LC Volleyball Adds Depth and Experience with 2019 Recruiting Class

[June 25, 2019] 

Lincoln College Volleyball Coach Mark Tippett is pleased with the recent additions that have been made to his team’s 2019 roster. The Lady Lynx, who will return their entire starting lineup from the 2018 squad that went 17-17 in their first season of varsity competition as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), have recently added four transfer players to the mix and a number of talented high school seniors will be entering the program as well.

On Thursday, the Lynx had a signing day for four players who will be transferring to LC from other institutions. Coach Tippett is excited about the energy and talent they will bring to an already potent lineup.

“We found out last year that having a deep roster is important because of the inevitable number of injuries that pop up throughout the season,” said Tippett. “When we had all of our starters on the floor we were a very tough team to beat and enjoyed a lot of success, but, for a couple stretches, injuries forced us to have players play out of position or to bring up inexperienced players to fill in which made it difficult to compete. Our team for 2019 should have plenty of depth to help us get through those challenges this year.”

The 2019 recruiting class includes a homecoming of sorts for Lincoln Community High School grad Josalyn Owens. Owens recently completed her associates degree at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois and was a two-year starter for the Chargers under the direction of Coach Todd Winkler. The addition of Owens will increase the number of Lincoln High School graduates on the 2019 LC roster to six.

According to Owens, the chance to return home and play with some familiar teammates were big factors in her decision. “I am excited to come back to my hometown and thankful I get the opportunity to play with so many girls I already know and have played with in the past,” she said.

Making the move to Lincoln will also offer her the opportunity to reunite with fellow Sandburg grad and current LC setter Emma Derry. “I am also happy about getting to play with Emma again,” said Owens. “We plan on picking up right where we left off and have high hopes for this upcoming season. I am very excited for what is to come,” she added.

Another transfer who should be ready to contribute right away is Ashlyn Slater, an outside hitter from Grain Valley, Missouri. Slater comes to Lincoln after finishing up two successful seasons at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Missouri where she was second on team in kills her sophomore season and had the most aces by a wide margin. Slater brings a powerful jump-serve to the LC attack as well as being capable of swinging with either hand.

The exercise science major says she is ready for the challenges ahead. “I am looking forward to advancing my career and getting to know my new teammates,” said Slater. “It’s exciting to start a new chapter and to hopefully make my mark in Lincoln.”

Kayla Battle is the third junior transfer to sign with LC. She should provide even more offensive firepower for the Lynx and can be a strong defensive presence at the net as well. Battle is from Aurora, Illinois and a graduate of Waubonsee Community College. As a middle hitter, she led Waubonsee in total blocks and was second on her team in kills in 2018.

From L to R - Ashlyn Slater, Metropolitan Community College; Kayla Battle, Waubonsee Community College; Rylee Cook, Lindenwood-Belleville University and Josalyn Owens, Carl Sandburg College.

Battle says she is excited to be joining a successful program and to be attending a school with a residential campus as opposed to the community college setting she has experienced so far. “I’m looking forward to everything!” Battle said. “The sports, the school, the dorms and the activities. This will be my first time away from home, so being on my own will be a whole different experience for me. I chose LC because the environment was beautiful and the people are very friendly. I can’t wait to get going in August,” she added.

The fourth transfer player in the 2019 recruiting class is Springfield, Illinois native Rylee Cook. Cook is a defensive specialist entering her sophomore season after playing her freshman year at Lindenwood-Belleville University. LBU recently announced they will drop athletics after the 2019-2020 season which prompted Cook’s transfer to Lincoln.

According to Cook, she chose to transfer to Lincoln, “because the staff and organization of everything was great, and I was able to stay on track for my degree. I am looking forward to playing with the team and contributing to the program as best I can.”

The new additions to the roster will join an experienced lineup for Lincoln that will feature seven seniors in 2019. “I am interested to see how we can best utilize these new players in our offense next season,” said Coach Tippett. “The depth we will have in 2019 will definitely give us a lot of options and make our team even more difficult to defend.”

Lincoln will be adding to their underclassmen numbers as well this fall with the addition of several incoming freshman players. Among those who have already committed to play for Lincoln this year are defensive specialist Nicole Porter from Troy, Illinois, Brittney Mekelburg, an outside hitter from Johnstown, Colorado, and Cahokia High School grads Daizjah Shannon and Amil Allen.

“We have a lot of talent and enthusiasm coming in with the 2019 freshman class,” said Tippett. “The increased numbers will give us a chance to have a very competitive JV program.”

[Mark Tippett
Lincoln College
Sports Information]