on Friday at 1 pm and will then take on the host Aggies at 5 pm to end day one. Southern faces Colorado-Coloado Springs at 9 am and Northwestern Oklahoma State at 1 pm on Saturday.
The Lions were picked to finish 12th in the MIAA preseason poll and return five players from the 2015 squad including seniors
Monica White (Bella Vista, Ark.) and
Lauren Darby (Olathe, Kan.). Junior
Alyx Gepford (Butler, Mo.) , as well as sophomore's
Bradyn Wall (Carl Junction, Mo.) and
Bridgette Jaeger (Oconomowoc, Wisc.) return to the court for Southern.
Ten newcomers also join the squad with the majority being first-year freshmen, joining junior college transfer
Bailey Rexford (Butler, Mo. - Longview CC). Incoming freshman include:
Alicia Pickett (Shawnee, Kan.),
Kat Gries (Germantown, Tenn.),
Mikayla Monk (South Lyon, Mich.),
Whitney Harrison (Plano, Texas),
Katie Paine (Olive Branch, Miss.),
Christina Perlinger (Highlands Ranch, Colo.),
Haley Landrum (Lamar, Mo.),
Sydney Dose (Apple Valley, Minn.), and
Kenadi Huhn (Jefferson City, Mo.).
UT-Permian Basin was picked 11th in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll. The Falcons were 8-17 last season and 5-11 in their final season in the Heartland Conference. 2016 marks the first year of membership in the Lone Star Conference.
OPSU was picked eighth in the Heartland Conference preseason poll. The Lady Aggies were 1-32 last year and the team returns seven players back from 2015, including five seniors.
UC-Colorado Springs was picked to finish fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason poll. The Mountain Lions, 16-12 last year nad 11-7 in the RMAC, return five starters from last year's team.
Northwestern Oklahoma was picked seventh in the Great American Conference preseason poll. The Rangers, 11-18 last year and 8-8 in the GAC, return two All-GAC performers and five seniors overall.
