FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2006

Lions Volleyball sign three players

Joplin, Mo.  -- Missouri Southern volleyball coach Chris Willis has announced the signing of three incoming freshman to National Letters of Intent to play volleyball at Missouri Southern beginning in the fall of 2007.

Joining the Lions will be Jeanna Feldmann, Brittany Vavao-Huggins, and Amelia Judge.

Feldmann, a 6'0 outside hitter, started all four years at St. Francis Borgia High School in Washington, Mo. Playing for coach Mike Tyree, she helped the Knights to a District Championship each year she played and won a state title in 2004 and was runner up in 2005. Feldman was an All-Area, All-Region and All-State selection in 2004. She was All-Region this past season.

Two of Feldmann's older sisters both played Division II volleyball. Amanda, played at Central Missouri from 1997 through 2000 where she helped the Jennies to four-straight MIAA titles and was named honorable mention All-MIAA her senior year. Melissa played at the University of Alabama - Huntsville from 2000 through 2004 where she helped the Chargers to three 20 win seasons including 28 wins in 2001.

Vavao-Huggins is a 6-0 middle hitter from Srpingdale, Ark. where she played and started for three years for coach Jessica Phelan at Fayetteville High School. A four-sport star for the Bulldogs, Vavao-Huggins lettered in Softball, Track and Basketball. She led her team in kills in both 2005 and 2006, while being named All-Conference and All-State.

Judge is a 6-0 middle blocker from McAlester, Oklahoma where she was a four-year starter for coach Julie James. Also a two year letterwinner in track in the high jump and 3200m relay, Judge helped her team to this year's State Championship and were the runner up in 2005.

Judge was named to the 2004 Union High School All-Tournament team and was named to the 2005 Oklahoma State Tournament All-Tournament team. She also qualified for the state track meet in both the high jump and 3200m relay, finishing sixth in the high jump and fifth in the relay.

"Jeanna comes from a winning tradition at Borgia and we expect her bring that attitude and work ethic to the court at Southern," Willis said. "She is a highly skilled player who will be a force at the net for us. Amelia is an extremely athletic player who can play high above the net. She is very coachable and will add depth at the middle and right side position. Brittany is the quiet type who lets her skills do the talking. She has a powerful arm swing that will add some explosiveness to our offensive attack."

"This group of freshman adds a tremendous amount of athleticism to our program and should give us some depth in the middle and at the right side. We think these players will continue to add to the winning tradition that was established this past season. We couldn't be happier with the quality of student-athletes that will be joining us next fall."