WEST LINN, Ore. -- Missouri State volleyball's incoming freshman class received high praise this week as PrepVolleyball.com rated the six-player group in the High Honorable Mention category of its annual recruiting rankings. The publication compiled the list of the nation's top 30 recruiting classes, along with additional honorable mention categories, with the help of college coaches based on the cumulative impact each class could make during its time at each school.

This is the third consecutive year that Missouri State has been recognized by the publication, as the juniors-to-be were rated the No. 30 class nationally two years ago, and last season's freshmen were tabbed just outside the top 30 in 2015.

Four players from Missouri, one from Illinois and one from Wisconsin make up MSU's incoming class, which includes Aubrey Cheffey (OH, Nixa, Mo.), Laynie Dake (MB, Mt. Vernon, Mo.), Julia Hanson (OH/DS, Fort Atkinson, Wis.), Gerri Idos (DS, Springfield, Mo.), Daniele Messa (S, Bartlett, Ill.), and Paige Perry (OH/DS, Ozark, Mo.).

The Bears begin their 21st season under head coach Melissa Stokes in late August. Stokes has guided the Bears to a 438-213 mark since taking over in 1996, and the team has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in eight of the last 13 seasons while reaching the 20-win mark 16 times in the last 17 years.