MSSU Athletic Department saddened by death of former women's basketball coach Jim Phillips

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern athletic department is saddened to hear of the passing of former women's basketball coach and MSSU Athletics Hall of Famer Jim Phillips.

Phillips, 78, passed away on Friday, August 20, with his daughters at his side. A native of Douglasville, Ga., Phillips was born on August 9, 1943 in Mayfield, Ky.

Phillips was inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. He is the second-winningest coach in Missouri Southern women's basketball history. His career mark of 129-72 from 1981-88, served as the most wins in Southern history until Maryann Mitts broke the record in 2008-09.

Phillips was the NAIA District 16 Coach of the Year when he helped the Lions to a second-place finish in the national tournament in 1982, the highest finish in school history. He was also an Area IV and National Coach of the Year Finalist in that same year.

He was also named the District 16 Coach of the Year in 1984 and he was the Central States Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year in both 1984 and 1985. He served on the NAIA District 16 national committee from 1982-88 and was the chair from 1982-84. Prior to Southern, Phillips also served as the head women's coach at Virginia State University from 1975-79. He helped the team to its highest-ever finish nationally (fifth, 1978). From Southern, Phillips went on to coach at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee.

Phillips' 1985-86 team went 25-7 and the 25 wins is tied for the second-highest total wins in a women's basketball season at Southern. He helped coach three different CSIC players of the year (Pam Brisby, Margaret Womack and Anita Rank), and two freshmen of the year, while coaching the NAIA District 16 player of the year in 1982 (Brisby).

Phillips earned a bachelors degree in English from Austin Peay and completed his masters degree in education from Utah State University. He earned a doctorate in health, physical education and recreation from Middle Tennessee State University. He is survived by his daughters Melody (Logan) Creasy and Jamie (Jason) Durant; grandchildren: Gracen, Paisley, Samantha, Judson, Hayden, Freeman, and Piper, and numerous friends.

A celebration of life service will be held today at 1:00 pm at Shackleford Funeral Directors located at 104 Hill St, Waynesboro, TN 38485. Visitation will be August 24th from 12:00 pm until the hour of service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the Go Sports Ministry of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1796, Douglasville, GA where he was a member.

Roughrider Scholarship Rodeo scheduled

(From Crowder College)

The 9th Annual Roughrider Scholarship Rodeo will be held August 20 and 21, 608 Field Avenue, Neosho. Gates open at 6pm with the rodeo starting at 7:30pm.

Tickets are available in advance: $10-Adults, $8-children ages 6-12; 5 and under are free; and may be purchased at Crowder College Bookstore, First Community Bank locations, and Eric Norris-State Farm Insurance.

Tickets may be purchased at the gate for an additional $2 each. This event is a scholarship fundraiser for student in the agriculture program.

Top rodeo contestants will compete in nine different events which is ACRA/IPRA sanctioned. 

Local vendors and concessions will also be available. Sophie Duch,14 year old trick rider will perform her specialty act that is sure to entertain. This event is sponsored in part by RiverBend Casino and Hotel, Wyandotte, OK as well as many local sponsors.

For more information please call 417.455.5720.

Kids Free Fishing Day scheduled at Roaring River State Park

(From Missouri State Parks)

Roaring River State Park invites the public to its annual Kids Free Fishing Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. Youth will have the opportunity to fish for free all day, along with the opportunity to connect with nature and participate in many different activities.

Children 15 and younger can get their free tags from the hatchery the night before the event – Friday, Aug. 20 – and Saturday, Aug. 21. One section of the river will be designated for youth under the age of 15 to fish in all day. Adults may only fish in this area if accompanied by a child who is participating in the free fishing day.

Children are encouraged to bring their own fishing pole and equipment. Volunteers will be present to help in any way possible. Parents/guardians are welcome to help the children as needed, but only one pole between the helper and the child may be used at any time.

Free hot dogs, chips and soda will be available between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

There are programs and activities scheduled throughout the day available to both children and adults. Programs will include fish cooking, fish casting, fly fishing, knot tying, fly tying, watersheds, furs and skulls, live snakes, a hatchery tour and more.

Programs are subject to change depending on staffing and weather. There will be live bluegrass bands playing periodically throughout the day. Children who attend three of these programs will be entered in a drawing held at 5 p.m. that day and must be present to win. Programs are open to all, but only children are allowed to enter the drawing.

The public is strongly encouraged to follow social-distancing guidelines and be proactive in protecting themselves and others.

Roaring River State Park is located seven miles south of Cassville on Highway 112 in Barry County. For more information about the event, contact the park office at 417-847-2539.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Missouri Southern football practice begins Saturday

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern football team will open up fall practice tomorrow when the Lions take the field at Fred G. Hughes Stadium for a morning practice.

The Green and Gold will suit up in helmets as the team meets for its first practice at 10:30 am inside the stadium. The Lions will have nine practices before the first day of classes. 

Tomorrow's practice is just with helmets to help re-acclimate the student-athletes back into their sport. The team will have two practices with helmets and two with shells before its first full-pads practice on Wednesday, August 11.

