MCC’s Fernanda Merancio to play volleyball at MSSU

McCook Community College sophomore Fernanda Merancio signed a letter of intent Friday to continue her volleyball career at Missouri Southern State University, a division 2 school in Joplin, Mo.

Merancio said Missouri Southern's combination of a strong volleyball program as well as a strong nursing program were the major factors in her decision.

"I was impressed whenever I talked with the coaches and it just seemed like the best place for me," said Merancio.

This season she was selected to the all-Region IX South first team. She finished the year with 412 kills, to go along with 131 digs and 53 total blocks.

MCC Coach Hayley Kobza said Merancio was a key player in MCC's 22-13 season, ranking in the top 10 nationally in hitting for most of the season.

Merancio was third in the south region in kills and 19th in the nation. She finished her MCC career with 701 kills, 256 digs and 91 total blocks.

"She was the go-to player whenever we needed kills," said Kobza. "She is such a powerful player and came in this year with no obstacles in her way and she knew what she wanted to do and did it."

Merancio was selected to the all-tournament team for the season-opening MCC tournament. That included a season-best 22 kills in a match against Seward County CC. She also tallied 20 kills Sept. 15 on the road at Southeast Community College and was named Region IX South offensive player of the week Oct. 30.

She becomes the fourth MCC player to move on to Missouri Southern, with the most recent being Fernanda Canedo, an outside hitter, who completed her senior season in the fall as a second-team all-MIAA outside hitter for the Lions.

"I think coming in, Fernanda will be a huge part of Missouri Southern's team," said Kobza.

Merancio said she will miss being around the team and Coach Kobza. Moving to McCook and meeting her new teammates each year as well as other fellow students is one of her favorite things about her time on campus.

She will take science classes at MSSC and plans to enroll in the nursing.

Merancio was named to the MPCC Dean's list this past semester.