Volleyball Opens Season in Midwestern St. Invitational

DRURY VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
Fri: Drury vs. Southern Arkansas, 9am, Wichita Falls, Texas, D.L. Ligon Coliseum
Fri: Drury vs. Western New Mexico, 5pm, Wichita Falls, Texas, D.L. Ligon Coliseum
Sat: Drury vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State, 11am, Wichita Falls, Texas, D.L. Ligon Coliseum
Sat: Drury at Midwestern State, 5pm, Wichita Falls, Texas, D.L. Ligon Coliseum
 
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Panthers start season in the Lone Star State
The Drury Panthers begin their 2024 campaign in the Midwestern State Invitational in Wichita Falls, Texas on September 6 at the D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
Drury comes into this season after a 6-22, 3-10 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in 2023. The Panthers were picked to finish 12th in the GLVC preseason coaches’ poll. Jenifer Bahner-Hill enters her 11th season at the helm of the Panthers program. She adds 15 new faces to the program.
 
The lone senior, Kayli Duncan, returns for her final season in Springfield. Duncan had a strong presence on the defensive side of the net a season ago, totaling 88 blocks. The Panthers also return their starting setter from last season, Lauren Tyler. The sophomore, Tyler, was eighth in the GLVC last season in assists per set at 8.14. Kaitlin Fasbender, the sophomore from Indianapolis, saw limited action in her freshman season but has the second-highest points per set out of returning players for Drury at 1.59, only behind Duncan. On the defensive side of the net for the Panthers is Payton Mitchell. As a freshman, Mitchell played in 100 sets with 2.17 digs per set and a .925 receive percentage.
 
The Panthers start the season against Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders enter this season picked seventh in the Great American Conference (GAC) preseason poll. The Muleriders are coming off their best season since 2015, in 2023 with a 15-14, 9-8 in GAC play. Alli Harrell is the GAC Reigning Coach of the Year, she returns 14 players including two all-conference selections in Kayte Delong and Lauryn Moultrie.
 
Drury closes Friday action playing Western New Mexico. WNMU is coming off a 6-23, 2-14 in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) season in 2023. The Mustangs were selected 15th in the LSC preseason poll. Head Coach, Geno Frugoli had three players named to the LSC preseason player watch list Jazmyne Walker, Lilouann Bechec, and Ava Wadley.
 
Saturday, Drury plays Northwestern Oklahoma State. NWOSU finished 2023 at 10-17, 6-10 in GAC play. The Rangers were tabbed to finish tenth in the conference in the 2024 preseason poll. NWOSU returns the GAC Newcomer of the Year, Erika Asencio Soriano, after leaving Miami Dade College.
 
The final game of the tournament is between Drury and the host, Midwestern State. MSU was voted to finish 16th in the LSC in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Mustangs’ Isabella Dickens was named one of the LSC Preseason Offensive Players to Watch List. Midwestern State finished last season with a 4-24, 1-15 LSC record.
 
After this weekend’s tournament, the Panthers will host the Drury Invitational from September 12 through the 14. Drury will start play on September 12 at 6 pm against #11 Southwest Minnesota State.
 
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