Oct. 10, 2000
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Tigers Square off With Jayhawks in Big 12 Battle
After a much needed week off, the University of Missouri volleyball team welcomes rival Kansas to the Hearnes Center on Wed., Oct. 11. The Tigers look to reverse their fortunes from last year against the Jayhawks as MU lost both matches. However, Mizzou still leads the storied series between the two school, 32-29.
KU enters Wednesday's match at 11-6 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12 conference. After winning their first nine matches of the season, the Jayhawks have dropped six of their last eight. KU is 2-3 on the road in the 2000 campaign and this trip to Columbia is one of six road trips remaining on their schedule. The Jayhawks are coming off a heartbreaking five-game home loss to Texas last Saturday and are looking to regain their early-season form against the Tigers.
Senior Amy Myatt has been outstanding for the Jayhawks this season putting down a team-high 314 kills and is averaging 4.98 kills per game. Against conference opponents, she's been even more potent, averaging 5.03 kills and .59 blocks per game. Defensively, senior Danielle Geronymo has said "no soup for you" to opponents 87 times this season collecting 25 block solos and 62 block assists.
This Week in Tiger Volleyball
Wed., Oct. 11 Mizzou vs Kansas
Sat., Oct. 14 Mizzou at Oklahoma
Tigers Sweep Texas
MU wins first match over UT in school history.
Austin, Texas - According to an ad in Wednesday nights Missouri-Texas Game Program, October is fire prevention and awareness month in Texas. After the University of Missouri volleyball team's 15-12, 15-8, and 15-10 sweep of the Texas, the Longhorns were well aware of the on-fire Tigers. Winners of four of their last five matches, Mizzou is now 14-2 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12 Conference.
MU used great serving and superior fundamental passing to defeat the Longhorns in front of a rowdy crowd of 1,710, the second largest crowd the Tigers have played in front of this season.
Tigers Jump into AVCA Top 25
MU receives 90 votes and a No. 24 ranking
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri volleyball team cracked the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll on Monday for the first time in 18 years. The No. 24 Tigers are now 14-2 on the year and 5-2 in the Big 12 Conference. The Tigers are one of three teams from the Big 12 to be ranked including Texas A&M and No. 1 Nebraska.
A Mizzou squad had not been ranked in the AVCA poll since Nov. 1, 1982, when that team was No. 20. The highest rank a Tiger team has reached was the No. 18 slot on Oct. 18, 1982.
The Unstoppable Force and the Immovable Object
Junior Krista Johnson and sophomore Christi Myers have provided a spark at the middle blocker position for the Tigers this season. Krista (KJ) Johnson has been the Tigers "unstoppable force" recording a team-high .377 hitting percentage while also ranking second on the team in total blocks with 44 (6 solo / 38 assists).
Myers continues to be a presence in the middle averaging 2.86 kills per game while putting up a .369 hitting percentage. Myers has also proved to be the Tigers "immovable object" recording 75 total blocks (22 solo and 53 assists) on the year.
Branson joins Myers' 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.
Junior Naaron Branson joined the party on Sat., Sept. 30 when she also recorded five block solos in the Tigers three game sweep of No. 24 Kansas State. Branson, Myers, and three other players now share the Big 12 record. Myers leads the Tigers in blocks with 72 on the year (21 block solos/51 block assists).
Branson, Morris and Johnson: The Terminators
The outside hitters on the MU squad continue to put up big numbers this season. The latest example of this trend is the outstanding performance by junior Naaron Branson on Sat., Sept. 30 against Kansas State. Branson collected her first double-double of the 2000 season with 10 kills and 10 digs.
Sophomore Lisa Morris has proven to be a vital cog in the Tiger wheel. Morris has recorded four double-doubles (kills and digs) this season and leads the team with 20 service aces. She leads the team in both kills (198) and attacks (569), while also slating 37 blocks on the year.
Junior Kristen Johnson has also been outstanding thus far for the Tigers. Johnson is now second on the squad in kills (193) and attacks (415). She is third on the team in hitting percentage, hitting a robust .348 on the year.
Home Sweet Hearnes has Proven to Be Upset Central
The Tigers are now 7-0 in the friendly confines of the Hearnes Center. MU has defeated two ranked opponents (then No. 19 Texas A&M and then No. 24 Kansas State), won the Lathrop & Gage Tiger Invitational, and pulled out a thrilling five game match over Baylor in front of the hometown crowd. And speaking of hometown crowds, the Tiger played in front of the largest home crowd of the season (793) on Sat., Sept. 30 in a three-game win over Kansas State.
Gerber With the Assist
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 4,271 assists for her career after her 33-assist performance against Texas. The former record of 3,812 assists was 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 in the career block/assists category with 221.
The Kreklows and Co.
Head Coach Susan Kreklow and Associate Head Coach Wayne Kreklow have had great success in their coaching careers. They led Columbia College, an 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 team 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 11th largest crowd recorded by the AVCA this season-a rowdy 4,167.