Missouri Western women’s volleyball coach Cory Frederick has announced the signing of three student-athletes for the 2012 season. Western welcomes Holly Pollock of Bloomington, Ill., Jessie Thorup of Olathe, Kan. and Jordan Chohon of Columbus, Neb. to the squad.

Holly Pollock played her high school volleyball at Normal Community high school in Bloomington, Ill. Pollock has been a two time first team All-Area selection as well as an honorable mention selection once. She was the captain of her team her senior season and named to the Autumn Fest All-Tournament team. She has also helped her team become the Big 12 Conference Champions three years in a row. She is also an excellent student being named to a Big 12 Scholar Athlete three times and being a member of her high schools National Honor Society.  Pollock is an outside hitter and defensive specialist who plans on majoring in medical technology at Western.

“Holly Pollock will be competing at both the Outside Hitter and Defensive Specialist positions in 2012,” stated Frederick. “Not only does she bring a solid skill set with her, but her leadership skills are exemplary and will have an immediate positive impact on our team.  Her personality is a great addition to our team chemistry and she will quickly battle for a position in our starting lineup.  She’s led her high school team to a very successful 2011 season and we look forward to her doing the same for us in 2012.”

Jessie Thorup played her high school volleyball at St. Thomas Aquinas in Olathe, Kan. Thorup has lettered in volleyball two years earning EKL Honorable Mention and was named to the Missouri-Kansas All Star Team. In 2009 she helped her AAU volleyball team win the national tournament. She is a solid student being a member of the National Honor Society and the Honor Roll. She is a very versatile player who may play multiple positions for coach Frederick and the Griffons. She plans on majoring in psychology at Western.

“Jessie Thorup is a complete player who can battle for a starting role at several positions,” commented Frederick. “Her versatility is going to be a great asset to our program and we look forward to the options she will bring to our offense. She comes from a great family and her positive team attitude will fit in well with our core group of returning players.  She’s been wonderful to work with throughout the recruiting process and we look forward to having her with us in 2012.”

Jordan Chohon played her high school volleyball at Scotus Central Catholic high school in Columbus, Neb. Jordan is coming off a year where she led her team to the C-1 State Volleyball Championship for the second time in three years (2009 and 2011). Jordan is a three year letter winner in volleyball where she was named All-State and All-Conference twice. She is a three time Columbus Classic MVP and was a team captain this past season. She is also a three year letter winner in basketball and a four year letter winner in soccer. She is an excellent student being a four year honor roll member. She is a setter who plans on majoring in physical therapy/pre-med at Western.

“Jordan Chohon will bring some added height to our setting position,” said Frederick. “She’s an excellent setter with a great understanding of how to run an offense. Her technical skills are very proficient and her understanding of the game is extremely high. As with all of our recruits, she has a team oriented personality that fits very well with our program and I have no doubt she will make an immediate impact upon arrival in August.”

— MWSU Sports Information —

After a 55-17 victory over the Tigers of Fort Hays State University the Missouri Western football team jumped up to 16th in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Griffons closed out the regular season winning seven straight games which is the first time a Griffon team has done this since 1981. Western also tied a single season record for most wins in a season with nine. The Griffons have previously done this in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009.

Three other MIAA school were in the top 15 as Washburn sits 15th while Pittsburg State and Northwest Missouri sit at 7th and 10th respectively.

The Griffons will host their first ever home playoff game on Saturday, November 19 at 12:00 pm. Western will take on rival 10th ranked Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Last season Western fell 28-24 in the first round in Maryville, Mo. Just two weeks ago the Griffons defeated Northwest 31-28 in St. Joseph, Mo.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Tickets for the first ever home playoff game in Spratt Stadium pitting Super Region Four’s fourth seed Missouri Western against fifth seeded Northwest Missouri State will go on sale at 9 AM Monday morning in Looney Complex Room 229 on the MWSU campus.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adult General Admission: $10.00
Youth General Admission (ages 4 thru college student): $5.00
Senior Citizen General Admission (65 and over): $5.00
Gold Coat Bleacher Reserved: $12.00
Gold Coat Chairback Reserved: $15.00
Gold Coat Stadium Club Reserved: $25.00
Children 3 and under will be admitted FREE

Only general admission seating will be available to the general public Monday morning.  MWSU Gold Coat Club Member will have 48 hours to purchase their seats from the 2011 regular season.  Any unsold reserved seats will become available Wednesday morning at 8 AM.

There are two ways to purchase tickets in presale from MWSU.  Fans may come to the ticket office in person Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8 AM – 4:30 PM or they may charge by phone by calling either 816-271-448 or 816-271-5904. Griffon Athletics accepts cash, check (made out to MWSU Athletics) or credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Discover).  No on-line sales are available.

