CULVER CITY, Calif. -- Missouri State volleyball's incoming freshman class was recognized this week as PrepVolleyball.com rated the 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 more than 80 college coaches based on the cumulative impact each class could make during its time at each school.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Missouri State has been recognized by the publication, including a No. 30 ranking prior to the 2014 season, while the Bears have placed just outside the top 30 each of the last four rankings.

MSU's incoming class includes Kendahl Davenport (6-3, MB/RS, Maumelle, Ark./Conway High), Amelia Flynn (6-0, OH, Lake St. Louis, Mo./Timberland High), Izzy Gibbany (5-3, DS, Harrison, Ark./Harrison High), Natali Petrova (6-2, OH, Sofia, Bulgaria/SSU General Vladimir Stoichev), Chloe Rear (5-11, S/OH, Strafford, Mo./Strafford High), Leah Vokolek (5-8, DS/L, Springfield, Mo./Kickapoo High) and Makina Wratten (6-0, MB, Broken Arrow, Okla./Broken Arrow High). 

PrepVolleyball's rankings do not include potential impacts of transfers and international prospects, meaning Petrova's future contributions are not factored into the rankings.

The Bears begin their 23rd season under head coach Melissa Stokes in late August. Stokes has guided the Bears to a 492-228 mark since taking over in 1996, and the team has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 10 of the last 15 seasons while reaching the 20-win mark 18 times in the last 19 years. The Bears have won back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference championships, and return three all-conference players from last year's club that went 28-6 overall and spent time ranked in the AVCA top 25.