WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Paula Wiedemann, head coach of the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team, has announced the signing of two more players for the 2016 squad. They include Kinli Simmons, a 5-foot, 8-inch setter from El Dorado Springs, and Maddison “Greer” Rogers, a 6-foot, 1-inch middle attacker from Southside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
“Kinli and Greer are two more players who will fit in well with the team we’re building for next season. They really compliment the players we already have,” Wiedemann said of her latest acquisitions.
A multi-sport athlete, Simmons, sister of former Grizzly Kaili Simmons (2013-14), earned all district honors from 2012-2015, all region honors from 2013-2015 and Class 2 honorable mention all state honors in 2014 and 2015. In addition, she is a four-year academic all state honoree. Simmons helped guide her Bulldogs to four consecutive district championships and two state quarterfinal appearances during her tenure with the team.
“Kinli is a very versatile player,” Wiedemann said. “She has a good volleyball IQ, she’s competitive and has leadership abilities and many other qualities you look for in a player. She’s a different player than Kaili, but she’s going to bring the same versatility and positive energy to the team. It’s great to have another Simmons on the team.”
Rogers led her Confederettes team in kills (261) and blocks (139) this past season and was one of the top blockers in Arkansas. She earned all state and all conference honors and helped lead her team to the Arkansas Class 7A state semifinals the past two seasons.
“The more we watch Greer, the more excited we get about her,” Wiedemann said. “She talks well, she’s high energy and she doesn’t get frustrated easily. She’s all the things you want to see in a middle. The way she meshed with our players when she came for a visit was very encouraging. I think she’s going to be a great fit for what we need going into next year.”
Rogers came to Wiedemann’s attention through University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Head Volleyball Coach Jane Sargent, who coached Rogers when she was in the Fort Smith club program. Wiedemann said Sargent already had a roster full of middles for next season but thought she would fit in well with the Grizzly Volleyball program. “Needless to say, I’ve thanked Jane multiple times since then,” Wiedemann said.
For more information about the Grizzly Volleyball team, visit the team’s website.