Sept. 21, 2001
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The University of Missouri volleyball faces its first nationally ranked opponent on Saturday as it welcomes No. 16 Texas A&M to the Hearnes Center. The two teams finished the 2000 conference season tied with Kansas State for second place in the league standings with 14-6 records. The Tigers are off to one of the best starts in school history at 8-0 and 1-0 in the Big 12 Conference and are currently locked in a tie for first place in the Big 12 with Kansas.
A Look at the Aggies
Texas A&M is coming off of a marathon 3-2 win over in-state rival Houston on Tuesday. The Aggies are 7-1 on the season and have yet to play a Big 12 Conference match.
TAMU definitely has a three-pronged offensive attack going this season. Seniors Brandi Mount (3.52), Michelle Cole (3.19) and Erin Lechler (3.96) are all averaging over three kills per game and Cole is leading the team in digs by averaging 4.12 digs per stanza. The offense is run by 2000 All-Big 12 selection and setter Jenna Mosovic, who is averaging 13.12 assists per game. Mosovic is also averaging 2.04 kills and 2.96 digs per game.
The Aggies lead the all-time series between the two, 11-2. The Tigers split the season series with the Aggies in 2000 with each team grabbing victories at home. Texas A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli needs just four wins to record her 300th career victory and 200th win at TAMU.
De' Ja` Vu All Over Again?
It has been exactly one year and nine days (Sept. 13, 2000) since the Aggies last entered the hallowed halls of the Hearnes Center. TAMU came in as the No. 19 team in the nation according to the AVCA Coaches Poll and the Tigers were not yet ranked and undefeated. In what was a shock to the entire Big 12 Conference, the Tigers pulled out one of the biggest wins in Missouri volleyball history. The Tigers swept the Aggies 3-0, earning the first MU victory over TAMU since 1983. However, the Aggies promptly returned the favor when Mizzou visited College Station, sweeping Mizzou, 3-0 later in the year.
Missouri Reschedules Volleyball Matches
Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri volleyball team has rescheduled its matches with the University of Kansas and Iowa State University that were postponed last week following the tragic events that gripped our nation. Mizzou will play at Kansas on Monday, Oct. 1st, at 7 p.m. and will host the Cyclones of Iowa State on Monday, Oct. 8th, at 7 p.m.
Tigers on a Tear
Once again, the Tigers are off to one of the best starts in MU history this season. Mizzou has won both of its regular season tournament titles of 2001, the latest coming on Sept. 9 as the Tigers went 3-0 at the Best Inns Invitational in Carbondale, Ill.. After its their 3-1 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday, the Tigers currently sits at 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12. Mizzou opened 2000 at 10-0 has a chance to equal that mark with wins over Texas A&M on Saturday and Southeast Missouri State on Monday.
The best start to a season by an MU squad was in 1982 when, under the direction of then-head coach Mike English, the Tigers opened the campaign at 19-0. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the No. 1 one single on the Billboard charts during 1982...yes you guessed it, "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. Mizzou is currently ranked third in the Big 12 behind KU (8-0) and Baylor (8-0). Texas Tech is currently ranked seventh overall in the Big 12 sporting a 6-2 record.
Tracking the Tigers
Last Time Out...
Tigers Steal Victory from Red Raiders
Columbia, Mo.-The University of Missouri volleyball team moved to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12 with its win over Texas Tech on Wednesday night. The Tigers defeated the Red Raiders in four games, winning 30-27, 30-25, 26-30 and 31-29. The Red Raiders of Texas Tech fall to 6-3 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12.
Lisa Morris led the way for Mizzou by putting down 19 kills and picking up nine digs. She also registered a career high .400 hitting percentage on the evening (19 kills, one error, 45 attacks.) Christi Myers was one of three other Tigers to reach double digits in kills with 16 while seniors Kristen Johnson and Krista Johnson pitched in with 12 and 11, respectively.
Kreklow Corner
Head coach Susan Kreklow and her husband associate head coach Wayne Kreklow lead the Tigers into action on Wednesday against the Aggies. The Kreklow's are in their second year at the helm of the Tigers and sport a 32-7 mark (.821 winning percentage) at MU. They also led Mizzou to one of the best seasons in school history in 2000 at 24-7 and the highest conference finish by a Mizzou squad in school history (2nd). Susan goes for the 542 win of her career against the Aggies and is 1-1 all-time against TAMU and Laurie Corbelli.
The Motley Crue Factor
The Tigers are currently in the midst of a five match in 10-day stretch to open the Big 12 portion of their season. Luckily, however, Mizzou will play four of those matches in the friendly confines of the Hearnes Center. Mizzou opened the Big 12 season on Wednesday with a 3-1 home win over Texas Tech and face Texas A&M on Saturday. The lone road match during the stretch will be a definite test though as Mizzou travels to Manhattan Kansas State next Wednesday.
Last season Mizzou wen 13-1 in the Hearnes Center. In fact, of the 44 games the Tigers played in the Hearnes last year, the Tigers dropped only six. The lone match loss of the year came against Nebraska. The Tigers knocked three then-ranked opponents during the course of 2000 at home making the Hearnes Center truly "Home Sweet Home" for the Tigers.
Don't Call it a Come Back
Senior Kristen Johnson played her best match of the season last Wednesday. The outside hitter from Olympia, Wash., put down 13 kills, picked up four digs and recorded a .320 hitting percentage. Despite tearing her ACL halfway through last season, Johnson was still a finalist for newcomer of the year in the Big 12. Johnson is definitely showing signs of regaining her 2000 form. She has reached double figures in kills twice and has recorded a .268 hitting percentage so far this season.
Can You Dig 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 put down nine terminations vs.. Texas Tech and now has 923 career kills. That mark is good enough for seventh on the MU all-time kills list as Branson surpasses Melinda Wyre ('90-'92) on the all-time chart.
However, it has been Branson's defensive skills that have been notable over the past eight matches. Branson is leading the Tigers in total digs (87) and digs per game (3.63). Branson has also recorded six service aces so far.
But enough with the defensive stuff. She still needs just four more kills to move into the sixth position and six to move into the Top 5. Branson needs to average just 10.18 kills per match to reach the No. 2 spot on the chart.
Morris Has Been Money
Lisa Morris is on fire right now. She is en fuego. She is switched on. She's a bit of all right. Caution: Flammable. The Blue Valley Northwest graduate and All-Big 12 first team selection is averaging 4.91 kills and 2.57 digs per game so far in the 2001 season and is boasting a .304 hitting percentage. The last time Morris' hitting percentage was above .300 was during the Clinton administration (last season). Morris has put down 13 or more kills in six of the Tigers eight matches so far this season and has registered 20 or more twice.
Four 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 NCAA 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.