|
Director of Coaching/Training for Ozark North Staff: Chris Willis
 Head volleyball coach at Missouri Southern University. Chris' biography includes being named the fifth head volleyball coach in Missouri Southern history on June 25, 2004. Now in his second year as Lions head coach, he came to MSSU after a five-year stint as an assistant volleyball coach at NCAA Division I Southwest Missouri State (now known as Missouri State University).
From 1999 through the 2003 season, Willis helped the SMS Bears to an impressive 122-40 record as an assistant on Melissa Stokes' staff. While at SMS, Willis served as the volleyball program's liaison with the speed, strength and conditioning program and also handled the coaching of the outside hitters and setters. The Bears posted 20 or more victories in each of Willis' five seasons, including 27-win campaigns in 2000 and 2003.
In all, Willis has nine years of experience as an assistant coach in the NCAA Division I ranks. Before joining the SMS staff, he served as assistant coach for two years at Northern Arizona University. While at the Flagstaff, Ariz., institution, Willis was responsible for the development of outside hitters, scouting, game management and assisted with recruiting. The Lumberjacks finished 19-10 in 1997, Willis' first season, and 18-11 in 1998.
He also worked as an assistant for two seasons at Davidson (N.C.) College, where he coached setters and coordinated the strength & conditioning program.
In his role as Ozark NORTH Director of Coaching Development and Training, Chris will be observing and assisting our coaches and players to achieve their full potential in the sport of volleyball by helping ensure consistency in our coaching and teaching processes.
Director of Ozark North: Nicole Cirillo
 A former four-year collegiate volleyball letterwinner, serves on head coach Chris Willis' staff as an assistant coach with the Missouri Southern women's volleyball squad. She's in her second year with the Lions.
Cirillo, who played the 2002 and 2003 seasons at the University of Central Arkansas, assists the MSSU team in a variety of areas, including working directly with the Lions' middle blockers.
Before joining the MSSU staff, Shoger had already gathered some coaching experience. She gave private volleyball lessons in Conway, Ark. to 14- and 15-year-old players with an emphasis on middle blocking and setting. She also was head coach for 14-year-old girls on the Conway Volleyball Club in 2004. Shoger previously served as head coach for 16-year-old girls on the Southwest Illinois Volleyball Club in Belleville, Ill.
A native of Edwardsville, Ill., Cirillo was first-team all-conference and all-metro player at Edwardsville High School, earning player of the year honors on the all-area team and leading EHS to regional and sectional championships. She was an honorable mention All-America and a first-team all-region selection at Southwestern Illinois College, where she played the first two years of her collegiate career before transferring to UCA.
At Central Arkansas, Shoger played in 173 games and logged 409 kills, 125 blocks (27 solo) and 62 service aces. In 2003, she helped the Sugar Bears to their first Gulf South Conference Tournament appearance since 1998. Cirillo, a team captain, was also named to the GSC Academic Honor Roll. Cirillo earned her bachelor's degree in management information systems from UCA in 2004. She is currently working on her Graduate Studies at Missouri State Unversity in Administrative Studies.
Head Coach: Katie Gage
 Katie is a sophmore at Missouri Southern State University where she plays as an outside hitter In High School: Two-time all-conference and all-district performer in volleyball… a three-year starter for the Lamar Tigers….earned first-team all-conference and all-district accolades in 2004…holds school records for digs, including the career mark of 738… also set school game and match records for kills….also participated in basketball and track & field…set the school shot put record. Katie is a former Ozark Volleyball Academy player.
Head Coach: Ashley Russell
 Ashley is a freshman at Missouri Southern State University where she plays as an outside hitter. Russell was a three-year varsity starter in volleyball and this season was named conference MVP ... A state qualifier in track & field, she earned volleyball all-district honors three times in her career and was also the all-county volleyball MVP as a junior.
Head Coach: Erin Mitchen
 Erin is a freshman at Missouri Southern State University where she plays as a settter. Mitchem was a four-year starter at Spokane High School, where she was a four-year all-district honoree and a three-year all-conference selection. She helped the Owls to three district titles during her career, and, in 2005, led the squad to a third-place finish in Missouri Class 2. Mitchem led SHS in assists in each of her last three seasons. The brother of former Missouri Southern men’s basketball player Tyler Mitchem, she was district MVP as a junior and was on the all-county team three times.
Head Coach: Holly Davidson
 Holly is a freshman at Missouri Southern State University where she plays as a middle hitter. She was a four-year starter for the Tigers for coach Kelly Richardson ... Davidson is a three-time all-conference and all-district performer and this year helped her squad to a third-place finish in Missouri Class 3.
|
