Missouri Western head volleyball coach Marian Carbin announces the signing of one student-athlete for the 2014 season. Ashley Mainord an outside hitter/middle blocker from Springtown, Texas will join the squad next fall.

Ashley Mainord is a 6-0 outside hitter/middle blocker from Springtown, Texas where she attended Springtown High School. She was a three year letter winner as well as being named first team All-District, All-County and All-State as a middle blocker. She was voted her teams Most Valuable Player as well as being named her district Most Valuable Player as a hitter. While being her teams captain she helped lead them to two undefeated district titles. She broke single season and career record in kills with 447 and 873 respectively. She is also a solid student being named Academic All-District in volleyball, basketball and softball. She is the daughter of Mike and Amy and is undecided on a major at Missouri Western.

“We are very excited about adding Ashley to our team in 2014,” commented Coach Carbin. “She has shown versatility as a middle hitter that plays all 6 rotations in high school, and because of that skill set we think she’ll be able to compete at both the middle hitter and outside hitter positions next fall. Her all-state honors in the state of Texas speak to her talent on the volleyball court, and on top of that we know that we’re getting a young lady that will be a great student as well.”

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western golf coach Greg Dillon has announced his first three signee’s at Missouri Western. Jakob Rudosky from Cortez, Colo. and Ryan Hand from St. Joseph, Mo. have signed to play for the men while Tiffanie Yabut from Omaha, Neb. will compete with the women.

Rudosky a 5-11 player from Cortez, Colo. played his high school golf at Dolores High School under his dad Micah and Tod Plewe. His greatest sports moment was winning regionals in a playoff with a 115 yard hole out. He was a two time All-State player as well as being a three time first team All-Conference performer. In 2013 he was the individual regional champion. He helped his team to three regional championships (2010, 2011, 2012) and to a 2nd place finish at state in 2010. In 2013 he had a scoring average of 71 and in 2012 of 73. He is the son of Micah and Anett and is undecided on a major at MWSU.

Hand is a 5-9 player from St. Joseph, Mo. He transfers to Missouri Western after playing two seasons at Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kan. His first season at Dodge City he finished in the top 25 five times and top 10 once. He shot a low round of 72 at the Jayhawk #4 tournament at the Salina Golf Course and finished 24th at the NJCAA D1 Men’s National Championship at Texas Tech Rawls. This past summer he finished tied for 26th in the Missouri Men’s Amateur Championship at Blue Hills CC in Kansas City firing rounds of 80-71. In the St. Joseph Men’s Tournament he finished 3rd with rounds of 78-72-74.

Yabut is a 5-1 player from Omaha, Neb. Se played her high school golf at Burke High School in Omaha, Neb. She was a four year letter winner at Burke while being named first team All-Metro once and second team All-Metro once. She was her teams captain as well as being a three time state qualifier as an individual. She placed in the top-20 at state all three years she qualified. She is also a very good student being a member of the National Honor Society and being an honor roll student. She is the daughter of Jay and Elizabeth and plans on majoring in exercise science at MWSU.

“I am really excited to land players like Jakob, Ryan and Tiffanie,” commented Coach Dillon. “We had needs as we are losing 3 solid seniors in Tyler Gast, Evan McCarthy, and Derek Hawkins. I believe Jakob and Ryan will fill those needs. These two kids are extremely excited to join this program and be part of Griffon Golf. Both are extremely powerful ball strikers. Both have proven short games as I like how both have continually shown vast improvement in their scoring averages. Both players have a competitive pedigree in junior and men’s amatuer golf and both have a hungry work ethic. They will fit in very nice with what we are doing with this program.”

“We had needs in Women’s Golf also,” stated Coach Dillon. “Darcy Smith and Shelby Stone will graduate. Tiffanie has an extremely solid golf swing and is an extremely accurate ball striker. Her short game is solid which is evident by her accomplishments in high school and junior golf events. We love the fit that she brings to us with her competitive nature. She too will fit very nicely with the players we have in this program.”

— MWSU Sports Information —

The MIAA announced its fall academic award winners for the sport of football on Thursday (Nov. 21). Nineteen Missouri Western football players were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

The MIAA Academic Honor Roll is for any sophomore, junior, and senior with at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA. To achieve honor roll status, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 and have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. The nineteen players that earned the honor include: Yomi Alli, Taylor Anderson, Jorge Belcher, Joey Capul, Blayke Elder, Alek Ferbet, Scott Groner, Sean Holloran, Chris Jimenez, Brock Kimball, Dalton Krysa, Alex Molloy, Andrew Molloy, CJ Mollus, Seth Morton, Nate O’Neill, James Schoonover, Charles Sciara and Leonard Wester.

