April 4, 2001

Spring Update #3

Columbia, Mo.-- After enjoying a week off last week (Spring Break), the University of Missouri volleyball team has reconvened as they prepare for their first tournament of the spring this weekend. The Tigers will travel to Springfield, Mo. to the campus of Southwest Missouri State for a one day tournament. Mizzou will kick off the spring taking on Wichita State at 10 a.m. and will being playing five matches throughout the day.

Coach Susan Kreklow said that the competition the Tigers will face this spring will be an excellent litmus test to determine the areas in which the Tigers need to improve.

"There are some solid teams on our calendar this spring," Kreklow said. "The competition we will face will provide an quality opportunity for us to evaluate our squad and for our players to face some outside competition instead of going against one another over and over."

While continuing to work on defensive execution and good passing, the Tigers have begun to implement their offensive attack over the past couple of weeks. Balance and efficiency were the keys for the Tigers offense last season as they had four players who registered 3.00 kills or more per game and five players who hit better than .300 on the season.

Sophomore setter Chrissy Elder continues to make good strides everyday in the gym learning the offense while working with assistant coach Deng Yang. Elder will be aided by a talented group of outside hitters returning this year for Mizzou and will be quality advisors for Elders baptism into Big 12 volleyball.

After being one of the thinnest positions last season for Mizzou, outside hitter has become one of the deepest over the off season. Junior outside hitter and all-Big 12 first team selection Lisa Morris recorded the second highest single-season kills-per-game average in school history last season averaging 4.40 kpg overall and 4.77 kpg in Big 12 competition.

Besides having Morris, the left-handed "Myth from Fort Smith" Naaron Branson had a huge second half last season averaging 3.37 kills per game over the last 17 matches of the season and will provide a great athletic presence at the net and a huge amount of experience for the Tigers.

Senior Kristen Johnson (3.40 kpg) will return from a knee surgery and looks to regain her early 2000 season form. Despite her season threatening injury last season, Johnson was still a finalist for Big 12 newcomer of the year. Sophomore Ashlee Johns stepped in last season and provided a much need spark for Mizzou at outside hitter and will be looked to as a catalyst once again. With two talented freshman also entering the fray, the Tigers could have one of the most talented outside-hitter corps in school history.

Tiger Tidbits
-For a look at the Tigers 2001 schedule, go to www.mutigers.com.
-The Tigers finished last spring with a record of 13-0-1.
-Matches will be played under new NCAA Rules. Matches at this tournament will be two games with each game using rally scoring to 30. Rally scoring means that there are no side outs and each termination of play is a point.
-Mizzou continues to prepare for their trip to China on May 21-June 4.