Mexico had its best volleyball season in a long time.

The Lady Bulldogs won 12 games to fall one victory short of the school record by the 2001 team and finished second in the North Central Missouri Conference. Better yet, five earned postseason awards, including Jaclynn Cline as first-team all-conference and all-district, Claire Isgrig as first all-conference and second team all-district, Emily Moppin as a second team all-conference and honorable mention all-district and Skyler Arnold as honorable mention all-conference. Moppin and Arnold also received first team honors along with their fellow senior Addison Paden for the American Volleyball Coaches Association Best and Brightest Award, which recognizes varsity senior athletes who played in a minimum of 50 percent total varsity sets and maintained a high GPA (3.8 or higher for first team).

“Jaclynn was also key in several close matches this year with her defensive hustle and smart thinking,” head coach Kathryn French said about starting right side hitter Cline, who finished with 307 kills, 265 digs, and 41 service aces.

“Claire was the foundation of our offense,” French said about starting setter Isgrig, who finished with 538 assists, 58 aces and 161 digs. “Claire worked with each of our hitters to increase our offensive strategies, as well as her presence at the net with her blocking.”

“Emily was incredible on the serve line, helping us maintain control of the serve, and control when she was at the net hitting,” French said about senior outside hitter Moppin, who finished with 208 kills, 189 digs and 65 aces.

“Skyler was a key component to our defense,” French said about senior libero Arnold, who finished with 288 digs, 24 aces and five kills. “Her communication skills and ability to adjust and work with her teammates to cover the court was a huge help to us this season.”