Missouri Southern volleyball adds five recruits

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern volleyball coach Kalie Mader has announced the addition of five newcomers for the 2020 season.

Joining the Lions will be a trio of high school student-athletes, as well as a pair of junior college transfers. Both junior college transfers come to the Lions via Fort Scott Community College. Sophie Mader and Abbie Casper will transfer in with a pair of years left in eligibility.

Casper is a 5-6 defensive specialist that hails from Pittsburg, Kan. She was an All-Conference and All-District pick, while helping the Greyhounds to a sixth-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament as a sophomore, earning All-Tournament honors in the process. This past season, Casper averaged 5.65 digs per set, while playing in all 38 matches for Fort Scott.

Casper prepped at Pittsburg High School for coach Megan Mantooth where she was a four-year letter winner for the Purple Dragons. She was a four-time All-Conference selection while also earning letters in basketball and track and field.

Casper is the daughter of Kim and Tim Casper. Her father, Tim, played baseball at Missouri Southern. Casper plans to major in kinesiology.

"I am so grateful to have Abbie joining our team," Mader said. "Her hard work and competitive spirit has already made impact in our gym."

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Sophie Mader is a 6-0 setter from Nickerson, Kan. She was an All-Conference and All-District selection for the Greyhounds, while also picking up All-American honors as a sophomore when she helped the team to a sixth-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. Last season at FSCC, Mader averaged 10.93 assists per set, while playing in all 38 matches.

Mader prepped at Nickerson High School where she was a four-year letter winner for coach Deedra Emel and the Panthers. A three-time All-Conference pick for Nickerson, Mader picked up first-team All-State honors as a senior. She helped the Panthers to a third-place finish at the Kansas State Tournament as a junior and a runner-up finish as a senior.

The younger sister of Lions' head coach Kalie Mader, Sophie is the daughter of Chris and Vikki Mader and plans to major in psychology at Southern.

"Being able to coach my sister is a very unique opportunity," Mader said. "But I am most excited for is to have her volleyball IQ and growth mindset in our gym on a daily basis."

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Kaitlyn Creek is a 5-11 outside hitter from Stockton, Mo., where she prepped at Stockton High School for coach Amanda Walton. A four-year letter winner for the Tigers, Creek also participated in softball and track and field in high school.

Creek was a three-time All-Conference selection, while also earning All-District honors three times. In her career, Creek registered 1,265 kills, while picking up a season high of 529 kills and 406 digs. She has a match-high of 30 digs, as well. Creeek was an AVCA Missouri Volleyball Player of the Week, while also earning a spot on the Under Armour All-American Watchlist. As a softball player, Creek was a two-time All-District selection.

Creek is the daughter of Kelly Creek and plans to major in biology at Southern.

"Kaitlyn is a well-rounded and skilled player," Mader said. "She brings a skill set and competitive mind that will benefit everyone."

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Kylah Carter is a 5-10 outside hitter from Houston, Texas where she prepped at Westside High School for coach Andre King and the Wolves. Carter led her team in kills for three years (sophomore through senior seasons) while also being named the District Player of the Year as a junior. A four-year starter at Westside, she was a captain on the varsity for three seasons.

Carter was a member of the National Honor Society where she ranked in the top 10 percent of her graduating class. The daughter of LaTreshia and Dion Carter, Kylah plans to major in pre-med and biology at Southern.

"Kylah is a very dynamic athlete but what excites me most about Kylah is her drive and her heart," Mader said. "Our gym will be a better place because of her."

Armyni Perales is a 5-10 outside hitter that hails from Houston, Texas and prepped at Bellaire High School. A four-year letter winner for the Cardinals and coach Gloria Clark, Perales was a four-time All-Conference selection, finishing up her career as the conference Player of the Year as a senior.

The daughter of Esteban Perales, Armyni plans to major in pre-med and biology at Southern.

"Armyni is a very skilled player," Mader said. "We are excited to have her experience and composure in the gym. Her presence will have an immediate impact."

Former MSSU All-American Brandon Williams named to Division 2 All-Decade Team

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Former Missouri Southern All-American Brandon Williams has been named as part of the D2football.com All-Decade Team, the web site announced recently.

Williams played for the Lions from 2008-12 and was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

Williams was the highest-ever drafted player from Missouri Southern surpassing the previous high of the fourth-round that Allen Barbre had in 2007 when he was selected by the Green Bay Packers.

Williams was a consensus All-American in 2012, and was named the Division II National Defensive Player of the Year by two different organizations. He was picked as an All-American by five different publications and at the time was just the third Division II player in the history of the sport to be named an All-American in three different seasons. He was a first-team All-MIAA selection and was the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, while also being named the Daktronics Region Defensive Player of the Year.

Williams is the all-time sacks leader for the Lions and finished with 27 in his career at Missouri Southern. He had at least a half sack in all but three games as a senior and had a tackle for a loss in all but one game. He finished the season second on the team with 68 tackles, 31 solo, including 16.5 for a loss of 58 yards. He had 8.5 sacks for a loss of 39 yards, two pass break ups, eight quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and one safety on the season and finished third in the MIAA in sacks and tackles for a loss, while ranking second in forced fumbles. Williams went on to participate in the Senior Bowl and also participated in the NFL's Scouting Combine.

