Missouri State announced the addition of two transfer students to its volleyball program Thursday. Both student-athletes are enrolled at Missouri State and attending classes this semester.

Meryl Loop (5-8, So., S/DS, Valley Center, Kan.) comes to Missouri State after spending her first college semester at the University of Akron. Loop was a part-time starter for the Zips in 2008, seeing time in 25 matches and 77 sets. She ranked fourth on the team with 133 digs and a 1.73 per set average, and was second on the squad with 83 assists. As a prep at Circle High School, Loop was a three-time all-state performer, making the first team as a junior and senior, and led her team to a fourth place finish in the Class 4A state tournament as a junior. She also owns Circle High’s career record for aces. Loop’s sister, Kelsey, played volleyball at Wyoming and Colorado.

Megan Bess (6-0, So., OH, Farmington, Mo.) spent her first two collegiate seasons at the University of Oklahoma, redshirting in 2007 and seeing action in 11 sets in 2008. At Farmington High, Bess earned all-state honors her junior and senior seasons and was a four-time all-district choice. The Knightettes won conference and district titles three times with Bess on the roster and she averaged 5.81 kills per set as a junior. Bess’s father, Bill, played football for Missouri (1975-79), while her sister, Natalie, was on the basketball team at McKendree College in 2004.

The 2008 Bears finished 23-13 overall and made a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title.