John A. Logan College Volleyball Team History

In 1996, the John A. Logan College volleyball team finished the season 3 and 30. The program was obviously struggling, and Coach Fae Ragan was hired to turn things around. Since Coach Ragan took over the program, the team has improved each year. During the first year of her tenure (1997), the team finished 17 and 22. In 1998, the team went 23 and 21. In 1999, the team finished 33 and 22, despite playing 16 matches against teams ranked in the top-10 nationally. The conference record of 9 and 3 was good enough for second place in the GRAC and earned the Lady Vols a berth in the Region 24 Tournament, which features the top four teams from the southern two-thirds of the state of Illinois.

The volleyball team had its best season ever in 2000, going undefeated in conference play with a record of 12 and 0, while compiling an overall mark of 40 and 10. The Lady Vols won the Region 24 tournament, knocking off defending national champion, Parkland College, on their way to a first-ever appearance at the NJCAA National tournament where they placed eighth.

Head Coach Fae Ragan was named the 2000 Region 24 Coach of the Year. Sophomore Amy Verseman of Perryville, Missouri, was chosen 1st team All-American, the first Logan volleyball player to be so honored. She was also named the 2000 Region 24 and Great Rivers Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Sophomores Erin Hick from Red Bud, Illinois, and Karissa Weaver of Murphysboro earned both all-conference and 2nd team all-Region 24 honors. Shawna Lavander, a sophomore from Hillsboro, Missouri, was selected 1st team all-region 24. Sophomore Amber Odum from Marion and freshman Jaclyn Short of Norris City, Illinois, were also named all-conference for the 2000 season.

Logan posted a record of 29 and 15 in 2001 and placed third in the conference with a mark of 10 and 4. The Lady Vols finished third at the Region 24 Final Four tournament. The Lady Vols made their second appearance at the NJCAA National tournament in 2002, placing seventh. Logan went 40 and 13 on the season, winning the conference title with a record of 7 and 1. The Lady Vols also won the Region 24 Final Four tournament. Sophomore Megan Markwell from Casey, Illinois, and Shannon Winkeler, a freshman from Bartelso, Illinois, both earned second team All-American honors. Coach Ragan was again named the Region 24 Coach of the Year.