Williams has went on to star for the Ravens turning into one of the NFL's top defensive linemen. Since Williams' arrival, the Baltimore run defense has ranked tops in the NFL in rushing yards per game and per carry allowed. He made his first pro start in 2014 and has started in every game he has played since. In 2018, Williams started in every game, en route to recording 34 tackles, and one sack and his first Pro Bowl appearance. In his career with the Ravens, Williams has 245 tackles, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, six pass deflections and recorded a defensive touchdown in the 2017 season.

Williams is one of nine former MIAA players on the team. The complete list is below.

D2Football.com All-Decade Team
First Team

QB Jason Vander Laan Ferris State
RB Franklyn Quiteh Bloomsburg
RB Austin Ekeler Western Colorado
WR Jeff Janis Saginaw Valley
WR Billy Brown Shepherd
TE Adam Shaheen Ashland
OL Ryan Schraeder Valdosta State
OL Garth Heikkinen Minnesota Dulth
OL Ryan Jensen CSU-Pueblo
OL Amini Silatolu Midwestern State
OL Joe Long Wayne State (Mich.)

DL Matt Judon Grand Valley
DL Brandon Williams Missouri Southern
DL Jamie Meder Ashland
DL Matt Lonacre Northwest Missouri
LB Deon Lacey West Alabama
LB Nate Dreiling Pittsburg State
LB Connor Harris Lindenwood
DB Malcolm Butler West Alabama
DB Kyle Dugger Lenoir-Rhyne
DB Rontez Miles Cal U
DB Pierre Desir Lindenwood

K Greg Zuerlein Missouri Western
P Taylor Accardi Colorado School of Mines
AP John Brown Pittsburg State

Second Team

QB Luis Perez Texas A&M-Commerce
RB Cameron McDondle CSU-Pueblo
RB Ja'Quan Gardner Humboldt State
WR Brody Oliver Colorado Mines
WR Shane Zylstra Minnesota State
TE Brian Leonhardt Bemidji State
OL Alex Cappa Humboldt State
OL Eric Kush Cal U
OL Brandon Fusco Slippery Rock
OL Matt Armstrong Grand Valley
OL Trey Pipkens Sioux Falls

DL Marcus Martin Slippery Rock
DL Grover Stewart Albany State
DL Cedric Thornton Southern Arkansas
DL Zach Sieler Ferris State
LB Larry Dean Valdosta State
LB Adam Bighill Central Washington
LB Carlos Fields Winston-Salem
DB Janoris Jenkins North Alabama
DB Jeff Heath Saginaw Valley
DB Tavierre Thomas Ferris State
DB Brandon Dixon Northwest Missouri

K Dante Brown Fort Hays
P Randy Weich Wayne State (Neb.)
AP Deonte Harris Assumption

MSSU's Cam Martin named finalist for Bevo Francis Award

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)


Missouri Southern big man Cam Martin has been named a finalist for the Bevo Francis Award, presented by Small College Basketball to the Player of the Year.

Martin made the top 100, top 50 and top 25 lists and is one of the top 14 players according to Small College Basketball. The Bevo Francis Award consists of some of the top players from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA Division I, NAIA Division II, USCAA and NCCAA.

The Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. 

Considerations will be season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements. This is an incredibly prestigious award, as this award will only be given to one player within Small College Basketball per season.

Martin, a 6-9 native of Yukon, Okla., was named an All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as well as the Conference Commissioner's Association (CCA). Martin was a first-team All-Region pick by the NABC and the CCA, as well as a first-team All-MIAA selection this season and was a member of the All-MIAA Tournament Team.

This season, Martin led the MIAA in scoring, rebounds, defensive rebounds, double-double's free throw attempts, free throws made, total field goals made, total points and total rebounds, while ranking second in blocks, field goal percentage, total blocks and total field goal attempts. Martin averaged 24.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this year, while shooting 58 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line. He had a team-high 46 blocks and was third on the team with 61 assists.

Martin currently has the MSSU top career scoring average at 23.3, while ranking third in career field goal percentage (.594) and fifth in free throw shooting (.815). Martin set the MSSU single-game scoring record at Missouri Western this season as he scored 54 points against the Griffons. The 54 points is the most scored in Division II this year and Cam is one of only four players to hit the 50-point plateau this year. Martin had two of the top-eight scoring games this season in Division II.

Martin is the only MSSU basketball player to ever score 700 or more points in a season twice and he is one of just two to ever score 700 points in a season. Martin currently has 1,466 points in his two-year career at MSSU and is third in NCAA Division II active career scoring average at 23.3, while ranking 6th in career double-double's and 11th in free throws made and attempted. Martin was named the MIAA's Player of the Week seven times this season.

Martin is one of three MIAA players to be named finalists as Northwest Missouri's Trevor Hudgins and Ryan Hawkins were both named finalists, as well.

The winner of this year's award will be announced at 6 pm on Monday (April 6) evening. A complete video of the finalists is available via the link above.