Missouri Western women’s volleyball coach Cory Frederick has announced the signing of two student athletes to the National Letter of Intent for the 2012 season. The Griffons welcome Meghan Penolio of San Diego, Calif. (Chillicothe, Mo.) And Melissa Cairns of Taurango, New Zealand to next fall’s squad. Penolio and Cairns join Holly Pollock of Bloomington, Ill., Jessie Thorup of Olathe, Kan. and Jordan Chohon of Columbus, Neb. to next year’s squad as they singed back in November.

Melissa Cairns a 5-9 outside hitter from Tauranga, New Zealand played her high school volleyball at Otumoetai College. She was named her team’s Most Outstanding Player and was her team’s captain for two seasons. She was also named to the New Zealand All-Tournament team twice. Her greatest sports moment was playing against Japan in the Youth Asian Championships. She plans on majoring in biology/wildlife conservation management.

“As we look to fill our opening at the outside hitter position, Melissa Cairns will be a top candidate to take on this role,” stated Coach Frederick. “She has extensive experience on the court both in her home of New Zealand as well as around the world in other tournaments. That experience will be a great benefit to her and hopefully will make her transition to the college game a quick one. She’s not only a great volleyball player, but a wonderful person whom we look forward to having in our program.”

Meghan Penolio a 5-9 outside hitter from San Diego, Calif. played her high school volleyball at Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach, Calif. She moved to Chillicothe, Mo. in January of 2012 and will graduate from Chillicothe High School. She was a four year letter winner, her team’s MVP and a team captain. She was also a First Team all-League performer as a senior and a Second Team all-League performer as a junior. She was her team’s best offensive player and led her league in kills. She was a Union Tribune Scholar Athlete recipient and will major in physical therapy at Western.

“Meghan Penolio will also come to Missouri Western to compete for the outside hitter position in 2012,” commented Coach Frederick. “She is a great all-around athlete with experience playing both here in the Midwest as well as in California where she lived for most of her career. I’ve had the opportunity to work with her older brother whom I coached at Park University in 2008. It’s great to have another Penolio to work with for the next 4 years. Megan is a joy to have on our roster and I look forward to having her with us in August.”

— MWSU Sports Information —

The 21st ranked Griffon softball team remains steady in 4th place in this weeks South Central Regional Poll which was released Wednesday afternoon. The Griffons ended the regular season with a 38-9 overall record entering the MIAA Tournament as the #2 seed. They will take on the #7 seed Northwest Missouri State Bearcats at 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 26 in Overland Park, Kan. at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex. Western will take on #3 Fort Hays State or #6 Pittsburg State at 8:00 pm in round two of the tournament on Thursday evening.

The top eight teams earn a regional bid with the first and second seeds hosting four team regionals which will be played the first weekend in May. The #1 seed will host the #8, #4 and #5 seeds while the #2 seed will host the #7, #3 and the #6 seeds. The winners of each regional will take on each other in a best of three series the second weekend in May at the highest seed for a chance to go to the elite eight.

The Griffons have been to a regional five of the last seven season (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011) which includes being the #5 seed in 2011.

SOUTH CENTRAL
1     Angelo State         42-8     42-7
2     Central Oklahoma     38-5     38-5
3     Emporia State         33-9     32-9
4     Missouri Western State     38-9     36-9
5     Abilene Christian     29-15     28-15
6     Texas Woman’s         36-14     32-14
7     Southeastern Oklahoma     33-14     33-14
8     West Texas A&M         32-15     29-13
9     Tarleton State         28-19     28-19
10     St. Mary’s (Texas)     32-17     31-16

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western women’s tennis coach Ron Selkirk has announced the signing of four more student athletes to the National Letter of Intent for the 2013 season. The Griffons welcome Denise Chiao of Kansas City, Mo., Kelly Cochran of Buckner, Mo., Shayla Roath of Hutchinson, Kan. and Lindsay Beger of Overland Park, Kan. to next year’s squad. They join Meara Smith, Alyssa Dougan and Joey Goers next season as those three signed back in December.

Chiao from Kansas City, Mo. played her high school tennis at Notre Dame de Sion high school. She played all four years for her high school team. The person that has had the greatest impact on her athletic career is her brother Darren who played tennis at UMKC. She is also a solid student who plans on majoring in marketing and digital animation at Western.

“Denise is a high ranking Missouri Valley junior that has continued to move up the rankings and should play in our top 3,” commented Selkirk. “She was also one of the key players on Notre Dame de Sion state championship team,” stated Selkirk.

Cochran from Buckner, Mo. played her high school tennis at Fort Osage High School in Independence, Mo. She had a very accomplished tennis career player playing in the #1 position on her varsity team for three years. She was a sectional qualifier and earned first team all-District honors. She was voted her teams most improved player twice. She is very involved in the community earning numerous awards as well as being in the National Honors Society. She plans on majoring in mathematics at Western.

“Kelly Cochran was the #1 player for Fort Osage High school and a tremendous student (ACT 32) she is an up and coming player that will benefit from the upgrade in competition and should be one our top 6 players next year” commented coach Selkirk.

Roath from Hutchinson, Kan. played her high school tennis at Buhler High School in Buhler, Kan. She has an outstanding tennis career finishing 1st at regionals to go along with two 6th place and a 9th place finish at state. She is also a solid student being on the honor roll. She plans on majoring in physical education at Western.

“Shayla was one of the top high school players in Kansas last year finishing in the top 8 at state and will also benefit from having good practice partners and good competition,” stated Coach Selkirk.

Beger from Overland Park, Kan. played her high school tennis at Shawnee Mission North High School. She lettered in tennis four seasons and soccer one. She was a solid student being a scholar athlete twice. Her greatest sports moment was making the 6A State tournament her senior season. She plans on majoring in elementary education at Western.

“She was the #1 player for Shawnee Mission North, taking over that spot from Ceara Boldridge,” said Coach Selkirk. “She has improved tremendously over the last year and should be fighting for a top 6 spot on our team next year,” stated Selkirk.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western softball team fell from 17th to 21st in this weeks NFCA Division II Coaches poll which was released Wednesday morning.

The Griffons went 2-2 last week and ended its regular season with a 38-9 record.

Western enters this weeks MIAA Tournament as the #2 seed and will take on the #7 seed Northwest Missouri State at 6:00 pm in the opening round in Overland Park, Kan. at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex.

The Griffons will play the second round at 8:00 pm against either #3 Fort Hays State or #6 Pittsburg State at 8:00 pm.
Both games will be on broadcasted on the radio as Dave Riggert will be doing the play-by-play. You can hear all the action on ESPN 1550 AM.

— MWSU Sports Information —