March 6, 2001

Columbia, Mo.--After reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history last season, there is a lot of excitement and energy surrounding the 2001 installment of the University of Missouri volleyball team.

The Tigers began spring practices on Monday after going through six weeks of individual workouts with 12 Tigers reporting. Missouri returns four of six starters this spring and seven players who registered significant playing time in 2000. Head coach Susan Kreklow, who is entering her second year at MU, said the Tigers have several great opportunities coming up in the year 2001.

"We are very excited about the potential this team has," Kreklow said. "There is a solid nucleus returning to our squad and we look forward to a successful spring." Mizzou has a very busy spring ahead of them as they practice for a month, travel to Southwest Missouri State for a tournament on April 7, and head to the University of Illinois for another tournament on April 21.

Besides their midwestern trips this spring, the Tigers also have a trip to the east...very far to the east. The Tigers will travel to China May 21-June 4.

"The opportunity for our players to travel to China and be ambassadors of the game is a great thing," Kreklow said. "It will be an outstanding experience for our team."

For more information on the 2001 Tiger spring practices and upcoming details on Mizzou's trip to China, log on to www.mutigers.com for weekly reports on Wednesday's througout the spring.