The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

High School Sports

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February 6, 2013

Carthage's Shepherd signs to play for College of the Ozarks

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer

CARTHAGE, Mo. —  Carthage High School senior Chloe Shepherd, who helped Cheryl Sharples’ volleyball Tigers win 72 matches the past three seasons, signed a national letter of intent with College of the Ozarks on Tuesday.

Stacy Edwards, assistant for C of O head coach Nick Sharp, came to Carthage for the signing ceremony.

Edwards projected the 5-foot-8 Shepherd as an outside hitter or defensive specialist for the Bobcats.

“Chloe is an all-around good athlete,” Edwards said. “It will be interesting to see (next season) how much she will be able to play as a freshman. We’ll see.”

Edwards, whose volleyball background includes Republic High School, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (also basketball for the Lady Norse) and C of O, said the Bobcats finished 19-15 overall last season.

C of O, located at Point Lookout (Mo.), near Branson and Hollister, competes in the NAIA Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference. Edwards said the team was second to Bellevue (Neb.) in the MCAC.

Selecting C of O, Shepherd said, started with liking the coaches and the positive direction she believes the program is headed.

“Players on the team were very welcoming,” Shepherd said. “The campus is beautiful.”

Shepherd, also a basketball stalwart for Jim Moore, has been academic all-state as well as three times all-Central Ozark Conference Large Division and Class 4 all-district. She received all-region honors as a junior and senior.

“She’s a calm player,” Sharples said. “She doesn’t get rattled. She’s been a calm, consistent player.”

Chloe is the daughter of Shelly and Rob Shepherd and, as Carthage athletics director Andy Youngworth noted, the name Shepherd is familiar in Carthage sports. She’s the fourth sibling to sign a scholarship agreement.

Shepherd joins classmate Emily Goeken (NEO) in signing for volleyball.

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High School Sports