SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State volleyball coach Melissa Stokes announced Wednesday the addition of six players to next season's roster, with high school standouts Kennedee Anderson, Brooklyn Cink, Kennedy Farris, Azyah Green, Holly Luginbill and Julia McCown set to join the Bears as freshmen for the 2019 season.

Kennedee Anderson • 5-8 • S • Rogersville, Mo. • Ozark High
Kennedee Anderson ran the Ozark High offense for former Bear Adeana (McAfee) Brewer, helping the Tigers to 87 wins her final three seasons. Anderson led the state of Missouri in assists and set the Ozark record as a junior, and was named the area's top setter by Ozarks Sports Zone. She picked up all-state, all-conference and all-district honors as the Tigers earned a state runner-up finish. Anderson was an academic all-state and second-team all-district pick as a sophomore while helping Ozark to a third-place state finish, and first-team all-district honors her senior season. 

Stokes on Anderson:
"Kennedee has a very high volleyball IQ. She is not only smart, but also very confident and passionate about the game. When I watched her play, her court demeanor is the first attribute that caught my attention. She has run an offense for a highly successful Ozark High program with dynamic attackers and has proved she can compete at the highest level. Kennedee will be playing with Julia McCown, Azyah Green and Holly Luginbill this spring club season which will give them all an opportunity to grow and learn together before they become full time Bears."


Brooklyn Cink • 5-11 • OH • Manhattan, Kan. • Manhattan High
Brooklyn Cink was a four-year starting outside hitter for Manhattan High, finishing her career with 1,266 kills on .296 hitting, 579 digs, 143 aces and 206 blocks. She was named to PrepVolleyball's Senior Aces 125 list and earned first-team all-league honors for a third-straight year her final season, adding a second-team all-state selection. Cink's teams earned fourth-place state finishes both her sophomore and junior seasons, and she earned first-team all-state honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association both years. She hit .312 with 467 kills as a junior for the second-best total in school history, adding 238 digs and 77 blocks. Cink hit .310 with 318 kills as a sophomore and .308 with 265 kills her freshman year, earning first-team academic all-state honors from the KVA each of her first three seasons.

Stokes on Cink:
"Brooklyn is an incredible athlete. She is a high flyer and has a great arm. Brooklyn is a true six rotation player and someone that has proven to be successful in both the front row as well as the back row. She can pass, play defense, serve, block and attack from anywhere on the floor. Brooklyn also has a great head on her shoulders and carries herself very well on and off the court. With her skill set and maturity, there is no doubt Brooklyn will be a great addition to our Bear Volleyball family."


Kennedy Farris • 5-7 • DS • Leavenworth, Kan. • Lansing High
Kennedy Farris started four seasons for Lansing High, helping the Lions to four unbeaten conference seasons and 143 total victories in her career. She owns her school's career digs record with 1,222, and served 234 aces in four seasons. A four-time academic all-state selection, Farris had 27 kills in a match during her freshman season before transitioning to defense full time. Lansing finished no worse than fifth at the state tournament in each of her four years, placing third in both her junior and senior seasons. A three-time all-league selection, Farris also started four years for Lansing's soccer team and two years on the basketball squad.

Stokes on Farris:
"First ball contact is crucial to running a successful offense. When I think of Kennedy, I think of her ability to pass. She has a great platform and has developed the ability to serve receive at a high level. Kennedy is also very steady and reliable, which are important characteristics of being a primary passer. She has played for a great high school team as well as played a high level of club volleyball year round. There is no doubt Kennedy will make an immediate impact in our gym."


Azyah Green • 6-0 • MB • Springfield, Mo. • Kickapoo High
Azyah (pronounced Asia) Green continues a long line of Kickapoo High products to play for the Bears. A four-year starter in the middle, Green led the Chiefs in blocks each of her final three seasons. Green was a second-team all-district pick three times in her career, adding first-team all-conference honors as a senior. She accumulated 145 kills as a junior, and was named the area's top blocker by Ozarks Sports Zone her sophomore season. That year, Green had 102 blocks (1.3 per set) and 181 kills with a .268 attack efficiency.

Stokes on Green:
"Azyah can flat out block. Blocking is one of the toughest skills to master as it requires great vision, reading and reacting to various offensive scenarios coming at you. Azyah has some natural instincts that have impressed me from day one. Azyah is quick, strong and a fierce competitor. She is not just excited to win, but also hates to lose. I am excited to get her in our gym as I think Azyah has only scratched the surface of where she can take her game."


Holly Luginbill • 5-9 • DS • Ozark, Mo. • Ozark High
Holly Luginbill was a three-year defensive starter for Ozark, helping the Tigers to district and conference titles each season. She led Ozark with 320 digs as a senior, and helped the team to a pair of top-three state finishes while earning Academic All-State honors both her sophomore and junior seasons. Luginbill was named the area's Community Olympic Development Program volleyball athlete of the year during her junior season.

Stokes on Luginbill:
"Our floor defense department has always been an important part of our success and there is no question Holly is going to make sure that continues. Holly is fast and reacts quickly to make great saves on defense. She also serves tough, which has put her teams in a good position to score points with her at the service line. Holly is very bright and driven, which will allow her to transition to the collegiate game seamlessly."


Julia McCown • 6-2 • MB • Ozark, Mo. • Ozark High
An AVCA Under Armour Girls High School All-America honorable mention selection in 2018, Julia McCown led Missouri in kill percentage as a senior, earning first-team all-conference and all-district honors for head coach and former Bear Adeana (McAfee) Brewer. She earned Class 4 all-state honors as a junior, adding first-team all-district and second-team all-conference selections for the state runner-up Tigers. McCown also helped Ozark to a third-place state finish her sophomore season.

Stokes on McCown:
"Julia is a gifted athlete. She is very long, lean and has the ability to play the game high above the net. She can attack from anywhere on the floor and has the ability to play both the middle as well as on the pins. Her versatility will allow us to be very creative both offensively and defensively. Julia's range on both sides of the ball will make her a player to contend with from the get go."