Head coach Melissa Stokes and the Missouri State volleyball staff spent the offseason on the recruiting trail and added three commitments to the class of 2007. Julia Cawthra, Joanna Granzow and Eboni Gray committed to the Bears in the spring and will suit up this fall.
Cawthra, a 6-1 setter from Lakewood, Colo., led her team to an Alameda High School Tournament championship as a senior and runner-up finish as a junior, and was an all-star her final season. She was the junior varsity team captain as a sophomore and was the freshman MVP in her first season. Cawthra also excelled in the classroom and was a member of National Honor Society for three years at Lakewood.
"Julia is not only a very talented setter, but she is one of the most motivated and driven athletes I have been around," Stokes said of Cawthra. "She will make an impact on our program the first day she steps in the gym."
Granzow is a local product from Springfield Kickapoo. A 5-10 right side hitter, Granzow played a key part in Kickapoo’s 26-7-2 overall record and 8-1 conference mark for an Ozark Conference title her junior season. She led the team in blocks her final two seasons and earned all-conference, all-district and all-region honors as a senior. She was also an academic all-conference selection two times.
"Joanna has the potential to develop into a very good right side attacker for our program," Stokes commented. "She attacks well off one foot and is also very good at hitting all the quick options. Joanna has been playing volleyball for a long time, so it is just a matter of taking her skills to the next level in our gym."
Gray is a 5-10 middle blocker and outside hitter from Shady Grove Christian Academy in Grand Prairie, Texas. She was a 2006 first-team all-district honoree and led the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in kills and aces as recognized by the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Gray averaged 3.7 kills, 3.0 assists, 1.1 aces, 1.2 blocks and 1.3 digs per game in 2006. She also played basketball for two seasons at Shady Grove and averaged 10.3 points and 10 rebounds.
"Eboni is an incredible athlete and knows what it takes to be successful, both on and off the court," Stokes added. "Team chemistry is very important to our program and we knew Eboni would be a very positive addition to our program. We are excited get such a talented and gifted person in our program and we are looking forward to training her."
The trio joins fall commitments Cara Hackmann of Washington, Mo., and Maci Wood of Preston, Mo., to round out the group of five newcomers for the 2007 season.
