By Jim Henry

jhenry@joplinglobe.com

Scrimmages against Coffeyville Community College and Columbia College proved valuable for Missouri Southern’s volleyball team.

“You find out what you need to work on when you can play somebody else,” Lions head coach Chris Willis said. “It’s nice to do that without having to take a loss before having to play when it counts.”

Play counts for the Lions starting today at 7 p.m. when they face the host team in the St. Mary’s Invitational in San Antonio, Texas.

The Lions have two matches Friday against Rollins (Fla.) at 12:15 and perennial top-25 team Augustana (S.D.) at 4:45, and they meet Eastern New Mexico on Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

Willis looks for the Lions to be an improved team this year.

“The expectations are raised for us,” he said. “That always makes it more difficult meeting those expectations. I still feel that talent-wise, we are a lot deeper and a lot better this year than we have been in years past.”

One strength for the Lions, Willis said, is middle hitter.

“We’re very strong in the middle,” he said. “We have three kids right now who are vying for playing time. Brittany Vavao-Huggins, Amelia Judge and Kara Robeson, with those three we have three of the best middles in the conference.

“We’re going to be strong at the setting position. Sara Joles, a senior, and Elin Skei, a freshman, I don’t feel like we drop off with whomever we start. If we have an issue, we can bring in the other one and not miss a beat.

“The last two years I’ve felt like we’ve been pretty strong at that position. Sara as a senior has stepped up her game, and Elin brings in some talent we haven’t seen out of a freshman since I’ve been here.

“She comes in ready to play right away all the time. She has veteran-type skills. Her improvement is based on getting some playing time.”

Willis also praised the play of Kari Hammerbacher.

“She is one of the best liberos in the conference. I believe that,” he said.