Practice times are listed below. The team's first scrimmage will be on August 14. Fans are welcome to attend practices, but must remain in the stands at all times and practice social distancing or wear masks when that can not be observed.

MSSU Football Preseason Practice Schedule
8-7: 10:30 am
8-8: 3:15 pm
8-9: 10:15 am
8-10: 10:15 am
8-11: 10:15 am
8-12: 10:15 am
8-13: 10:15 am
8-14: 10:5 am (Scrimmage)
8-15: 3:15 pm

Carl Junction's Jillian Kennedy among seven added to MSSU volleyball team

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern volleyball coach Kalie Mader has announced the addition of seven players to finalize the 2021 roster. The list includes five high school players and two Division I transfers.

What I admire most about this class is they all have an intense passion for the game, love to be in the gym and will continue to pour their hearts into MSSU volleyball," Mader said. "It's going to be fun to watch them bring depth, skill, and competitiveness to our gym. Additionally, I am excited to see how we can help each of them grow."

Below are short bios of each incoming player and Coach Mader's take on each of them.

Francesca Enna - Enna originally signed with Division I South Dakota State where she redshirted ... Enna prepped at Staley High School where she had 359 digs and 36 aces as a senior ... She was a two-time Academic All-State honoree and a member of the National Honor Society.

Coach Mader Says - Frankie is a determined player with excellent communication skills and we are excited to add more depth to our backrow.

Josey Goldberg - Goldberg prepped at Pea Ridge High School where she played volleyball and basketball for the Blackhawks ... On the volleyball court, Goldberg was a four-year letter winner for coach Jessica Woods where she finished her career with over 1,000 kills and digs ... Goldberg was a four-time All-Conference and All-State selection ... On the basketball court, Goldberg was a two-time letter winner as a forward.

Coach Mader Says - Josey is a very skilled player with lots of experience. I really think she will add finesse to our pin hitters.

Emily-Kate Lonergan - Lonergan prepped at Blue Valley High School where she lettered in both volleyball and track and field for coaches Dave Johnson (volleyball) and Andrew Reeves (track and field) ... On the volleyball court, Lonergan was an All-Conference pick as a senior where she helped the team to a State Championship ... In track and field, Lonergan was an All-State selection as a senior, finishing fifth in the triple jump at the Kansas 6A State Championships.

Coach Mader Says - I am so excited to have EK in the gym. Her passion for the game is unmatched and her versatility will serve our team in more ways than one.

Avery Lanning - Lanning was a two-year letter winner in both volleyball and track and field at Har-Ber High School ... On the volleyball court, Lanning played for coach Cassie Loyd ... Playing for the Ozark Juniors Club Team, Lanning led the team in digs in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons ... On the track, Lanning ran the hurdles, while also throwing the shot put and discus for coach Chris Clinton ... She placed fifth at the state meet as a sophomore in the shot put.

Coach Mader Says - Avery is a fantastic player and teammate, with a love for the game. I am excited to add her depth to our roster for 2021.

Irina Alekseeva - Alekseeva transfers to Southern from East Tennessee State University ... Alekseeva did not play at ETSU due to Covid-19 and transferred to ETSU from Dayton where she redshirted her junior season ... Prior to Dayton, Alekseeva was a two-year starter at Iowa Western Community College where she finished her career with 997 kills and a 3.56 kills per set average and a .288 hitting percentage ... She was an NJCAA All-American in 2017 and 2018 while leading her team in kills each season, finishing in the top ten in kills nationally each year ... Also an All-Region selection at IWCC, she led the team to a third-place national finish in 2018, while leading the team in kills, assists and aces ... She was twice named the National Player of the Week in 2018, while earning a conference player of the week honor seven times. High School - Alekseeva prepped at Beacon High School in Beacon New York where she earned four varsity letters under head coach Ron Gapliaro ... Alekseeva was also a member of The School of Olympic Reserve in Russia.

Coach Mader Says - Irina brings a lot of high level experience to our gym and a competitive mentality that will allow us to continue to grow.

Bonnie Hegarty - Hegarty prepped at Manhattan High School where she was a letter winner in volleyball and track and field for the Indians ... On the volleyball court, Hegarty was a two-time All-Conference selection, earning three varsity letters in the process for coach Krista Skucius ... Hegarty finished her senior season with an attack average of .472.

Coach Mader Says - Bonnie is such a hard worker, her skill, her will and her mentality will be great to add to what we already have.

Jillian Kennedy - Kennedy prepped at Carl Junction High School where she was a three-time letter winner for coach Cheryl Sharples, as well as lettering in track and field, throwing the javelin ... on the volleyball court, Kennedy helped the Bulldogs to a pair of District Championships, including a 24-7 record her senior season ... She was a two-time All-District and All-Conference selection, while earning three Academic All-State honors ... Over her junior and senior seasons, Kennedy finished with 38 blocks, 298 kills and 55 aces.

Coach Mader Says - Jillian is not only a hard-worker but a versatile player, her presence will be a wonderful add to our gym.

The Lions open up the 2021 season on September 3 and 4 when Southern will play in the Drury Invitational in Springfield.