We expect a high volume of calls especially early in the week so please be patient with us and we invite folks to come to our office in person.

Tickets will also be available on game day beginning at 10 AM in all Spratt Stadium ticket booths.  Stadium gates will open at 10:30 AM with kickoff set for 12 PM.

Gold Coat & Stadium Club parking passes will be honored for this game with reserved lots opening at 9:30 AM.

Per NCAA policy, no complimentary tickets are allowed at NCAA Championship events.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western football team ended the regular season with a 55-17 win over Fort Hays State. The win gave the Griffons seven consecutive victories for the first time since 1981, and the second time in program history. Western finished the regular season 9-2, winning nine regular season games for just the second time in program history; last in 2006.

Western rushed for 434 yards, with Travis Partridge and Michael Hill each going over the century mark on the ground. It was the first time two Griffons rushed for 100 yards in a game since Sept. 2, 2010, when Thomas Hodges and Hill did it at Mesa State.

The Griffons win streak and second consecutive NCAA Division II playoff berth seemed to be in jeopardy early. Fort Hays jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after Andre Smith ran in for a 3-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage.

Western responded with a methodical 6-play, 50-yard drive that was capped off by a Travis Partridge 4- yard scamper into the end zone. Fort Hays answered when Andre Smith added his second rushing TD to put the Tigers up 14-7 with 8:24 remaining in the first quarter.

From that point on it was all Griffons, with Hays only adding a 27-yard Tyler Kimbrough field goal with 2:56 remaining in the first half. Kimbrough’s kick made it 21-17, after Hill had scored two of his three touchdowns on the day.

Hill’s first score was a 20-yard run that ended a 7-play, 70-yard drive that took 2:39 off the clock. Hill added his second, a 1-yard push that put Western up for good, 21-14. Western took 2:37 off the clock with its last possession of the first half; resulting in a 2-yard Hill touchdown run. The Griffons took a 28-17 lead into halftime. It was the second time this season that Western scored 28 in the first half, scoring 43 against Lincoln on Oct. 8.

The Tigers forced Western to punt on its first drive of the second half. Dan Ritter forced a Paul Kedron fumble on the return that was recovered by Jake Buckwalter at the Hays 20. Four plays later, Partridge hit Tarrell Downing for an 8-yard touchdown to make it 35-17, Western.

On the third play of Hays’ next drive, Ben Jackson intercepted a Blake McAhren pass and took it 35 yards for a touchdown to put Western up 42-17. Greg Zuerlein padded his MIAA record for consecutive field goals made, with a 27-yarder in the third quarter that brought his streak to 17-straight. Zuerlein added another in the fourth quarter from 35 yards out.

Dominic Thomas made it 52-17 with his 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter; Western’s fifth rushing score on the day. Hill finished with 182 yards on 25 carries and three rushing touchdowns. Partridge had 12 carries for 105 yards and a score. Partridge was 8-14 through the air for 45 yards, one interception and a touchdown.

Hill also led the Griffons with three receptions for 13 yards. Downing added two catches for 16 yards and the touchdown. Jackson led the defense with six total tackles. David Bass picked up 1.5 sacks, falling a half sack short of tying the school record for sacks in a season.

Western will await its postseason destiny Sunday afternoon at an NCAA Division II Playoff selection show party held at the Fulkerson Center on the Missouri Western campus. Fans are invited to join the team at 3:30 p.m. The selection show will begin at 4 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team closed out their season with a 3-2 (25-27, 25-23, 25-23, 15-25, 15-12) hard fought loss against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats. The Griffons had 68 kills with senior Alex Behnke getting 17. Western wraps up the season 14-17 overall and 7-11 in MIAA play.

The Griffons took set one 27-25 hitting .260 with 19 kills in 50 attacks. The next two sets belonged to the Bearcats as they took both sets 25-23 before the Griffons tied the set at two with a 25-15 set four victory. In set five the Griffons battled close but fell 15-12 ending their season.

Shelby Corkill, Hannah Zimmerman and Meredith McCormick pitched in 13, 12 and 11 kills respectively while Stephanie Hattey had 53 set assists. Sarah Faubel had 20 digs while Hattey pitched in 15.

The Bearcats improve to 12-21 overall and 5-13 in MIAA play. Caitlyn Muder had 14 of the Bearcats 62 kills while Kelsey Fankhauser had 28 set assists.

Three Griffon seniors (Hannah Zimmerman, Tahler Johnston and Alex Behnke) played their last match for the Griffons.

— MWSU Sports Information —