ABOUT 150 AREA RESIDENTS got their first look at the 2012 Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team when they faced former members of the squad Saturday, Aug. 18, in the annual alumni match at the Student Recreation Center. The Grizzlies won the match, but the former Grizzlies gave the current team a good workout during the four-game contest, barely losing the last game 22-25. Head Coach Paula Wiedemann was pleased with the turnout of fans and thanked everyone for attending. The Grizzlies begin their season Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24-25, at the Tyler Junior College Invitational Tournament in Tyler, Texas. They will open their home season at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 against John A. Logan College of Carterville, Ill., in the West Plains Civic Center. Posing for a group photo after the match were, front row from left, current Grizzly Taylor Swayzer; Wiedemann’s daughter, Lily; current Grizzlies Victoria Willams and Grace Kiely; Veronica Smith, daughter of former Grizzly Renae Goller-Smith; Goller-Smith (95-97); Goller-Smith’s other daughter, Miranda; former Grizzly and current Athletic Trainer Keri Elrod (95-96); Elrod’s nephew, Kaden Elrod; current Grizzly Nella Ioramo; and Assistant Coach Crystal Stigler, who played with the alumnae. Back row: Wiedemann; current Grizzly Laiz Novaes; former Grizzly Colbi Goff (2010-11); current Grizzlies Brittney Adkisson, Sarah Stretch and Helena Peric; former Grizzly Quanna Speake-Hafer (96-97); currrent Grizzly Magda Zietek; former Grizzly Briana Walsh (2008-09); current Grizzly Candyce Alexander; former Grizzly Perla Quintana (2008-09); and current Grizzly Torika Baleilekutu. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)