Nov. 16, 2000

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MU-KU: The Rivalry Continues
After a quick trip to Drake on Monday (a 15-3, 15-4, 15-8 sweep of the Bulldogs), the No. 25 University of Missouri volleyball team takes the two-and-a-half hour trip down I-70 Saturday to Lawrence for a Big 12 tilt with the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday. The Tigers are 22-5 overall and 12-5 in the Big 12, third place in the conference. The 2000 squad can become the winningest Tiger team since 1983's 26-11 team with a win over the Jayhawks. Mizzou is currently locked in a dogfight for second place in the Big 12 with Kansas State (18-6, 13-4 Big 12) which holds the spot, and Texas A & M (17-7,12-5 Big 12) which sits in fourth place.

A Look at the Jayhawks
For the Kansas Jayhawks (14-13, 5-13 overall), it has definitely been a season of two segments. KU went 8-0 in non-conference play and also won three of its first five matches of the conference schedule. However, since Sept. 27, the Jayhawks have dropped 11 of their last 14 matches, including a 3-1 loss at the hands of Mizzou on Oct. 11 in Columbia. Lisa Morris paced the Tiger offense with 23 kills and 14 digs, recording her fifth double-double in the match. Despite the recent tough times for KU, senior outside hitter Amy Myatt has been outstanding, averaging a team high 4.59 kills per game. Danielle Geronymo has also been solid, leading KU in blocks per game (1.25), blocks (1.25) and digs per game (2.79). Geronymo is second on the team in kills per game, averaging 2.92. A win would move the Tigers move within one game of tying the all-time series,which KU lead by a 32-30 advantage.

Morris Named To Verizon Academic All-District Team
University of Missouri sophomore Lisa Morris has been named to the Verizon Academic All-District VII second team. The team was selected by members of CoSIDA (Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America) was released today. Morris, a sophomore from Overland Park, Kansas, carries a 3.83 grade-point average in mechanical engineering. She was also recognized earlier this as the Big 12 volleyball athlete of the week on Oct. 16. Last season, Morris was named to the Big 12 All-Academic Team and has been on the MU Dean's List all four semesters of her college career. Morris has been a valued offensive catalyst this season. She leads the team in kills (378), kills per game (4.45), digs (252), digs per game (2.96) and service aces (30). If Morris can maintain her 4.45 kills per game average, she will be only the second Tiger to ever average over 4.0 kills per game in a season.

Mizzou Drops Drake
Des Moines, Iowa - The No. 25 University of Missouri volleyball team took a break from its busy Big 12 schedule and made the trek to Drake University on Monday sweeping the Bulldogs, 15-3, 15-4, 15-8. The 75 minute match featured a very efficient offensive attack by the Tigers, who hit a Drake opponent season-high .391. Like a cat, balance continues to be the Tiger's strength. Sophomore Lisa Morris just missed her ninth double-double of the season with 15 kills, nine digs, and four total blocks. Junior Naaron Branson and freshman Ashlee Johns were also effective putting down 11 kills a piece with Branson recording a match-high .579 hitting percentage with no errors on 19 attacks. Christi Myers passed extremely well in the match, recording a season-high 12 digs while just missing a double-double with nine kills.

Tigers Continue to Flourish Under Kreklows
Mizzou is now 22-5 on the year and 12-5 in the Big 12 Conference under the tutelage of Head Coach Susan Kreklow and Associate Head Coach Wayne Kreklow. The 22 overall wins are the most by a Tiger team since 1992, when that squad was 22-11. The 12 conference wins are also a record for an MU volleyball team during the program's time in both the Big 8 (1983-95) and the Big 12 (1996-2000). The previous high was seven in 1983 and also in 1984.

Tiger Remain Resilient in Regional Rankings
The University of Missouri volleyball team stayed in third place in the latest edition of the Central Regional Rankings, which were released Tuesday. The Kansas State Wildcats swapped places with Texas A&M, jumping to the No. 2 spot in the region while the Aggies fell to fourth. No.1 Nebraska maintained the top spot in the region.

Rank Team Overall Conf.

1 Nebraska 25-0 17-0

2 Kansas State 19-6 13-4

3 Missouri 22-5 12-5

4 Texas A&M 16-7 11-5

5 Nothern Iowa 24-4 16-0

6 Colorado 14-10 10-7

7 Texas Tech 22-7 10-7

8 Southwest Texas 29-3 20-0

9 Oral Roberts 18-10 13-1

10 Illinois State 17-8 14-2

MU Jumps into Top 30 in Attendance
Susan and Wayne Kreklow have brought a winning attitude and a new look to Missouri Volleyball. Along with the new attitude, a new interest in the program has taken shape. The proof of this turnaround lies in the Tigers' recent jump into the NCAA Top 30 in average home attendance. The Tigers rank 27th, averaging 858 fans per home contest and have attracted seven of the top 10 largest home crowds in the programs 27-year history. Mizzou played in front of the largest home crowd in school history in its loss to No. 1 Nebraska on Oct 25. The 2,009 Mizzou Maniacs who walked through the Hearnes Center turnstiles surpassed the former record of 1,350 on Oct. 31, 1997.

