MSSU volleyball season begins today at Washburn Tournament

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern volleyball team begins the 2015 season today at the Washburn University Tournament. Southern will play two matches today and two on Saturday.

About the Lions

Missouri Southern is under the direction of second-year head coach John Napier. Napier led the Lions to an 8-22 mark last season that saw the team double the wins from the previous year. Napier brought in Lauren Noble as his new assistant coach this season and Noble comes to Southern after a season as an assistant at Lamar (Colo.) CC. Noble is a Springfield native and is a graduate of Central Methodist College.

The Lions were picked to finish 11th in the MIAA preseason poll. The Lions return the nation's top blocker from 2014 inCallie Whetstone. The senior led Division II in blocks per set and was second nationally in total blocks. Whetstone will again start, while Monica White, Katie Wiele, Alyx Gepfordand Abby Finder all return to the starting lineup. Newcomers Bridgette Jaeger and Lauren Darby will also step into the starting lineup.

About the Competition

The Lions open up at 11 am today against Drury and will conclude the day with a 4 pm match against Black Hills State. Drury finished 16-11 last season and the Panthers are in the second season under head coach Jennifer Bahner. Drury was picked to finish fifth in the GLVC West preseason poll.

Black Hills State, a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference finished 10-18 last season and is in the second season of head coach Kristin Carmichael. The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish fifth in the Rocky Division of the RMAC preseason poll.

Southern will finish off the tournament tomorrow with a match against South Dakota Mines at 9:30 am and then finish with Augustana at 1:30 pm. SD Mines is a member of the RMAC and the Hardrockers were picked to finish sixth in the Rocky Division. The Rockers are under the direction of interim head coach Doug Tabbert.

Augustana is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and is under the direction of first year head coach Dan Meske. The Vikings were 18-10 last season and were picked to finish sixth in the NSIC preseason poll.