| 2008 Signings
The following is a list of signings for the 2008 season
starting with the most recent signing.
McPherson
volleyball adds three
McPherson College has announced
the recent signings of Amy Neufeld of Hillsboro, Kan., Savannah
Sievers of Stafford, Kan., and St. John High School, and Shannon
Williams of Galva, Kan., and Canton-Galva High, to volleyball letters
of intent for the 2008-2009 school year.
“I look forward to working
with all three of these ladies,” said Susan Barton, McPherson College
head coach. “They are all coachable and will bring so much to our
young team. They have a bright future at McPherson College
, not just for McPherson volleyball, but academically as well.
The 5'10” Neufeld was a unanimous first team All-MCAA
volleyball selection as a senior after earning honorable mention
league honors as a junior. Following her senior season under Hillsboro
coach Sandy Arnold, Amy also was named to the Hutchinson News All-Area
honorable mention squad.
Amy Neufeld
was joined for her letter of intent signing by (front) her parents
Stan Neufeld and Rhonda Epp, along with (back, left) Hillsboro HS
head coach Sandy Arnold and McPherson College head coach Susan Barton.
Neufeld completed her
final prep season with 247 kills, an average of 3.09 per game, 31
aces, 73 digs, 5 solo and 14 assisted blocks, and an 89% serving
percentage.
A three-year letter winner
in both volleyball and basketball for Hillsboro High, Neufeld was
also an All-MCAA selection in basketball.
“Amy is a strong outside
hitter, who will help our program develop. She is a good athlete
and will adapt well to the college game.
Amy
is the daughter of Stan Neufeld of McPherson, Kan., and
Rhonda Epp of Hillsboro, Kan.
The 5'5” Sievers was named to the All-Central
Prairie League volleyball first team and second team Class 2A All-State
teams following her senior season for coach Dean Rausch.
Joining
Savannah Sievers for her letter of intent signing were (front, left)
her parents Les and Racheal Dykes, Savannah, and sister Destri Sievers,
along with (back, left) St. John HS assistant volleyball coach David
Losey, McPherson College volleyball coach Susan Barton, St. John
HS head volleyball coach Dean Rausch, and St. John HS principal
Mike Burgan. (Photo courtesy of Terry Spradley, St John News)
Savannah has lettered four
years in volleyball and basketball, and is competing in her fourth
season of track & field where she previously has lettered three
times.
“Savannah is the kind of
libero we are looking for. She goes for everything and maintains
great body control on the court. She will help our program
get where it needs to be. “
Savannah will be joining
her sister Destri on the Lady Bulldog volleyball team.
Savannah is the daughter
of William Sievers and Racheal Dyke of Stafford , Kan.
The 5'4” Williams was a three-sport letter winner
at Canton-Galva High School , participating in volleyball, basketball,
and track & field.
Shannon
Williams was joined for her letter of intent signing by (front)
her parents Kim and Raymond Williams, and (back) McPherson College
head coach Susan Barton and Canton-Galva HS head coach Randy Skiles.
Outside of the interscholastic
season played for coach Randy Skiles, Williams has competed in club
volleyball for five years.
“Shannon will play the defensive
specialist position. She has been working hard to improve
her game and will be an asset to our team with her hustle and determination.
Shannon is the daughter of
Raymond and Kim Williams of Galva, Kan.
*****
Harbour
signs with McPherson volleyball & track
McPherson College has announced
the recent signing of Allison Harbour of Elkhart, Kan., to volleyball
and track & field letters of intent for the 2008-2009 school
year.
The 5'7” Harbour was named
to the Hi-Plains all-league volleyball team as a senior after being
an honorable mention selection as a sophomore.
Joining
Alli Harbour for her letter of intent signing with McPherson College
were (front) McPherson track coach Dave Smith, Allison , and McPherson
volleyball coach Nathalea Stephenson along with (back, left) Lana
Daves, Elkhart volleyball coach, her parents Kevin and ReLinda Shook,
and Elkhart principal Rex Richardson.
“Ali
is one of those athletes that will do whatever needs to be done
to improve her skills and help her team win games,” said
Nathalea Stephenson, McPherson College head coach. “ At
Elkhart (High School), she played middle. For us, we will use her
either as a hitter or defensive specialist/libero.”
“Ali wants to learn, will
ask questions, and then work hard at mastering the skills,” Stephenson
continued. “She is also a very good student and knowing she needs
to work hard for her grades, she uses the same process on the court.
I believe McPherson College is a good fit for Ali; she will be successful
here. We are excited to have her apart of our team.”
In track & field, Allison
won All-High Plains honors as a junior when she placed 8th in the
Class 2A state meet 1,600 meters, and was named Elkhart 's “Most
Improved”.
This past fall, Harbour placed
second in the 2007 Class 2A state cross country meet. As a junior,
she was named the Wildcats' MVP.
A letter winner in volleyball,
track & field, cross country, basketball, and softball as well
as cheerleading, Harbour was named the Wildcats' “Most Improved”
in basketball as a junior.
“We are very happy to announce
the signing of Allison ,” added Dave Smith, McPherson College head
track and cross country coach. “Alli is the kind of athlete and
person that will be successful at almost anything she puts her mind
to. In addition to participating in five sports, she is the student
council president at Elkhart High School .”
“Alli holds the school record
in cross country as well as the 1,600 meters, and has competed at
the state championship level.”
“Academically, Alli is a
McPherson College Presidential Scholar award winner. She will be
a great fit on our athletic teams as well as a great addition to
our campus!”
Allison
is the daughter of ReLinda & Kevin Shook of Elkhart.
She plans to major in elementary education.