The Myth from Fort Smith Living up to The Legend*
Junior Naaron Branson has bounced back in big way after a very slow start to her 2000 season. Through the first 14 matches of the campaign, Branson was averaging only 1.71 kills per game, 1.66 kills off of last seasons 3.37 kpg pace. However, since her 10 kill-10 dig-eight block performance in the Tigers sweep of Kansas State on Sept. 30, Branson has been living up to her Missouri entertainment namesake. She is averaging an entertaining 3.46 kills per game in the past 13 matches and has recorded three double-doubles. Branson has also picked up her all-around game as well recording three double-doubles since Oct. 1 including a 16 kill-15 dig performance on Nov. 2 against Texas Tech.

Flexing Thier Muscle in the Middle
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 .361 hitting percentage while also ranking second on the team in total blocks with 76 total blocks (13 solo / 63 assists). Myers continues to be a presence in the middle, averaging 3.04 kills per game while putting up a .355 hitting percentage. Myers has also proved to be the Tigers "immovable object," recording 121 total blocks (35 solo and 86 assists) on the year.

Johns Adjusts
After the injury to junior outside hitter Kristen Johnson, freshman Ashlee Johns is making the transition from her normal middle blocker position to outside hitter. After experiencing some early growing pains, Johns is beginning to come into her own. She is averaging 3.20 kills per game since the promotion and had great night on Oct. 28 against Iowa State when she put down 14 kills and recorded a .600 hitting percentage. Johns then added another solid effort to her developing portfolio registering a career-high 17 kills on Wed., Nov. 4 in the Tigers 3-0 sweep of Baylor.

Morris Ties MU Termination Mark
Sophomore Lisa Morris' 24-kill effort in the Tigers 3-0 sweep of Oklahoma Oct. 24 tied an MU record for kills in a three-game match. The Overland Park, Kansas, native shares the distinction with former Tiger Melinda Wrye, who put down 24 kills on Nov. 14, 1992 against SEMO.

Branson joins Myers' Block Party
Against Baylor on Sept. 23, 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 party, a block party to be exact. 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 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.

Getting Up for the Down Ball
With the second half of the Big 12 schedule under way, the Tiger outside hitters will be asked to continue their outstanding production. Sophomore Lisa Morris must chew Wrigley's Double Mint Gum. Morris has doubled her excitement, recording eight double-doubles (kills and digs) this season and leads the team with 30 service aces. She also leads the team in both kills (378) and attacks (1032) while slating 64 blocks on the year. If Morris can maintain her 4.45 kills per game average, she will be only the second Tiger in history to average over four kills per game in a single season. Yvette Buhlig set the MU school record when she averaged 4.68 kills per game in 1992. Junior Kristen Johnson made her return to the Tiger lineup and put down seven kills against Texas Tech on Nov. 4. Johnson had missed the past three weeks due to an injury to her left knee. She is fourth on the squad in kills (206) and hitting percentage, hitting a robust .319 on the year.

Home Sweet Hearnes has Proven to Be Upset Central
The Tigers are now 12-1 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.

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 has 4,765 assists for her career after her 45-assist performance against Drake. The former record of 3,812 assists was held by Cindy Atterberry, who graduated in 1993.

The Kreklows Eclipse the Century Mark
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. In the Tiger's win over Kansas on Oct. 11, the Kreklows picked up their 100th total victory in the past three years.

2000 Tiger Tid Bits...
lThe Tigers are 68-19 in games. Mizzou's 22 wins more than doubles the team's win total from a year ago when they went 10-21.

lMizzou is 22-0 when it wins the first game of a match and 0-5 when it loses the opening stanza of the contest.

lMU is 2-3 against ranked opponents this season and 0-2 against Top 10 teams. Mizzou has defeated -No.19 Texas A&M (Sept. 13) -No. 24 Kansas State (Sept. 30) And has lost to: -No. 1 Nebraska (9/16) -No. 1 Nebraska (10/25) -No. 25 Texas A&M (10/21)

lHead Coach Susan Kreklow and Associate Head Coach Wayne Kreklow were a combined 85-0 in their last two seasons at Columbia College before taking over at Mizzou. With the Tiger's 22-5 record this season, the Kreklow's record now stands at an amazing 107-5 in the last three seasons and 483-60 during their coaching career.

Double-Doubles 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

Sept. 27 vs. Texas Tech - 29 kills-21 digs

Oct. 11 vs. Kansas - 23 kills-14 digs

Oct. 18 vs. Colorado - 17 kills-10 digs

Nov. 11 vs. Texas - 16 kills-14 digs

Christi Myers

Sept. 9 vs. Arkansas State - 11 kills-11 blocks

Sept. 23 vs. Baylor - 13 kills-12 blocks

Sept. 27 vs. Texas Tech - 17 kills-12 digs

Naaron Branson

Sept. 30 vs. Kansas State - 10 kills-10 digs

Nov. 4 vs Texas Tech - 16 kills-15 digs

Nov. 11 vs Texas - 16 kills-12 digs