Newcomers and MIAA Academic Excellence Awards will be given out following the end of the 2013-14 school year.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team had four players named to the All-MIAA teams which were announced Wednesday (Nov. 20) morning. Junior outside hitter Erica Rottinghaus was named first team while junior middle hitter Amanda Boender, junior libero Sarah Faubel and freshman right side hitter Kelsey Olion all garnered honorable mention honors.

Erica Rottinghaus (OH, Jr., 5-10, Seneca, Kan.) earns first team honors for the first time in her career. It marks the first time since 2002 that the Griffons had a player on the first team. In 2002 Lindsey Palaia was MIAA MVP and a first team selection. Rottinghaus played in all 31 matches with 30 starts. She led the Griffons in kills with 387 averaging 3.22 per set. She had double digit kills in 24 of the 31 matches with a career best 22 at Central Oklahoma on October 19. She had 377 digs with double digit digs in 22 matches. She had a career high 18 three times. She also had 38 blocks on the season with a career best five against Emporia State on October 8. She is outstanding server finishing with 47 services aces and 455 (3.79 points per set) points.

Amanda Boender (MH, Jr., 5-10, Lincoln, Neb.) earned honorable mention honors for the first time in her career. She played in all 31 matches with 29 starts. She led the team with a .295 attack percentage with 247 kills and just 75 errors. She also led the team in blocks with 130 which is the 4th most in the MIAA. She finished second on the team with 341 points averaging 2.84 points per set.

Sarah Faubel (Libero, Jr., 5-9, Lincoln, Neb.) earned honorable mention honors for the first time in her career. She has had her best season in a Griffon uniform with 527 digs which is just the second time since 1983 that a Griffon has had over 500 digs. She finished just four behind Shelly Lowery who had 531 in 1996. She currently has 1,372 career digs which is is second all time. She sits being Sarah Ekdahl who had 1,565 through 1997-2000. She averaged 4.39 digs per set which is ninth in the MIAA. Her 527 digs is fifth most in the MIAA this season. She had a season best 30 against SD School of Mines on October 11.

Kelsey Olion (RS, Fr., 5-9, Champaign, Ill.) earned honorable mention honors for the first time in her carer. She had 276 kills while hitting .181 and averaging 2.73 kills per set. Olion played in 28 matches with 16 starts. She had 154 digs to go along with 63 total blocks and 319 points (3.16 per set). She had double digit kills in 16 matches with a career best 22 at Central Oklahoma on October 19. She also had double digit digs seven times with a high of 14 vs. South Dakota School of Mines on October 11.

The Griffons finished the season 16-15 overall and 9-7 in MIAA play. This marks the first time since 2006 that the Griffons will finish with an over .500 record and best record in MIAA play since 2000.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western head baseball coach Charles “Buzz” Verduzco announces the signing of two junior college student-athletes for the 2014-15 season. Zachary Taylor a infielder from Greenwood Village, Colo. played his high school baseball at Cherry Creek High School and transfers to MWSU from Fort Scott Community College while Brett Valentine a pitcher is from Blue Springs, Mo. and played his high school football at Blue Spring South High School. He transfers to Missouri Western from Longview Community College.

Zachary Taylor a 6-1, 175 infielder from Greenwood Village, Colo. where he played at Cherry Creek High School. He transfers to MWSU from Fort Scott Community College. His best sports moment was winning the state championship as a senior in high school. He is the son of Chris and Kim Taylor and plans on majoring in criminal justice at MWSU.

“We are very excited to add Zach Taylor to our team,” commented Coach Verduzco.”He is an exceptional infielder, who will bring some depth to our lineup. Zach has the high quality character and work ethic we look for in Griffon Baseball.”

Brett Valentine a 6-0, 190 pitcher from Blue Springs, Mo. played his high school baseball at Blue Springs South High School. He transfers to MWSU from Longview Community College. His greatest sports moment was hitting a grand slam against his high school rival. He is the son of Jason and Shelli and is undecided on a major at MWSU.

“Brett is a power arm that will look make an immediate impact,” stated Coach Verduzco. “Brett’s skill and demeanor on the mound will make him a valuable addition to the pitching staff. We are thrilled to sign him.”

— MWSU Sports Information —