SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State's volleyball program and head coach Steven McRoberts received commitments from five high school standouts in the last week, including four from southwest Missouri. Reagan Baade, Rilynn Finley, Hatty Hesemann, Kya Johnson and Riley Ourth will all join the Bears as freshmen for the 2024 season.
 
"All of the players that we are bringing in will make our gym highly competitive every day," McRoberts said of his latest recruiting class. "We will have quality depth and these young ladies aren't just good volleyball players, but they are great people as well. As we keep looking forward to building on the foundation that we've already laid, I know that this group will put us back into a championship contending program in the near future."
 
Reagan Baade • 5-8 • DS • Ozark, Mo. • Ozark High/417 Juniors
A three-year starter for former Bear Adeana Brewer at nearby Ozark High, Baade (pronounced body) recently received American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honors following a senior season in which she compiled 346 kills, 274 digs, 20 blocks and 37 aces for the Tigers. She helped Ozark to a 29-6 record and Central Ozark Conference championship as a senior as well. An all-state pick in addition to first-team all-conference and all-district honors as a junior, Baade had 353 kills, 341 digs, 35 aces and 30 blocks that year. As a sophomore, she tallied 200 kills, 302 digs, 25 aces and 17 blocks on the way to second-team all-conference honors, adding all-district and academic all-state selections as well.
 
Coach McRoberts on Baade:
"Reagan is an uber competitor and I have seen her excel in some high-pressure situations. She has been a six-rotation outside hitter for her high school team, so I know she will really grow when she comes in and gets to focus solely on passing and defense."
 
 
Rilynn Finley • 6-0 • OH • Republic, Mo. • Republic High/417 Juniors
A four-year starter for Republic, Finley ended her stellar career with 1,279 kills, 662 digs and 202 blocks. A three-time academic all-state selection, Finley ranked eighth in Missouri with 510 kills as a senior, hitting .319 and averaging 5.54 per set to go with 299 total digs. She hit .236 with 355 kills, 45 blocks and 286 digs during an all-conference and all-district junior campaign. As a sophomore, Finley had 218 kills on .301 hitting and 63 blocks, and hit .228 with 196 kills and 49 blocks as a freshman.
 
Coach McRoberts on Finley:
"Rilynn is an explosive outside hitter with a heavy arm. She will come in and be a terminal hitter in our league. Even though she spent a majority of her high school career as a middle attacker, she has put up some big numbers on the outside this past season. Rilynn's athleticism has made her a standout athlete in this area, and we are so excited she chose to stay local and become a Bear!"
 

Hatty Hesemann • 5-8 • S • Springfield, Mo. • New Covenant Academy/Apex Volleyball Club
Hesemann served an incredible 384 aces during her career at New Covenant Academy in Springfield, and was the Mark Twain Conference MVP and a first-team all-district selection each of her final three seasons with the Warriors. She exceeded 100 aces as both a junior and senior, and piled up career totals of 874 kills, 113 blocks, 1406 assists and 732 digs.
 
Coach McRoberts on Hesemann:
"Hatty has played a lot of positions in her high school/club career. She can help us as a setter, defensive specialist or as a serving specialist. Hatty will be successful here because she has a team-first mentality."
 
 
Kya Johnson • 5-7 • DS • Springfield, Mo. • Kickapoo High/417 Juniors
A three-year varsity starter, Johnson helped Kickapoo to a 91-23 record in three seasons with a state runner-up finish as a junior and fourth-place finish as a senior. An AVCA Third-Team All-America pick her senior year, Johnson finished the season with 593 digs and 49 aces. Also a standout basketball player, Johnson earned the Kickapoo Volleyball Leadership Award her sophomore and junior seasons. She finished her junior campaign with 543 digs and 34 aces as a first-team all-state pick, and had 200 digs and 37 aces as a sophomore to earn all-conference and all-district accolades.
 
Coach McRoberts on Johnson:
"Kya has been the libero for a high school program that has been to two straight state tournaments. She is a servant leader who is constantly pushing those around her to be better. Kya is a winner in all aspects and I'm excited to have her in our gym for four years."
 
 
Riley Ourth • 5-9 • DS • Olathe, Kan. • Olathe West High/Pohaku Volleyball Club
Ourth started all four seasons for the Olathe West Owls, helping the team improve its win total each year from 11 her freshman campaign to 27 her senior year when the club reached eighth in the state rankings. Ourth leaves Olathe West with four school records, including career marks for digs (1,087) and aces (179). She set the school season record for aces with 78 as a junior, and added the season digs record as a senior with 432, and 62 more aces.
 
Coach McRoberts on Ourth:
"Riley caught my eye early in the recruiting process and I loved how she aggressively played as a defensive specialist. She has a great feel for the game and I know that she will come in and immediately excel in our program.