The Missouri Western softball team found itself ranked 6th in the second NCAA Central regional ranking, unveiled late Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA Division II softball committee.

The Griffons (31-15), who last qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2012, were one of four Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association teams to sit atop the Central region. In a region comprised of teams from the MIAA, Great America Conference, and the and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Griffons sit ahead of Southeastern Oklahoma State (7th), Fort Hays State (8th), Southern Arkansas (9th) and East Central (10th). Emporia State leads the way while Winona State sits No. 2. Minnesota State, Augustana (S.D.) and Central Oklahoma came in 3rd-5th respectively.

The top eight teams qualify for the NCAA Central regional, which will begin on May 9 at two campus sites. Seeds one, four, five, and eight will compete at one site in a double-elimination format, while seeds two, three, six, and seven will do the same at a second site. Each sub-regional winner will advance to the Central super-regional the following weekend for a best-of-three showdown, with the advancing team moving on to the NCAA Div. II College World Series – held in Salem, Va., from May 22-26.

The NCAA will release its second of three weekly polls next Wednesday (April 23), with a final regular season release coming on Wednesday, April 30. The selection show will take place on Monday, May 5.

Under the direction of head coach Jen Bagley, the Griffons will take on Northeastern State on Friday, April 24 in St. Joseph, Mo. Game time is set for 4 pm. They will round out the season on Saturday, April 25th with a doubleheader against Central Oklahoma beginning at noon. The Griffons will honor four seniors who will be playing their last home regular season games of their career. They are Kat Steponovich, Jackie Bishop, Michelle Stevenson and Taylor Anding.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western head volleyball coach Marian Carbin announces the signing of three more student-athletes for the 2014 season. Erin Bodenstab of Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs High School), Amanda Dalbey of Lansing, Kan. (Lansing High School) and Danielle Moore of Bloomington, Ill. (Central Catholic High School) will join Ashley Mainord an outside hitter/middle blocker from Springtown, Texas who signed back in November 2013.

“We are very excited to announce the signing of these three young ladies,” commented Coach Carbin. “As a group they will add much needed depth at key positions and also bring flexibility to our roster as two of the three have the potential to play multiple positions.”

Erin Bodenstab is a 5-9 setter from Blue Springs, Mo. where she attended Blue Springs High School. She a four year member and a three year starter on her high school team. During her career she earned multiple awards which include 1st Team All-Area, All-District and All-Conference. She was also a 2nd Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State selection. She played in the Mo/Kan All-Star game and was a selected to the All-Tournament team at the Missouri State Tournament. She is the daughter of Dena an dTom and is undecided on a major.

“Erin Bodenstab will be a great competitor on our team in the coming years,” stated Coach Carbin. “She has a fiercely competitive approach to the game, exemplified by the fact that she carried her underdog high school team to a district championship on a night that she was sick and probably shouldn’t have played. That attitude will fit right in with our current team’s desire to reach their full potential. She will compete for playing time as both a setter and defensive specialist throughout her career.”

Amanda Dalbey is a 5-9 outside hitter/defensive specialist from Lansing Kan. where she attended Lansing High School. She is a three year letter winner while being a two time 1st Team All-League selection (2012 & 2013). She was also her teams captain as a senior and named to the Kansas State All-Academic Team. As a sophomore she was a 2nd Team All-League performer. She is also a very good student being a member of the National Honor Society and National English Honor Society. She is the daughter of Stephanie and John and plans on majoring in sport and exercise science.

“Amanda Dalbey will be a huge asset to our defense with her quickness and exemplary ball control skills,” said Coach Carbin. “She also has great instincts that seem to put her in position to make the big defensive plays on a regular basis. She is a leader on the court and we expect her to compete at both the outside hitter and defensive specialist positions.”

