Nov. 2, 2000

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No. 24 MU Seeks Redemption Against Red Raiders
This isn't exactly Ali vs. Frazier, Mets vs.Yankees, or David vs. Goliath, but it might prove to be one of the most intriguing matchups of the 2000 Big 12 volleyball schedule this season. The match in question is Saturday's tilt between the Missouri Tigers (19-4, 10-4 in the Big 12) and the Texas Tech Red Raiders (20-5, 8-5 in the Big 12). First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Hearnes Center where Mizzou is 10-1 on the year. The Tigers are 7-3 in their past 10 matches and have won three of their last five. This is a rematch of the two-hour-and-47-minute, five-game thriller that took place on Sept. 27, a match which the Red Raiders defeated the Tigers 15-11, 7-15, 16-14, 14-16, and 15-12. Sophomore Lisa Morris put down a career-high 29 kills and picked up 21 digs in the showdown. After a red-hot 16-1 start, Texas Tech has split its last eight matches. TT is coming off of a key three-game sweep of instate rival Texas on Wednesday and has won four of its last five. They are led offensively by 6'7 senior middle blocker Colleen Smith. Smith is averaging a team-high 4.62 kills per game and second on the team in blocks per game (.91). Smith had a huge night against the Tigers in September recording a team-high 26 kills and three blocks. Sophomore Lisa McGehee has also been outstanding for Tech, not only averaging just under four kills per game, but also leading the squad in digs per game (3.76). Texas Tech leads the all-time series with Mizzou, 10-0. As a matter of fact, the Tigers have only taken four games from the Red Raiders in the 10 meetings.

Tigers Continue to Flourish Under Kreklows
Mizzou is now 19-4 on the year and 10-4 in the Big 12 Conference under the tutelage of Head Coach Susan Kreklow and Associate Head Coach Wayne Kreklow. The 19 overall wins are the most by a Tiger team since 1992, when that squad was 22-11. The 10 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.

Tigers Complete Season Sweep of Baylor
Mizzou volleyball squad wins match, 3-0 The No. 24 University of Missouri volleyball team made its final trek to the Lone Star state on Wednesday and came away victorious, sweeping Baylor, 15-11, 15-12, 15-6. The win marks the first time in school history that the Tigers have swept a season series from the Bears and also the first time Mizzou has taken a match in Waco. Mizzou went 2-2 in their trips to Texas this season, sweeping Texas and Baylor and losing to Texas Tech and Texas A&M. The Tigers used excellent passing and quality ball control to pick up the win and hit .327 on the night compared to BU's .210 effort. Junior Naaron Branson played a key roll in the transition between offense and defense for Mizzou picking up a career-high 16 digs while senior Annette Luyten pitched in with nine of the Tiger's 56 pickups. Direct beneficiaries of the quality passing were the Mizzou outside hitters. Sophomore Lisa Morris played one her most complete matches of the year. She had a match-high 20 kills, hit .333, picked up five digs, and knocked down five total blocks. Freshman Ashlee Johns continued to impress putting down a career-high 17 kills and hit a robust .371. Speaking of outside hitters, the services of junior Kristen Johnson were available to the Tigers for the first time since the Kansas match on Oct. 11 when she went down with a left knee injury. Johnson did not see action, but looks to be a key contributor down the stretch for the Tigers.

Mizzou Moves Up to No. 24
Tigers receive 110 votes in latest USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri volleyball team (19-4 overall, 10-4 Big 12) climbed one spot in this week's USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll to No. 24. The No. 24 ranking equals the highest spot the Tigers have reached in the four consecutive weeks they have appeared in the poll. The Tigers dropped to No. 25 last week following a loss to No. 21 Texas A&M, but jumped one spot after losing to No. 1 Nebraska, 15-7, 15-4, 15-11, last Wednesday and sweeping Iowa State 15-5, 15-5, 15-5 Saturday.

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 at No. 28 in average home attendance. The Tigers average 771 fans per home contest and have attracted six of the top 10 largest home crowds in the programs 27-year history.

Folks and Fun at Texas Tech Match
Tiger fans, be sure and bring your ticket stub from Saturday's Colorado Football game and be admitted into the volleyball game for $1. We will also be having a raffle between games 2 and 3 for authentic Mizzou Volleyball Apparel. Come get your volleyball gear at the match.

2,009-A New Standard in a New Era
Mizzou played in front of the largest home crowd in school history in its loss to No. 1 Nebraska on Wed., Oct 25, 2000. The 2,009 Mizzou Maniacs who walked through the Hearnes Center turnstiles surpassed the former record of 1,350 on Oct. 31, 1997. The Tigers have drawn six of the Top 10 crowds in school history this season and continue to roll through the Big 12 season.

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 3.60 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 Wednedsay in the Tigers 3-0 sweep of Baylor.

The Monsters of 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 .362 hitting percentage while also ranking second on the team in total blocks with 61 total blocks (8 solo / 53 assists). Myers continues to be a presence in the middle, averaging 3.01 kills per game while putting up a .365 hitting percentage. Myers has also proved to be the Tigers "immovable object," recording 108 total blocks (31 solo and 77 assists) on the year.

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. Myers leads the Tigers in blocks with 82 on the year (23 block solos / 59 block assists).

Morris and Johnson: Bringing the Heat
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 seven double-doubles (kills and digs) this season and leads the team with 28 service aces. She leads the team in both kills (318) and attacks (860) while also slating 46 blocks on the year. If Morris can maintain her 4.36 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 has also been outstanding thus far for the Tigers. Johnson is third on the squad in kills (194) and attacks (417). She is third on the team in hitting percentage, hitting a robust .341 on the year. Johnson returned to the lineup on Wednesday but did not play.

Home Sweet Hearnes has Proven to Be Upset Central
The Tigers are now 10-1 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 4,592 assists for her career after her 60-assist performance against Baylor. 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 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. 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.

Four Tiger Volleyball Matches to Be Broadcast on Radio
Through the joint efforts of the Premier Marketing Group, Ellis Copy Center and Missouri Sports Properties, fans of the Tigers will be able to enjoy Tiger volleyball action on KWWC 90.5 FM.. The Nov. 22 battle with Oklahoma will be the final home match of the season and will be included in the package. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central time.

2000 Tiger Tid Bits...
,,,The Tigers are 59-16 in games. Mizzou's 19 wins nearly doubles the team's win total from a year ago when they went 10-21.

,,,MU 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)

,,,Head 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 Tigers 19-4 record this season, their record now stands at an amazing 104-4 in the last three seasons.

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

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