*****
Johnson
signs with McPherson volleyball
McPherson College has announced
the recent signing of Devyn Johnson of McCool Junction, Neb., to
a volleyball letter of intent for the 2008-2009 school year.
The 5'7” Johnson lettered
for four seasons at McCool Junction High School for coach Trent
Colle.
Joining
Devyn Johnson for her letter of intent signed were (front) her parents,
Kerry and Lisa Johnson, along with (back, left) Nathalea Stephenson,
McPherson College head volleyball coach, and Teresa Kapperman, McCook
Junction HS assistant volleyball coach.
An academic all-state
honoree, Johnson was captain of the D-1 Mustang volleyballers and
led McCool Junction in blocks and ace serves. As a senior she was
credited with 183 points, 139 digs, and 70 ace serves after posting
69 aces as a junior.
“We are very happy to have
Devyn playing for us next year,” said Nathalea Stephenson, McPherson
College head coach. “She has great work ethic and is one that will
spend the extra time necessary to get better. She is a very coachable
young lady and eager to improve her skills.”
“Devyn played outside hitter
for McCool Junction (High School), and at this time, that is where
we paln on playing her. However, she is one of those athletes that
will play wherever you need her.”
“Not only is Devyn a very
good volleyball player, she is also a very good student. Doing well
in the classroom transfers over to the court and we expect great
things from her.”
Devyn was twice the Nebraska
High School Bowling Federation state individual champion and once
individual runner-up for McCool Junction HS, which has won three
straight NHSBF team titles. She was an all-conference selection
and named McCool Junction MVP.
Johnson has also lettered
three seasons in track & field and cheerleading at McCool Junction
HS.
Devyn
is the daughter of Kerry and Lisa Johnson of McCool Junction,
Nebr., and Robyn Coffey. She plans to major in education.
*****
Kohler
inks with McPherson volleyball
McPherson College has announced
the recent signing of Sarah Kohler of Papillion, Nebr., to a volleyball
letter of intent for the 2008-2009 school year.
Sarah
Kohler is joined for her letter of intent signing by (front) her
parents Steve and Dee Kohler along with (back, left) McPherson College
head volleyball coach Nathalea Stephenson and Papillion-LaVista
South HS head coach Gwen Egbert.
The 5'8” Kohler lettered
for coach Gwen Egbert at Papillion-LaVista South High School in
Papillion.
“Sarah is one of those student
athletes that every coach wants on their team,” said Stephenson.
“She is very coachable and will spend hours in the gym preparing
herself to be the best at what she is doing.”
“Sarah brings a lot of energy
and confidence to what she does. She has played club ball many years
and understands the game of volleyball.”
“Sarah is mainly a back row
player, but I believe that she will be able to help us in other
areas as well. She sees the floor well and can read the hitters,
which will help in getting the ball to our setters.”
“We are very excited to have
Sarah as a part of our volleyball team and are looking for great
things from her, not only on the court but in the classroom as well.
Sarah
is the daughter of Steve and Dee Kohler of Papillion, Nebr.
(front) Sarah
and her parents Steve and Dee Kohler along with (back, left) McPherson
College head volleyball coach Nathalea Stephenson and Papillion-LaVista
South HS head coach Gwen Egbert.
*****
Hesston
duo signs with McPherson volleyball
McPherson College has announced
the recent signing of Kylie Pauls and Grace Easter of Hesston, Kan.,
High School to volleyball letters of intent for the 2008-2009 school
year.
The 5'10” Easter was an honorable
mention All-Mid Central AA volleyball selection following her senior
season at Hesston High when she totaled 51 blocks for coach Jason
Peters.
Joining
Grace Easter for her letter of intent signing were (front) her parents
Mike and Rachel Easter along with (back) McPherson College head
coach Nathalea Stephenson and Hesston HS head coach Jason Peters.
A three-year letter winner
in volleyball and basketball for the Lady Swathers, Grace was named
to the All-MCAA honorable mention team in basketball as a junior.
“ We
are excited to have Grace Easter as one our first signees ,”
said Stephenson. “ She played middle
hitter for Hesston High School , and for now, that is where we are
looking at playing her next year.”
“Grace has an awareness of
the court and does a good job of placing the ball. Our middle position
is one that we need to fill because of the loss of two seniors.”
“Grace does a nice job of
moving and reading the ball. She is a very good student, and
knowing she has a good work ethic, I'm sure she will transfer that
to the court as well.”
Grace
is the daughter of Mike and Rachel Easter. Mike, a McPherson
High graduate, played football and ran track for Emporia State University.
The 5'5” Pauls lettered three
seasons in volleyball and basketball for the Lady Swathers. She
was named Hesston's most inspirational player and was an honorable
mention academic All-American twice.
Kylie
Pauls is joined for her letter of intent signing by her parents
Gary Pauls and Debra Preheim, and (back) McPherson College head
coach Nathalea Stephenson along with Hesston HS head coach Jason
Peters.
As a senior, Pauls was
credited with 212 digs and had an 89% serving percentage and 87%
receiving efficiency.
“ Kylie
also comes to us from Hesston High School where she was a defensive
specialist,” said Nathalea Stephenson, McPherson College
volleyball coach. “ She does a very good
job of reading the hitters and getting to the ball.”
“Kylie jump serves and is
smart about when to use her jump (serve) or stay down.”
“She can also play the front
row and, depending on her role with the team next year, she may
play some front row for us.”
“Kylie is a very good student
and because of her work ethic in the classroom we know she will
have the same work ethic on the court.”
Kylie
is the daughter of Debra Preheim and Gary Pauls of Hesston
, Kan.
Kylie comes with a strong
athletic background in her family. Her father played football and
ran track for Bethel College in the early 1980's and her brother
Grady currently plays golf for Wichita State University .
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