Sept. 10, 2001
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Sept. 10, 2001
Tigers Take on Jayhawks to Open 2001 Big 12 Play The University of Missouri enters the Big 12 portion of its schedule, which starts on Wednesday at Kansas, undefeated (7-0, 0-0 in the Big 12) for the second consecutive season. The Tigers won their second regular season tournament title of 2001 on Saturday going 3-0 last weekend at the Best Inns Invitational in Carbondale, Ill. Head coach Susan Kreklow goes for her 541st career win against the Jayhawks.
Mizzou is currently ranked third in the Big 12 behind KU (8-0) and Baylor (8-0). The Tigers and Jayhawks have had similar success in the early going of the season both winning their two pre-Big 12 tournaments. Both squads also started last season undefeated at 9-0, but Mizzou would go 15-7 during the last 22 contests of the season slating a 24-7 mark while Kansas went 6-14 to finish the season at 15-14.
Missouri at Kansas Match #8 * Sept. 12 2001 * Lawrence, Kan. Participants: Missouri (7-0 overall, 0-0 in the Big 12 Conf.) Kansas (8-0 overall, 0-0 in the Big 12 Conf. Start Times: Sept.12 Match set for 7:00 p.m. CST Series Info: MU leads, 34-29 Last Meeting: TIgers win, 3-0 in Lawrence, 11-18-00 For More Information: MU-www.mutigers.com KU-www.kuathletics.com Coaches: Missouri: Susan Kreklow (SW Missouri State '84) 31-7 at MU (2nd season) 540-177 overall (11 seasons)Kansas: Ray Beechard (Fort Hays State '80) 55-45 at KU (4th season) 771-105 overall (17th season)
Tigers Take on Jayhawks to Open 2001 Big 12 Play
The University of Missouri enters the Big 12 portion of its schedule, which starts on Wednesday at Kansas, undefeated (7-0, 0-0 in the Big 12) for the second consecutive season. The Tigers won their second regular season tournament title of 2001 on Saturday going 3-0 last weekend at the Best Inns Invitational in Carbondale, Ill. Head coach Susan Kreklow goes for her 541st career win against the Jayhawks.
Mizzou is currently ranked third in the Big 12 behind KU (8-0) and Baylor (8-0). The Tigers and Jayhawks have had similar success in the early going of the season both winning their two pre-Big 12 tournaments. Both squads also started last season undefeated at 9-0, but Mizzou would go 15-7 during the last 22 contests of the season slating a 24-7 mark while Kansas went 6-14 to finish the season at 15-14.
Tracking the Tigers Last Time Out...
Tiger Volleyball Wins Best Inns Invitational
Junior Lisa Morris receives MVP honors as Tigers grab second tournament title of the regular season
Carbondale, Ill.-It was Cats (Tigers) vs. Dogs (Salukis), 2-0 vs. 2-0 in the Best Inns Invitational, home (SIU) vs. well... away (MU) in the Championship match of the Best Inns Invitational in Carbondale, Ill on Saturday. The Cats and away team would be the victors on the night as Mizzou improved to 7-0 on the season and took home its second regular season tournament trophy. Mizzou has won four straight regular season tournament titles dating back to last season.
Junior Lisa Morris took home MVP honors of the Best Inns Invitational tournament while junior Christi Myers and senior Krista Johnson would be named to the all-tournament team. Morris would pace the Tigers in the match putting down match-high 20 kills and seven digs. Morris averaged 4.27 kills per game throughout the tournament and put down a tourney-high 26 kills against IUPUI on Friday.
A Look at Kansas
MU vs. KU- For any one remotely familiar with the two universities, it's common knowledge that when teams from these schools get together, it's not usually for a friendly barn raising. This match has every indication of being a great one as both teams enter the match undefeated. KU, under the tutelage of fourth year head coach Ray Beechard, is 8-0 for the second straight season after eight matches.
KU is currently sitting atop the Big 12 Conference with a sparkling 8-0 record. In fact they have lost only one game all season (Missouri has lost two) to Montana. Sophomore Sarah Rome leads the KU squad in kills per game, averaging 4.18 kills per game while also picking up 2.36 digs per stanza.