Danielle Moore is a 5-10 outside hitter from Bloomington, Ill. where she attended Central Catholic High School. She had a solid high school career being named First Team All-Area, First Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State as a senior. She also helped her team to a Regional Championship twice (2011 & 2013). Here team went to the Sweet Sixteen and where the Intercity Champions her senior season. She has been a member of the Illinois Elite Volleyball Club since the 5th grade. This past season she hit over .400 with 262 kills (3.9/set), 308 digs (3.7/set) and 59 service aces. She is a solid student being a member of the National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Julie and Tom and is undecided on a major.

“Danielle Moore will be our third signee from Illinois in three years and we’re excited about her length,” commented Coach Carbin. “She has a long reach which will help her offensively as an outside hitter and also as a blocker. We are confident that she will help our team offensively right away, and we see a lot of potential for her to develop into a six rotation player at some point in her career as a Griffon.”

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team shot another solid round on the final day of the MIAA Championships helping them to a 7th place finish out of the 12 team field. The Griffons fired a three day total of 906 (301-303-302) which was one stroke behind Washburn and Lindenwood for 5th and four strokes back of Central Oklahoma and Lincoln for 3rd. Central Missouri won the event with a 867 (283-288-296) which was 16 strokes ahead of second place finisher Northeastern State, 883 (291-303-289).

Individually, the Griffons were led by junior Scott Sheldon firing a three round total of 223 (73-76-74) placing him in 13th place. Senior Evan McCarthy finished in a tie for 18th with a 226 (76-73-77) while senior Tyler Gast finished in a tie for 23rd with a 227 (77-73-77). James O’Brien and Derek Hawkins finished with 233 (75-81-77) and 241 (82-85-74) respectively.

The winner of the event was Cy Moritz of Central Missouri firing a 212 (68-71-73). he was five strokes ahead of teammate Travis Mays, 217 (71-72-74) and Clayton Moles of Southwest Baptist, 217 (71-72-74).

The Griffons say goodbye to three seniors who played in their last event. Those players are Evan McCarthy, Tyler Gast and Derek Hawkins.

The event was played at Alvamar Golf Club on the Championship Course. The course is a par 72 with a distance of 7092.

Men’s Final Team Standings
1.    Central Missouri (56)
2.    Northeastern State (49)
3.    Central Oklahoma (43)
4.    Lindenwood (41)
5.    Nebraska-Kearney (39)
6.    Washburn (33)
7.    Lincoln (31)
8.    Fort Hays State (28.5)
9.    Missouri Western (28)
10.    Missouri Southern (25.5)
11.    Pittsburg State (9)
12.    Southwest Baptist (7)

After the final round of the MIAA Women’s Golf Championships the Griffon women finished 7th place out of the nine team field. The Griffons fired a three day total of 1097 (363-372-362) which is 23 strokes back of Nebraska-Kearney (1074) for 6th. The winner of the event is the University of Central Oklahoma who fired a 958 (320-321-317) which is 15 strokes ahead of Northeastern State who fired a 973 (326-327-320).

The Griffons were led by sophomore Callie Wilson who had a solid event finishing in a tie for 10th place. She fired a 252 (81-86-85) and sits one stroke back of 9th and three strokes ahead of 12th. The winner of the event was Baylee Price of Northeastern State who fired a 233 (79-77-77) which was three strokes ahead of teammate Sofia Castiello’s 236 (80-78-78).

Madison Romjue finished in 21st with a three day total of 268 (95-87-86) while Anna Kloeppel finished in 29th with a 278 (91-98-89). Amber Chivington and Shelby Stone fired 300 (96-101-103) and 301 (98-101-102) respectively. The Griffons say goodbye to Stone as she was the lone senior who played her last event.

The event was held at the Alvamar Golf Club in Lawrence, Kan. on the Members Course. It is par 72 with a distance of 6237.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s basketball program has announced that they will be holding an elite camp on June 18, 2014. Registration for the camp will start at 10 am in the Looney Complex and will be for players from 9th-12th grade.

This is your chance to get the complete Missouri Western basketball experience. You will play against elite-level competition, while being coached by Missouri Western’s coaching staff. This camp is designed to give you a first hand look at what it’s like to practice, play, train and prepare like a college athlete.

