Sept. 26, 2000
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MU faces TTU and No. 24 KSU This Week
The gauntlet that is the Big 12 Conference volleyball schedule continues this week for the 12-1 University of Missouri Tigers. The Tigers take a trip to Lubbock, Texas on Wed., Sept. 27 to take on the No. -- Texas Tech Red Raiders before returning home on Sat., Sept. 30 when they host the No. 24 Kansas State Wildcats. Mizzou is 1-1 against ranked opponents this season. This will be MU's first of four trips into the Lone Star star state this season when they invade the Red Raiders in a showdown of two one loss sqads. The Tigers will then welcome No. 20 Kasas State to the Hearnes Center, where the Tigers are 6-0 on the year.
Red-Hot, Red Raiders
Since thier four-game loss to Baylor on Wed., Sept. 13, the Texas Tech Red Raiders have been...dare I say en fuego. TTU picked up wins over Southeastern Louisiana, LSU, and Arkansas State in the LSU Tournament on Fri., Sept. 15 and Sat., Sept. 16. The Red Raiders carried that momentum into last weeks Big 12 competition first knocking off No. 20 Kansas State on Wed., Sept. 20 in a five game thriller before dumping in-state rival Texas on Sat., Sept. 23. TTU is now 13-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. The Red Raiders are 2-1 against like opponents with the Tigers. They defeated TCU in three games on Sept. 5, lost a five game thriller to Baylor on Sept. 13, and swept three games from Arkansas State on Sept. 16. Led by Colleen Smith, who averages 5.05 kills per game, TTU is hitting .270 on the year, seventh in the Big 12.
No. 24 KSU Returns to Columbia
On Sat., Sept. 30, the No. 24 Kansas State Wildcats come calling at the Hearnes Center. KSU is 8-3 on the year and 2-1 in the Big 12 with Texas waiting in the wings on Wednesday. The Wildcats are coming off a dissapointing loss to Texas Tech last Wed., Sept. 20 and look to solidify themselves against Texas and Mizzou this week. KSU is led by Freshman Cari Jensen, who averages 4.05 kills and is second on the team in digs with 113. Right behind her is junior Liz Wegner, who has put down158 kills and a team-high 26 blocks on the year.
Tigers Win Five-Game Thriller Over Baylor
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri Volleyball team defeated the Baylor Bears in a five-game, two hour marathon Saturday night, 15-6, 10-15, 15-7, 6-15, (17-15). In front of 776 Tiger faithful, MU played it's most exciting match of the season as the Tigers improve to 12-1 on the year while the Bears dropped to 7-5.
The Tigers came out on fire in the first game taking a 6-0 lead and never looked back taking the game 15-6. The Bears bit back jumping out to a 9-1 lead of their own in the second game. MU made it interesting but BU grabbed the game 15-10. After splitting the next two games, the Tigers led by as many as three points in the rally-scoring fifth set and ended up taking a thrilling 17-15 game and match victory. Service aces played a huge role in the match as the Tigers recorded seven on the night, including three in the third game.
Tigers and Red Raiders Recieve Votes
University of Nebraska Cornhuskers retained their No. 1 strangle hold on the top spot of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-25 this week. Mizzou recieved 32 votes this week, putting them approximately in 28th position, while Wednesday opponent Texas Tech missed the Top-25 by just 15 votes.
Myers Hosts Block Party On Sat., Sept. 23 against Baylor there was music (provided by Point Mizzou, the MU Volleyball Pep band), food (provided by concessions stands), and of course, a crowd (776 Tiger faithful to be exact) so sophomore Christi Myers decided to throw a block party. Myers tied the Big 12 single match record with her five solo block performance. She finished the night with 12 total blocks and is now fourth in the Big 12 in total blocks with 50. Myers is also fourth in the conference in hitting percentage racking up a .388 mark.
Gerber Breaks Four Grand
Senior setter Heather Gerber claimed the MU all-time career assists title on Fri., Sept. 8 with her 35-assist performance against Morgan State. Gerber now has 4,112 assists for her career after her 60 assist perfromance against Baylor. The former record of 3,812 assists was formerly held by Cindy Atterberry who graduated in 1993.
Senior Annette Luyten also continues her climb up the MU record charts and is now in the No. 4 position the career block/assists category with 221. She registered two block assists last Saturday against Baylor.
The Kreklow's and Co.
Head Coach Susan Kreklow and Associate Head Coach Wayne Kreklow have had great success in their coaching careers. They led Columbia College, a NAIA school here in Columbia, to two straight national championships and accumulated a six-year record of 461-81. In 1998 and 1999, the Cougars went a combined 85-0. It is rare for a husband and wife to be coaching the same team with such great success. But the Kreklow's are only one of the two husband-wife tandems on the Tiger staff. Assistant Coaches Deng Yang and Cheng Fung are also married.
Tigers Faced Nebraska's Seventh Woman
The Tiger volleyball traveled to Nebraska on Sat., Sept. 16. to take on the Huskers at the NU Coliseum in Lincoln. Besides having to face the No. 1 team in the land on their home court, MU witnessed the eleventh largest crowd recorded by the AVCA this season, a rowdy 4,167.
Bombing Away from the Outside
The outside hitters on the MU squad have continued their solid play thus far in the conference schedule. Junior Kristen Johnson has been outstanding thus far for the Tigers. Johnson now leads the Tigers in kills (153), is second on the team in attacks (316), and has recorded a .370 hitting percentage to date.
Sophomore Lisa Morris has really begun to develop her all-around game and is a vital cog in the Tiger wheel. Morris has recorded four double-doubles (kills and digs) this season and leads the team with 15 service aces. She is second on the team with 151 kills on a team-high 406 attacks, while also slating 31.0 blocks on the year.
Double-Double's abound for 2000 Tigers
Below is a list of double-doubles that have been recorded by MU players in 2000.
Lisa Morris
Sept. 2 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock - 12 kills-15 digs
Sept. 2 vs. Oral Roberts - 15 kills-18 digs
Sept. 8 vs. TCU - 16 kills-11 digs
Sept. 9 vs. Marquette - 12 kills-10 digs
Christi Myers
Sept. 9 vs. Arkansas State - 11 kills-11 blocks
Sept. 23 vs. Baylor - 13 kills-12 blocks