WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Volleyball team completed an undefeated season in Missouri Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) play Wednesday night with its 25-6, 25-6, 25-3 victory over St. Louis Community College at the West Plains Civic Center arena.
MCCAA members include the Grizzlies, St. Louis, East Central College in Union, Jefferson College in Hillsboro and Mineral Area College (MAC) in Park Hills.
“It was nice to pick up the victory and finish the MCCAA season undefeated,” the coach said.
Statistics from the game show freshman outside attacker Catja Weijzen leading the Grizzlies offensively at the net with 14 kills. Sophomore setter Blanca Izquierdo recoreded a team-leading 29 assists, and sophomore libero Autumn Reese had a 2.20 pass rating.
Defensively, freshman middle attacker Greer Rogers led the team in blocks with 2.5, including two solo blocks. Reese and freshman outside attacker Johonna Walkup led the team in digs with six each, and Izquierdo led the team in service aces with four. Weijzen had a team-leading total of 17 points earned.
The Grizzlies will travel to Hillsboro Friday and Saturday to compete in the annual Jefferson College Invitational, where they will play Vincennes University at 1 p.m. and Cloud County Community College at 5 p.m. Friday. Saturday, they will face Illinois Central College at 10 a.m. and John A. Logan College at 2 p.m.
They will return home for their final match of the season at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against MAC in a non-region, non-conference contest that is being sponsored by Community First Banking Company and Screenshots Printing and Design. This also will be the Grizzlies’ annual “Dig Pink Night” in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, and it will be “Sophomore Night” for the team’s four sophomores who will be leaving the team after this season: Izquierdo, Reese, outside hitter Stephanie Phillips and defensive specialist Maja Petronijevic.
Special T-shirts for “Dig Pink Night” are available for $12 for youth sizes through adult XL and $15 for 2X and 3X. Orders can be placed by downloading the order form on the Grizzly Volleyball Facebook page, Missouri State University-West Plains Volleyball,” or by contacting Strength and Conditioning Coach Keri Elrod at 417-255-7936 or KeriElrod@MissouriState.edu. Some shirts will be available for purchase at the game. Fans also will be able to order shirts at the game. All proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.
The Student Government Association also will have a booth at the game to collect donations for the foundation.
“It’s going to be a very special night,” Wiedemann said. “We hope everyone will come out and show their support for the team and appreciation for our sophomores. They deserve it!”
For more information about the Grizzly Volleyball team, visit its website.