CAMP FEATURES
Individual skill work with the Missouri Western coaching staff
Live game situations
5 on 5 games
3 on 3 games
Training and preparation techniques of college athletes
Informational Campus Tour
Meetings with Missouri Western strength & conditioning coaches

The cost of the camp is $80 per player. For more information please contact Head Coach Brett Weiberg at bweiberg@missouriwestern.edu or 816-271-4486.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team shot another solid round on day 2 of the MIAA Championships helping them stay in 6th place in the 12 team field. The Griffons have fired a two day total of 604 (301-303) which puts them one stroke ahead of Central Oklahoma (605) and seven strokes back of Lindenwood (597). Central Missouri leads the event with a two day total of 571 (283-288) while Northeastern State and Washburn both fired 594. Lincoln University sits in 4th with a 595 (399-295).

Individually, the Griffons are led by junior Scott Sheldon and senior Evan McCarthy. They are tied for 12th with a two day total of 149. Sheldon fired 73-76 while McCarthy has fired 76-73. They are just one stroke out of 10th and two strokes back of 8th. The leader of the event is Cy MOritz of Central Missouri with a two round total of 139 (68-71). He is two strokes ahead of teammate Robby Hughey who fired a 141 (72-69).

Tyler Gast fired a solid 73 in round two and sits in a tie for 18th with a two round total of 150 (77-73) while James O’Brien and Derek Hawkins fired 156 (75-81) and 167 (82-85) respectively.

The final round of the event will take place on Wednesday, April 23. The event is being played at Alvamar Golf Club on the Championship Course. The course is a par 72 with a distance of 7092.

— MWSU Sports Information —

After day two of the MIAA Women’s Golf Championships the Missouri Western women sit in 7th place out of the nine team field. The Griffons have fired a two day total of 735 (363-372) which is 15 strokes back of Central Missouri (720) for 6th. The leader of the event is the University of Central Oklahoma who fired a 641 (320-321) which is 12 strokes ahead of Northeastern State who fired a 653 (326-327).

The Griffons are led by sophomore Callie Wilson who had a solid first two rounds putting her in a tie for 8th. She fired a 167 (81-86) and sits one stroke back of 6th and two strokes ahead of 11th. The leader of the event is Taylor Neidy of Central Oklahoma who fired a two day total of 154 (76-78). She sits two strokes ahead of Baylee Price of Northeastern State who fired a 156 (79-77).

Madison Romjue sits in a tie for 22nd with a two day total of 182 (95-87) while Anna Kloeppel sits in 31st with a 189 (91-98). Amber Chivington and Shelby Stone fired 197 (96-101) and 199 (98-101) respectively.

The final round of the event will be played tomorrow April 22nd. The event is being held at the Alvamar Golf Club in Lawrence, Kan. on the Members Course. It is par 72 with a distance of 6237.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team shot one of their lowest round of the season helping them sit in 6th place in the 12 team field after round one of the MIAA Golf Championships. The Griffons fired a 301 which is three better than Central Oklahoma (304) and five better than Nebraska-Kearney (306). The Griffons are one stroke back of Lincoln University (300) and four strokes back of Lindenwood (297). Central Missouri leads the event with a 283 putting them eight strokes ahead of Northeastern State (291) and 11 strokes ahead of Washburn (294).

Individually, junior Scott Sheldon had a solid round finishing in a tie for 12th with a one over 73. He is just two strokes back of 2nd and five strokes behind Cy Mortiz of Central Missouri who fired a 5-under 68.

James O’Brien sits two strokes back of Sheldon sitting in a tie for 23rd while Evan McCarthy and Tyler Gast are close behind firing 76 and 77 respectively. The final Griffon is senior Derek Hawkins who fired an 82.

Round two of the three round event will take place on Tuesday, April 22. The event is being played at Alvamar Golf Club on the Championship Course. The course is a par 72 with a distance of 7092.

— MWSU Sports Information —