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After winning just a combined three matches the past two years, the outlook for the 2019 McDonald County High School volleyball team is much brighter. The Lady Mustangs have four return- ing starters back, along with three more returning lettermen, giving second- year coach Logan Grab a solid nucleus of players who learned her system and expectations last season. "I am excited about the year, but stay- ing focused on the job at hand," Grab said. "I want the girls to always be proud of the work they have done, but to keep pushing themselves to want more to get to that next level because they are very capable of it. They're athletic and strong and with the work they have put in this summer, I think it is going to make a difference." Grab said in June the team got together on Fridays, but that some of the players took it upon themselves to be working much more than that. In July, the team held youth camp in addition to be in the gym every week. "Every single varsity player with the exception of two — one due to an injury and one due to playing basket- ball — played volleyball this summer on a traveling team," Grab said. "That hasn't happened in a long time. There is a high level of commitment with this group and we see that translating to our younger kids. They want to be part of the program." Seniors Adyson Sanny and Kelli Brennand teamed along with juniors Kaycee Factor and Katelyn Ferdig to give McDonald County a lot of experience on the floor. "Kaycee is back at libero for her third year," Grab said. "She continues to improve. She is gritty and brings good energy to the court. "Adyson has really come on when it comes to hitting. She is hitting on the outside for us this year. It's been really nice to see her confidence grow over the last year because at the beginning of last year she wasn't quite as confident, but was starting to get there. She has just been a lot of fun to watch. "Katelyn is incredibly athletic. She plays all the way around and is a very good front row player and strong on the back row. She was our most consistent server last year. She has also come on with her hitting. "Kelli is solid — she hustles all the time — and is someone we can rely on to be consistent as a server. She just loves No out-of-state tuitioN flexible schedules–day | eveNiNg | oNliNe affordable tuitioN rates scholarship opportuNities located just North of the state line | 194 college road, pineville, Mo | 417.226.6000 Neosho | cassville | JopliN attc | McdoNald couNty | Nevada | Webb city WWW.croWder.edu WE CARRY ALL MAJOR LEADING BRANDS Carpet • Area Rugs Vinyl • Vinyl Plank Hardwood • Tile 417-451-2712 737 W. HARMONY ST., NEOSHO, MO. Thursday, August 29, 2019 McDonald County Press 5C F a l l S p o r t S p r e v i e w Bright Outlook For Mustang Volleyball 2019 Lady Mustangs Volleyball Schedule Date Opponent Level Time Aug. 27 Preseason Scrimmage Varsity 5 p.m. Sept. 3 Carthage 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Sept. 5 Diamond 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Sept. 10 Joplin 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Sept. 12 at Webb City 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Sept. 14 at Pea Ridge Fresh. Tourn. 9th TBA Sept. 19 at Carl Junction 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Sept. 21 at Joplin Fresh. Tourn. 9th TBA Sept. 21 at Marshfield JV Tourn. JV TBA Sept. 23 Neosho 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Sept. 26 at College Heights Varsity/JV 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at Carl Junction Classic Varsity TBA Sept. 28 at Cassville Fresh. Tourn. 9th TBA Oct. 1 Monet 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Oct. 3 Lamar JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Oct. 5 at Mt. Vernon Tourn. Varsity/JV TBA Oct. 8 at East Newton Varsity/JV 5 p.m. Oct. 10 at Cassville 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Oct. 14 Gravette (Ark.) JV/Varsity 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17 Seneca 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Oct. 19 at Pierce City JV Tourn. JV TBA Oct. 19 Mustang Classic Varsity TBA Oct. 22 at Nevada 9th/JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Oct. 24 Big 8 Crossover JV/Varsity 5 p.m. Oct. 28-31 Districts Varsity TBA Rick Peck Special to McDonald County Press RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS The 2019 McDonald County Lady Mustang volleyball team. Front row, left to right: Moo Say, Lana Yang, Martha Izazaga, Kaycee Factor, Kirklyn Kasischke and Jaimee Malone. Middle row: Jada Alfaro, Alexes Gidcumb, Sosha Howard, Kelli Brennand, Abby Wiseman, Erin Cooper and Katelyn Ferdig. Back row: Grace Poland, Shye Hardin, Mollie Milleson, Adyson Sanny, Sydnie Sanny, Rylee Bradley and Ember Killion. SEE vOLLeybaLL PAGE 6C