Missouri State volleyball coach Melissa Stokes announced the addition of four players Wednesday, with Maddie Back, Sam Brinkmann, Emilie Orlando and Veronica Snelling set to join the program as freshmen for the 2017 season.
Maddie Back • 5-9 • DS • Hot Springs Village, Ark. • Jessieville High
Back was a four-year starting setter in high school who played in the back row during her club career. She served at least 100 aces in each of her four prep seasons, finishing with 515 in her career and ranking No. 1 in Arkansas and 28th nationally with 145 as a junior. A four-time all-state and all-conference pick, Back concluded her career with 2,203 assists. She also started four seasons for the Jessieville softball team as a shortstop and outfielder, with her mother Leigh Ann serving as her coach in both sports.
Stokes on Back:
“I have known Maddie since she was a kid. She grew up coming to team camps at Missouri State. Maddie has experience setting as well as playing defense. She also has a very high volleyball IQ playing high school ball for her mom, Leigh Ann Back. Having her join our program is very exciting as she is a Bear through and through.”
Sam Brinkmann • 5-8 • DS • St. Louis, Mo. • Lutheran High School South
Brinkmann started four seasons as a defender at Lutheran High School South, including three years at libero, helping the Lancers to a 34-3-3 record and Class 3 state title as a senior. She accumulated 517 digs as a senior for a 7.2 per set average on the way to earning MaxPreps Medium Schools Second-Team All-America honors following the season. Brinkmann was also a first-team all-state pick as a senior, first-team all-metro and all-league both her junior and senior seasons, and a contributor on LHSS’s fourth-place state finishing club as a freshman.
Stokes on Brinkmann:
“Sam has great ball control and will add great depth to our already successful floor defensive department. Her skill set of being able to serve, pass and play defense will make an immediate impact on our program.”
Emilie Orlando • 5-8 • S • Wildwood, Mo. • Lafayette High
Orlando was on the varsity for three state championship teams, starting at setter as a junior and senior. She averaged 10.91 assists per set as a senior, earning first-team all-state and PrepVolleyball High Honorable Mention All-America honors. Orlando was a first-team all-region, all-district, and all-conference pick her senior year, and a three-time academic all-state selection
Stokes on Orlando:
“I am very excited to get Emelie in the gym. She comes from a high school program that has multiple state championships and is a perennial powerhouse. Emelie ran the offense and has a very high volleyball IQ. She will not only add depth to our setting department, but allow us to look at several different lineup options in the future.”
Veronica Snelling • 5-10 • RS • Glen Ellyn, Ill. • Benet Academy
Snelling was a three-year starter for Benet Academy teams that ranked in the top 100 nationally each of her four seasons on the roster, and was a PrepVolleyball High Honorable Mention All-America selection as a senior. She was the Naperville Sun Girls Volleyball Player of the Year her senior season after accumulating 374 kills, 37 blocks, 34 aces and 170 digs. Snelling hit .332 with 266 kills as a sophomore, helping the Redwings to a state championship, 41-1 final record and No. 5 national ranking while posting a .538 attack efficiency in the 2014 state title match. Benet Academy went a combined 146-16 during her career, while she was a two-time all-conference selection.
Stokes on Snelling:
“Veronica, nicknamed V, is a very powerful and explosive player. She has a great arm and is left-handed. She will add a new dimension to our attackers from day one. V has also played at the highest level in club and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.”
