Warrensburg, Mo. (Aug. 23, 1999) -- Peggy Martin’s volleyball team is the first Central Missouri State University athletic squad to see action in the 1999-2000 school year. The Jennies will be in Edwardsville, Ill., Friday and Saturday (Aug. 27-28) for the Cougar Invitational at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Ranked ninth in the AVCA Division II  Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 poll, the Jennies open their season Friday at 5 p.m. against Drury College, then play the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 7:30 p.m. Saturday the Jennies meet 11th-ranked Northern Kentucky University at 11 a.m. and 25th-rated SIU-Edwardsville at 1 p.m.

NCAA Division II’s winningest coach with 788 career victories, Martin begins her 24th season with the Jennies and has four starters back from last season’s 27-5 team that won an unprecedented 17th straight MIAA title and made a 16th straight NCAA tournament appearance. Topping the list of returners is senior middle hitter Daria McConnell (Overland Park, Kan.), a second-team AVCA All-American last season. She was second on the team in kills (484) and hitting percentage (.314) last year behind first-team All-American Sarah Dallas. McConnell also led the team in total blocks (144). Outside hitter Rhea Griffin (Red Bud, Ill.) returns for her junior season after earning All-MIAA honors for a second straight year. She was second on the team in digs last season with 434. Also returning for the Jennies are junior outside hitter Mandy Feldmann (Villa Ridge, Mo.), junior defensive specialist Katie Grusing (Clearwater, Kan.) and sophomore middle hitter Janell Mohme (Columbia, Ill.). Sophomore Robyn Griffin (Red Bud, Ill.), Rhea’s younger sister, will get the call at the all-important setter position. She played sparingly in that role last season behind three-time all-region selection Jaime St. Marie.

New to the Jennies’ lineup will be outside hitter Jen Withoelder (Washington, Mo.), a junior college All-American last season at Jefferson (Mo.) Community College, and freshman defensive specialist Jacque Barr (Lee’s Summit, Mo.).