After finishing her senior volleyball season at McDonald County High School, Shobi Burris thought that was going to be it for her playing days.
But the arrival of an unsolicited letter earlier this year changed that.
"I thought for the longest time I was going to Missouri Southern," Burris said. "But I got a letter from Coach Tony (Tony Allmoslecher of Ozark Christian College) saying he was looking for players interested in playing at OCC. I thought this was an open door and 'why not.' So I went to visit to see what it was about."
Burris said during the tour of the Lady Ambassador campus in Joplin she was allowed to scrimmage with the team.
"I felt like I could fit in," Burris said. "I really liked the atmosphere. It felt like a home where you could make real friendships. Coach Tony said he would love to have me. He said 'whatever God puts in your heart you should do.' It was an instant decision. It felt right."
Allmoslecher said Burris is a good athlete who will be very coachable.
"She will fit very well in our program," Allmoslecher said. "I am so glad to have her. She is a hard worker. We have a great core coming back (from a 34-9 team that won the ACCA national championship) and she got to practice with them on her visit. The chemistry was great."
Burris played her junior and senior seasons under the tutelage of Kacha Kuhn, MCHS volleyball coach.
"I am very proud for her pursuing this opportunity," Kuhn said. ""She represented our school in the highest fashion and will continue to do so at the next level."
Kuhn said Burris is a hard worker and a team leader who is dedicated to the sport.
"I am very proud to have been able to coach her," Kuhn said. "I am anxious to see her play at the next level. She is going to a great program with a great coach."
Burris was co-captain of the the Lady Mustangs this past season. She was voted "Team Player" and named Most Improved after leading the team with 132 serving points.
"I am so excited to get started," Burris said. "To be in that environment and to be able to play volleyball is a perfect fit for me."
Burris, who excels academically as well, maintained a 3.7 grade point average at MCHS. She is also an excellent artist and plans to major in something "artsy" at OCC.
Sports on 04/24/2014