PITTSBURG – Pittsburg State University head volleyball coach Megan Besecker has announced the signing of 11 players for the upcoming season.
 
Besecker enters her first season leading the Gorillas after back-to-back Kansas Jayhawk Conference titles and a fourth-place finish at the 2024 NJCAA National Tournament at Barton Community College.
 
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome our incoming freshman and transfer class,” said Besecker “This group brings incredible energy, talent, and potential to our program. I’m looking forward to this upcoming season!”

Of the 11 incoming student-athletes, six are incoming freshmen, three are from the junior college ranks and two will be from the Division II level.

 

Kennedy Behnke is a 5-11 middle hitter who prepped at Ellinwood High School for coach Greg Maxwell and the Eagles. Behnke was a four-year starter on the volleyball court while also being involved with the track and field, softball and basketball teams at Ellinwood. A 2A All-State selection that earned Central Plains League All-Tournament Team honors in 2024, Behnke was named onto the Central Plains League first-team in 2024, 2023 and 2022. Behnke was a KVA All-Academic Team member and part of the National Honors Society, being on the Ellinwood Honor Roll from 2021-2025. The daughter of Lindsay and Matt Behnke, Kennedy plans to major in biology at Pittsburg State.

 

Abby Carr began her collegiate career last season at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas where she redshirted as a 5-10 setter. Carr prepped at Clyde High School where she was the record holder for assists in a career, season and match. Named the District MVP, TGCA All-State and the Big Country Preps Player of the Year while being a member of the THSCA Super Elite Team and a member of the TGCA Legacy All-Star team. Carr would also be named a first-team THSCA Academic All-State and TGCA Academic All-State honoree. While at Clyde, the Bulldogs on the volleyball court were district champions twice, bi-district champions three times and area champions once. The daughter of Laura and James Carr, Abby plans to major in exercise science.

 

Kaitlyn Gordon is a 5-9 defensive specialist/libero that prepped at Andover High School. Gordon was a three-year starter for the Trojans on the volleyball court, where she recorded 962 career digs. Helped lead the Trojans to a Sub-State championship in 2024 and 2025 as a captain. Gordon was an All-AVCTL performer during the past two seasons and was a Wichita Eagle All-Metro first-teamer in 2025. Graduated Summa Cum Laude, while also being a member of the National Honors Society at AHS. The daughter of Kari and Josh Gordon, Kaitlyn plans to major in biology at Pitt State.

 

Lindsay Heyliger is a 6-3 opposite hitter from Lone Tree, Colo., during her true freshman season at Division II Colorado Mesa University she redshirted. Heyliger prepped at Rock Canyon High School for coach Angela Nylund where as a senior she recorded 67 blocks while claiming second-team All-Conference honors. The daughter of Lauren and John Heyliger, Lindsay plans to major in elementary education at PSU.

 

Julia Hicks is a 5-10 outside hitter from Wylie, Texas that prepped at Wylie East High School for coach Nicole Calverley. A four-year starter on the volleyball court, Hicks for her career finished with over 1400 kills, 1110 digs and 150 service aces. The 9-6A Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, she would also be named team MVP twice and a four-time first-team All-District performer. The daughter of Alicia and Jason Hicks, Lindsay plans to major in criminal justice at Pittsburg State.

 

Ana Hrle is a 5-11 middle blocker from Yakima, Wash., who has played at Yakima Valley College the past two seasons. At Yakima Valley, Hrle recorded 228 kills, 113 blocks and had a .319 hitting percentage for the Yaks. A second-team All-NWAC performer in 2024, Hrle helped lead the team to a third-place finish at the NWAC Championship. The daughter of Michelle and Darko Hrle, Ana plans to major in geography while at PSU.

 

Imerie Jones is a 6-0 middle blocker from Spring, Texas. Jones for coach Kim Odina recorded 250 career blocks on the volleyball court over four years, earning second-team All-State and first-team All-District honors during her prep career. The daughter of Mia Kamen and Bruce Jones, Imerie plans to major in biochemistry at Pitt State.

 

Carmyn Lawson is a 5-6 outside hitter who can also play as a defensive specialist. An incoming freshman for the Gorillas, Lawson prepped at North Forney High School for coach Jose Marrero Vega. On the volleyball court she was a three-year starter for the Falcons, recording over 700 career kills and was named a team captain for her senior campaign. The daughter of Corretta Barnes, Carmyn plans to major in biology while at Pittsburg State.

 

Kassidy Nixon is a 5-9 outside hitter who can also play as a defensive specialist entering her redshirt junior season. Nixon was a first-team All-KJCCC performer in 2024 and 2023, finishing her Panther career with 582 kills, 747 digs, 77 total blocks and 71 service aces in 71 matches. Nixon competed in High School at Central Plains in Claflin, Kan., where she was a four-year starter on the volleyball court for coach Lisa Crites. At Central Plains, Nixon accumulated over a thousand career assists, kills and digs on her way to being named the Kansas 1A Player of the Year in 2021 and 2020 and was a three-time All-State performer. A standout on the basketball court and softball field as well, earning Kansas 1A Player of the Year honors in basketball in 2022. Was a three-time All-State performer for softball and basketball. The daughter of Kristi and Kelly Nixon, Kassidy plans to major in business.

 

Addyson Rebmann is a 5-11 outside hitter who prepped at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Mo., for coach Jenny Collins. Rebmann was a four-year starter on the volleyball court and a member of the track and field team at LHS. Over her high school career she accumulated 1627 kills, 971 digs and 126 blocks as a Yellow Jacket. An All-State performer on the track and the volleyball court, Rebmann would also earn Academic All-State laurels. The daughter of Angie and Shane Rebmann, Addyson plans to major in political science at Pittsburg State.

 

Mya Thompson is a 5-11 right side hitter who will be a junior for the Gorillas. Thompson was an All-KJCCC selection her freshman season in 2023 and for her career finished with 438 kills, 115 total blocks and 86 digs in 68 matches. Prepped at Hutchinson High School for coach Maria Aikens on the volleyball court as a three-year starter for the Salthawks. A three-time All-League performer who helped the Salthawks teams that finished third in the 5A State Tournament in the 2023 and 2022 campaigns. The daughter of Abby and Joel Thompson, Mya plans to major in biology.