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Business News
PITTSBURG —
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released its coaches poll for volleyball Wednesday and the Pittsburg State Gorillas finished in sixth.
The Gorillas placed seventh in the MIAA last season and return letter winners Leah Flynn, Brooke Fay, Rebecca Pearson, Kristen Erikson, Christa McCaw, Nicole Rockhold and Samantha Wyatt from a 9-22 team overall and 6-12 in the MIAA. Flynn and Fay, seniors, have lettered three years for Pitt State.
Two junior college transfers, three redshirt freshmen and six true freshmen give head coach Ibraheem Suberu and assistant coach Jenny Mueller a team a little bit on the younger side in a tough volleyball conference.
Sophomore outside hitter Paula Okrutna (Pila, Poland) enjoyed an outstanding freshman year at Fort Scott Community College. She totaled 573 kills (a national-best 4.98 kills per set), 277 digs, 60 blocks, 52 aces and 50 assists.
Junior outside hitter Jordan Rehm played two years at Hutchinson Community College, where she logged 210 kills, 208 digs and 62 blocks in 2011.
Abbie Smith (Uniontown High School), Chloe Foster (Barstow High) and Haylee Gregory (Lee’s Summit West) redshirted last year.
Crystal Whitten (Wichita Heights), Hayley Hansford (Shawnee Mission East), Olivia Roudebush (Blue Valley), Olivia Roland (Papillion South), Aimi Orton (Circle) and Chandler Blanton (Shawnee Mission West) step in as freshmen.
Roland attended Papillion-La Vista South (Nebraska), which claimed 82 consecutive matches and back-to-back national high school volleyball titles.
Defending MIAA co-champion Washburn earned preseason No. 1 honors, followed by the Jennies of Central Missouri (defending co-champs), Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State, Truman State, Pitt State, Northwest Missouri, Fort Hays State, Missouri Western, Lindenwood, Southwest Baptist, Central Oklahoma and Missouri Southern.
Washburn took seven first-place votes and 137 points, Central Missouri four and 131 and Nebraska-Kearney two and 129. Pitt State earned 76 points, leading an eight-pack of teams receiving under 100 points in the poll.
Pitt State opens its 2012 season at home as the host of the Pittsburg State Classic, playing Illinois-Springfield and Northwestern Oklahoma Aug. 31 and Bemidji State and William Jewell Sept. 1. The Gorillas opened 2011 with games in St. Paul, Minn. — including a season opener against top-ranked Concordia St. Paul — and their first six opponents were nationally-ranked.
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released its coaches poll for volleyball Wednesday and the Pittsburg State Gorillas finished in sixth.
The Gorillas placed seventh in the MIAA last season and return letter winners Leah Flynn, Brooke Fay, Rebecca Pearson, Kristen Erikson, Christa McCaw, Nicole Rockhold and Samantha Wyatt from a 9-22 team overall and 6-12 in the MIAA. Flynn and Fay, seniors, have lettered three years for Pitt State.
Two junior college transfers, three redshirt freshmen and six true freshmen give head coach Ibraheem Suberu and assistant coach Jenny Mueller a team a little bit on the younger side in a tough volleyball conference.
Sophomore outside hitter Paula Okrutna (Pila, Poland) enjoyed an outstanding freshman year at Fort Scott Community College. She totaled 573 kills (a national-best 4.98 kills per set), 277 digs, 60 blocks, 52 aces and 50 assists.
Junior outside hitter Jordan Rehm played two years at Hutchinson Community College, where she logged 210 kills, 208 digs and 62 blocks in 2011.
Abbie Smith (Uniontown High School), Chloe Foster (Barstow High) and Haylee Gregory (Lee’s Summit West) redshirted last year.
Crystal Whitten (Wichita Heights), Hayley Hansford (Shawnee Mission East), Olivia Roudebush (Blue Valley), Olivia Roland (Papillion South), Aimi Orton (Circle) and Chandler Blanton (Shawnee Mission West) step in as freshmen.
Roland attended Papillion-La Vista South (Nebraska), which claimed 82 consecutive matches and back-to-back national high school volleyball titles.
Defending MIAA co-champion Washburn earned preseason No. 1 honors, followed by the Jennies of Central Missouri (defending co-champs), Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State, Truman State, Pitt State, Northwest Missouri, Fort Hays State, Missouri Western, Lindenwood, Southwest Baptist, Central Oklahoma and Missouri Southern.
Washburn took seven first-place votes and 137 points, Central Missouri four and 131 and Nebraska-Kearney two and 129. Pitt State earned 76 points, leading an eight-pack of teams receiving under 100 points in the poll.
Pitt State opens its 2012 season at home as the host of the Pittsburg State Classic, playing Illinois-Springfield and Northwestern Oklahoma Aug. 31 and Bemidji State and William Jewell Sept. 1. The Gorillas opened 2011 with games in St. Paul, Minn. — including a season opener against top-ranked Concordia St. Paul — and their first six opponents were nationally-ranked.
