SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State volleyball coach Melissa Stokes announced the addition of seven players to the 2018 roster on Wednesday. Kendahl Davenport, Amelia Flynn, Izzy Gibbany, Natali Petrova, Chloe Rear, Leah Vokolek and Makina Wratten will all join the Bears as freshmen for the upcoming season.

Kendahl Davenport • 6-3 • MB/RS • Maumelle, Ark. • Conway High
Davenport spent three years on the varsity at Conway High, helping the Wampus Cats to three conference titles and a combined 85-16-1 record. An Arkansas Class 7A all-state selection as a senior, Davenport led Conway to a 30-4-1 record that included a 25-match win streak, hitting .500 or higher nine times, leading the team in kills 15 times, and owning high blocking honors in 18 matches. She ended her career ranked eighth in school history in career kills and third in career blocks while setting the single-season blocking record as a senior. Davenport tallied 243 kills and 30 blocks during an all-conference junior season, and finished her sophomore season with 102 kills and 59 blocks.

Stokes on Davenport:
"Kendahl brings a physical presence to the net that is to be reckoned with. She can take away a big part of the court when blocking, which is going to be great for our floor defensive players to get to defend behind. Kendahl also can attack from any position on the floor which will allow her to contribute to our offensive arsenal in a variety of ways. She has a great personality and is fun to watch, so needless to say, we are excited to have her in our gym."


Amelia Flynn • 6-0 • OH • Lake St. Louis, Mo. • Timberland High
A four-year starter, Flynn helped the Timberland Wolves improve their record each season to a 31-3 mark and Class 4 quarterfinal appearance her senior season. Flynn finished her career with 1,039 kills and 948 digs, earning first-team all-conference and all-district honors each of her final three seasons. She tallied 222 kills (4.72/set) as a senior, 277 (4.95/set) as a junior, and 361 (5.01/set) as a sophomore. Flynn had 179 kills and 336 digs as a freshman to earing second-team all-conference and all-district accolades, and earned top five national finishes with both her indoor and beach teams as a PrepVolleyball Club All-American.

Stokes on Flynn:
"Amelia has been playing club at a high level for a long time. She brings a lot of experience and will add great depth to our outside attacker position. Amelia has excellent ball control skills which will allow her to contribute not only in the front row, but also from a serve receive standpoint in the back row. Her experience also contributes to her high volleyball IQ, which allows her to utilize her talents most effectively."


Izzy Gibbany • 5-3 • DS • Harrison, Ark. • Harrison High
Gibbany set Harrison High records with 1,603 career digs and a 4.4 per set average as a four-year starting libero. A three-time all-state pick and four-time all-conference selection, Gibbany played on some of the top teams in Harrison history, advancing to the state tournament in her junior and senior seasons.

Stokes on Gibbany:
"Izzy is going to add great depth to our already very successful floor defensive department. She can serve, pass and play defense. Izzy plays with a lot passion and energy. When you combine those characteristics with her defensive talent, she is going to be very successful. I am excited to get Izzy in our gym as I believe her passion for the game is contagious."


Natali Petrova • 6-2 • OH • Sofia, Bulgaria. • SSU General Vladimir Stoichev 
A talented six-rotation player, Petrova has been on the club roster of CSKA Sofia since 2012. She has competed on several divisions of the club, up to and including the top level, helping it to numerous top-three league finishes. Petrova has also trained with the Bulgarian national team. Petrova's mother, Iliana, was a setter for the Bulgarian national team, and her father, Kamen, was an outside hitter for a semi-pro team in the country.

Stokes on Petrova:
"Without question, Natali brings a lot of high level volleyball experience in to our gym. She has a great arm and has good ball control skills. Natali has very high goals not only for herself, but also for the Bears. She also has a great personality. It has been fun for our staff to get to know her through various means of communication. We are excited for her arrival to Missouri State and the opportunity to get to work with her on daily basis."


Chloe Rear • 5-11 • S/OH • Strafford, Mo. • Strafford High
Rear was a four-year starting setter and outside hitter for former Bear Ashley (Warren) Bough at Strafford High. A four-time all-state selection, including first-team nods each of her final three seasons, Rear helped the Indians to a combined 62-6-2 her final two years. Rear earned Under Armour Girls High School All-America honorable mention honors as a senior, guiding Strafford to a runner-up finish at the state tournament. She was also named the area's top volleyball player by Ozarks Sports Zone in 2015 and 2016, and spent time with USA Volleyball's junior programs. Rear's aunt, Amy Russell McNew, played volleyball at Missouri State from 1990-93 and joined the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. Her grandfather, Dale Russell, played basketball at MSU from 1955-59.

Stokes on Rear:
"Chloe has been learning and training under former Bear standout Ashley (Warren) Bough, so there is no doubt that Chloe, with her competitive nature, will make an immediate impact on our program. Chloe is very versatile as she has been an attacker and a setter and can execute both skills at a high level. The fact that she has been setting and attacking gives her a great perspective on tempo, speed and location which allows her to make adjustments quickly and easily."


Leah Vokolek • 5-8 • DS/L • Springfield, Mo. • Kickapoo High
Vokolek spent four years starting in the defensive rotation at Kickapoo High in Springfield, including back-to-back conference championships and a 51-13 record her final two seasons. She earned Class 4 all-state and all-district honors as a senior, and was an academic all-state and all-conference selection each of her four seasons. Her father DJ coached on the Missouri State football staff from 2006-14.

Stokes on Vokolek:
"Leah is a competitor and you need to be a great competitor to be a great defensive player. She loves to play defense and also wants to be the player that is served at by her opponents. Our floor defensive department is an important part of our success and there is no doubt Leah is going to keep the standards high in our gym on a daily basis."


Makina Wratten • 6-0 • MB • Broken Arrow, Okla. • Broken Arrow High
Wratten spent three years starting in the middle for the Broken Arrow varsity squad. She hit .383 with 236 kills as a senior, and earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior after hitting .414 with 260 kills. Wratten also made numerous all-tournament teams throughout her prep career.

Stokes on Wratten:
"Makina is a very talented athlete. As a middle blocker, she is not only fast laterally, but she works hard to close the block. Her work ethic also carries over into her transition game, which allows her to be a viable option to get set anywhere along the net. There is no doubt with her work ethic and talent that Makina will make an immediate impact in our gym."