The Jayhawks have claimed the championships of the Charlotte Tournament, sweeping Middle Tennessee State, Providence, Virginia Commonwealth and Charlotte. After taking out in-state rival Wichita State on Sept. 5, KU hosted and won the Hampton Inn/Jayhawk Classic defeating Georgia Southern, Montana and Portland.
Mizzou holds a 34-29 lead in the all-time series against the Jayhawks. The Tigers have won five of the last eight and three of the last five matches between the two. The Tigers grabbed two victories over the Jayhawks last season including a 3-0 sweep in Columbia on Oct. 11 and another sweep on Nov. 18.
A Year Ago this Week...
Mizzou Knocks off No. 19 Texas A&M
Columbia, Mo. - In what was undoubtedly the University of Missouri Volleyball team's most exciting match of the season, the Tigers knocked off the No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies, 15-12, 15-8, and 15-8. The Tigers once again used a solid team effort and great team passing to pick up the victory. The win moves the MU to 10-0 on the year and sets up a match up with undefeated and top-ranked Nebraska on Saturday.
Leading the way for the Tigers once again were the usual suspects of sophomore Lisa Morris (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley NW HS) and junior Kristen Johnson (Olympic, Wash.). Both outside hitters registered 13 kills on the night to lead the Tigers while Morris also added two service aces. Junior Naaron Branson (Fort Smith, Ark./Southside HS) and Christi Myers (Raytown, Mo./Raytown South HS) both had solid nights knocking down nine kills a piece.
Sister Act I
Like most sequels, the movie Sister Act II possessed no where near the cinematic excellence of its predecessor, Sister Act I. The jury is still out, however, whether or not KU freshman Lindsey Morris (younger sister to the Tigers Lisa Morris) can surpass older Morris in volleyball excellence. When the Jayhawks and Tigers face off Wednesday, the match will pit more that MU vs. KU. It will also feature a Morris vs. Morris battle for family supremacy at the net. The elder Morris will carry the MU flag into Horejsi Family Athletics Center while the younger Morris will be dawning the KU Red and Blue. Lindsey has seen action in eight games so far this season and has recorded 12 kills on 26 attacks. The chances of seeing both Morris' on the court at the same time is uncertain, but you can bet Mike and Karen (Lisa and Lindsey's Parents) will be splitting cheering duties.
More On Morris
Morris had a great weekend at the Best Inns Invitational leading the Tigers to the championship. She was named the tournament MVP, averaging 4.29 kills per game and 2.72 digs per game over the course of the weekend. Morris recorded two double-doubles during the weekend, the first against IUPUI on Friday (26 kills, 11 digs) and the second coming against Southern Illinois in the Best Inns Invite Championship game (20 kills, 11 digs). She recorded a .354 hitting percentage on the weekend and also had two service aces.
The Blue Valley Northwest graduate and All-Big 12 first team selection is averaging 4.95 kills and 2.63 digs per game so far in the 2001 season and is boasting a .285 hitting percentage. Morris has put down 13 or more kills in five of the Tigers seven matches so far this season and has registered 20 or more twice.
Explosive Efficiency
Junior middle blocker Christi Myers and senior middle blocker Krista Johnson have become one of the best middle blocker tandems in the Big 12. Both were named to the Best Inns Invitational all-tournament team after recording solid efforts in the Tigers title run.
Myers is currently averaging 2.86 kills per game and is boasting a .380 hitting percentage, tops among Tigers with 100 or more attacks and fifth in the Big 12. Myers is now also the MU all-time leader in career hitting percentage with a mark of .312. She recorded 33 kills on 63 attacks and had only three attack errors on the weekend in Carbondale.
Johnson has been a steady, dependable performer for the Tigers averaging 0.74 blocks per game and .364 hitting percentage on the season. KJ put down 22 kills at the Best Inns Invitational this past weekend including a seasons-best 10 kills on 15 attacks against Western Kentucky.
