JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern head volleyball coach Kalie Mader has finalized her 2019 roster with four more incoming recruits to the fold.
Joining the Lions will be Makenzie Fa’amausili-Cacoulidis and Kayla Murray, both hailing from Hawaii, as well as Emalee Lowe, a Texas native who transfers in from Lee College and Brooklynn McCain, an Oklahoma native that comes in from Iowa Western Community College. The group joins Kierson Maydew who signed with the Lions in the fall.
Murray and Fa’amausili-Cacoulidis both prepped at Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu and will team up again for the Lions.
FA’amausili-Cacoulidis was a four-year letter winner for Coach Raymond Patcho and the Lancers. She was a two-time All-Conference selection and member of the Fab 15 in Hawaii, being named the MVP of the D2 Volleyball Tournament as a senior. Fa’amausili-Cacoulidis is the daughter of Jennie Dolores and plans to major in kinesiology at Southern.
Murray was a volleyball and track and field student-athlete. On the volleyball court, Murray played for coach Raymond Patcho where she saw action at outside hitter, middle blocker and opposite, lettering three years in the sport. She was an All-Conference pick her senior season, where she helped her team to a Hawaii State Championship. Murray helped her volleyball team to a fifth-place finish in the State Championship her junior season. She lettered one year in track and field where she qualified for the state meet as a freshman, running the 400m relay and participating in the long jump for coach Cyril Pries. The daughter of Kendra and Mike Murray, Kayla plans to major in business at Southern.
“I am thrilled to add two more freshmen to our 2019 class,” Mader said. “Kayla and McKenzie will bring a championship mindset, a high volleyball IQ and a great work ethic to our gym on a daily basis.”
Lowe comes to Southern after two years at Lee College in Texas. She was a first-team All-Region selection in 2018-19, while also earning the Libero of the Year award in her conference. She helped Lee advance to the Regional Tournament in both 2017-18 and 2018-19 and was a Presidential Honor Award Winner at Lee in 2019.
Lowe prepped at Midlothian High School where she was a three-year letter winner for coach Mary Malone and the Panthers. She set a school record with 860 digs as a senior. Lowe is the daughter of Jason Lowe and Amy Penny-Lowe and plans to major in physical education at Southern.
McCain comes to Southern after two seasons at Iowa Western Community College where she helped the team to back-to-back Conference, Regional and District Championships, and a 77-7 record. The team finished third place in the National Championship in 2018-19 and 7th in 2017-18.
McCain prepped at Southmoore High School in Moore, Okla. where she was a three-year letter winner in volleyball for coach Janet Brannon. McCain was an All-City selection as a senior. McCain is the daughter of Angela Anderson and Patrick McCain. She plans to major in health promotions at Southern.
“I am excited to have experienced backrow players in our gym,” Mader said. Both Emalee and Brooklynn have played a high level of junior college ball and add to our passion and drive in the gym daily.”