The Terminator
The "Myth from Fort Smith," senior Naaron Branson, has jumped into the Top 10 in career kills in the early going this season. Branson recorded put down 16 terminations this past weekend and now has 914 career kills. That tally is good enough for seventh on the MU all-time kills list as Branson surpasses Melinda Wyre (90'-92') on the all-time chart.
She needs just 13 more kills to move into the sixth position and 15 to move into the Top 5. Branson needs to average just 10.13 kills per match to reach the No. 2 spot on the chart.
Branson played her best match of the young season against Akron on Sun., Sept. 2 when she put down 15 kills and picked up a career-high 21 digs in Mizzou's 3-0 sweep of the Zips. For her efforts, she was named to the Mountaineer Invitational all-tournament team. Keep watching the Mizzou weekly volleyball notes to follow Naaron's climb up the career kills list.
1. Yvette Buhlig (88-90, 92) 1,478 2. Jodi Maune (95-98) 1,147 3. Renee Rosinski (95-98) 1,049 4. Sherri Gentry (86, 88-90) 1,030 5. Sharon Zaehringer (84-87) 929 6. Gwen Mullens (91-94) 927 7. Naaron Branson (98- ) 914 8. Melinda Wrye (90-92) 906 9. Margaret Yanics (84-86, 88) 902 10. Annette Luyten (97-00) 896
No Soup for You or KU
Possibly the most overused Seinfeld reference ever, the Tigers truly have embraced the role of the soup Nazi, holding their opponents to a .104 hitting percentage (279 kills, 179 errors on 957 attacks), good enough for second in the Big 12. The Tigers face the No. 1 team in opponents hitting percentage on Wednesday. KU is allowing opponents to hit only .074 on the season
The Tigers have been excellent at the net so far, ranking fifth in total team blocks (53.0) and opponents hitting percentage (.104) in the Big 12. Mizzou has also limited its opponents to just 12.13 kills per game.
Five Tiger Volleyball Matches to be Aired on KWWC
KWWC Radio, with the assistance of Premier Marketing Group, has announced the broadcasting of a Missouri women's sports package. Both the MU women's soccer and volleyball teams will receive coverage of four games and tournament play during the 2001 fall season.
Likewise, the Missouri women's volleyball team will also receive live coverage of four home events. The Texas Tech, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas State games will be aired during the regular season. All NCAA Tournament play by the Tigers will also be picked up.
The Tiger Double-Double Club
With a varitable plethora of offensive weapons at the Tigers disposal, look for the Tigers to have several members of the Double-Double Club in 2001. Here is a list of the players that have posted double doubles so far this season
Chrissy Elder- 36 assists, 18 digs vs. WVU, 9/1 35 assists, 11 digs vs. Arkon, 9/2 34 assists, 15 digs vs IUPUI, 9/7 Lisa Morris- 15 kills, 10 digs vs. Akron, 9/2 26 kills, 11 digs vs IUPUI, 9/7 20 kills, 11 digs vs. SIU, 9/7 Naaron Branson- 15 kills, 21 digs vs. Akron, 9/2 10 kills, 12 digs vs. W. Kent, 9/8The Switzerland Factor Revisited
Much like the country of Switzerland during World War II, the Tigers have had great success on neutral fronts over the last two seasons. Mizzou went 3-1 on impartial floors, picking up a championship at the adidas Hilton Oral Roberts Classic on Sept. 1-2 and the Lathrop and Gage Invitational on Sept. 8-9 of last season and losing only once, that coming in the NCAA Tournament to Utah State, 3-2.
Mizzou went 5-0 on neutral courts this season upping their record to 8-1 in neutral court skirmishes over the last two seasons.
The Name Game-Part 2
If you were a regular reader of Missouri volleyball game notes during the early part of last season (for your health, I hope you weren't), you read of the crazy number of repeat and very similar names that existed on the roster. Not much has changed for the 2001 season, in fact the situation has gotten even worse.
First of all, there is a Krista Johnson (senior middle blocker) and a Kristen Johnson (senior outside hitter) on the Tiger squad, not to mention Christi Myers (junior middle blocker) and Chrissy Elder (sophomore setter). There are now two 'Lisas' on the team as well including 2000 All-Big 12 selection Lisa Morris and freshman Lisa Boyd. With the addition of freshman middle blocker Jenny Duitsman and freshman setter Jenny Bybee the need for nicknames is catastrophic. There are even two Katherines on the team (Wingert and Sowers), but fortunately, Miss Sowers goes by Katie.
Tigers Ranked Fourth in Big 12 Coaches Preseason Poll
Dallas, Texas. -The University of Missouri volleyball team picked up a fourth-place preseason Big 12 ranking in a vote by league head coaches released by the conference office on Tues., Aug. 7. The Tigers received 69 votes, tying the Kansas State Wildcats for the fourth of 11 spots. After being picked to finish ninth heading into last season and grabbing a tie for second in the conference, head volleyball coach Susan Kreklow said she is excited about the challenge of continuing the upward swing the program is experiencing.
Defending Big 12 and National Champion Nebraska received 10 of the 11 first place votes while Texas A&M, who was picked to finish second, had one first-place vote. Colorado grabbed the third spot after finishing in a two-way for third in the Big 12 last season while K-State and Mizzou rounded out the top five spots. The polling was based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system with a first-place vote receiving 10 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Rules, Regulations and other Points of Interest
The National Association for Girls and Women in Sports, the official rules-making body for women's collegiate volleyball, has released its "2001-2002 NAGWS Official Rules, Interpretations & Officiating Rulebook." Among the modifications include changes in the scoring format to rally scoring, the let serve and the one toss per serve. The international pursuit rule was added as an experimental rule for the upcoming season. * The most noticeable difference this season will be the move from sideout volleyball to a rally scoring format where each play will result in a point. The first four games will be scored to 30 points, with the winner holding a two-point lead. The fifth and deciding game will be played to 15 with the winner leading by two points. *Other significant changes involve the serve. Players must serve the ball within eight seconds after the referee authorizes service and will not be allowed a second toss for service. Further, the collegiate game will mimic the international game with the let serve. A served ball will remain in play if it hits the net and continues its path to the opposition's court. A service ace can be earned if the ball falls to the opposition's side of the court on the serve, despite contact with the net on service.
China, West Virginia and Many Points in Between
After a road trip of astronomical proportions in May (to China) and facing some of the world's top players, Mizzou is ready for its 2001 schedule. The campaign features six teams (Nebraska, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Colorado and SEMO) that qualified for the 2000 NCAA Tournament and seven that are ranked in the AVCA Top 35. Mizzou opened the season at the Mountaineer Invitational and won the Best Inns Invitational last weekend in Carbondale, Ill., defeating IUPUI, Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois.
The 2001 Schedule
Following its two opening tournaments, Mizzou will once again take on the tough Big 12 Conference in the double round robin format. The Tigers open Big 12 play at rival Kansas on Sept. 12 but will then have seven of their next 10 matches in the friendly confines of the Hearnes Center. The Tigers were 13-1 last season in the home whites and hosted seven of the 10 largest crowds in school history. The usual suspects will be competing for the crown in the Big 12 again this season. Defending National and Big 12 Champion Nebraska returns five of six starters to its lineup while Kansas State and Texas A&M, who both tied with Mizzou for second place in the conference in 2000, each return at least four starters from last season's squads.
You Must Look Back to Go Forward, Grasshopper
Coming off of one of the best seasons in school history, a high level of excitement surrounds the 2001 Missouri volleyball team heading into the upcoming season. 2000 Big 12 Coaches of the year Susan and Wayne Kreklow return five starters from last season's squad that went 24-7 overall (the sixth-most wins in a season in school history) and 14-6 in the Big 12 (the best conference record in school history). The Tigers also achieved a national ranking for the first time since 1982, reaching No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll.
Due to the success of last year's squad, the Tigers developed a new-found following and an atmosphere in the Hearnes Center that makes the friendly confines a difficult place to play for opponents. The Tigers finished 28th in the nation in average attendance last season averaging 875 fans per match, a 171% increase from 1999. With the addition of Point Mizzou, the Tiger's own pep band, and the outstanding level of play that will be on display, the Tigers are developing a tradition that has the Big 12 talking.