Oct. 2, 2001
Tigers Take on No. 2 Huskers on Wednesday
The University of Missouri volleyball team takes its 11-2 overall 5 3-2 Big 12 record to Lincoln, Neb., as it takes on the No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers at the University Coliseum. The Tigers are 3-2 over their last five matches and 2-1 over their last three. Mizzou is in search of its first back-to-back winning seasons since 1982 and 1983 and looks to win its third straight Big 12 match this season. The Tigers are currently sitting in fourth place in the Big 12 Conference and received 20 votes in the Oct. 1 AVCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, good enough for the 29th spot. The Tigers have also been able to jump into Top 25 in average home attendance. Mizzou is currently averaging 1,077 fans per home match and ranks 21st. MU has drawn the third (1,416), seventh (1,125) and 10th largest crowds in school history so far in 2001.
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Missouri at Nebraska Match #14 * Oct. 3, 2001 * Lincoln, Neb. Participants: Missouri (11-2 overall, 3-2 in the Big 12 Conf.) Nebraska (11-1 overall, 4-0 in the Big 12 Conf.) Start Times: Sept.12 Match set for 7:00 p.m. CST Series Info: NU leads, 52-2-1 Last Meeting: Nebraska wins in Columbia, 3-0 (10/25/00) For More Information: MU-www.mutigers.com NU-www.huskers.com Coaches: Missouri: Susan Kreklow (SW Missouri State '84) 35-9 at MU (2nd season) 544-119 overall (11 seasons)
Nebraska: John Cook (San Diego '79) 45-1 at NU (4th season) 205-74 overall (9th season)
Win Game 1 and It's Done
One of the keys to the Tigers' success over the past two seasons has been establishing an early advantage over their opponents. When Mizzou wins Game 1 of a match, it is 11-0 this season and an astounding 35-0 over the last two seasons. However, when Mizzou drops the opening stanza of a match, it is a not so good 0-9. Look for Mizzou to concentrate on getting off to a good start in Game 1.
A Look at the Huskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers continue to be one of the premiere volleyball teams in America. Under the tutelage of second-year head coach John Cook, they are off to an 11-1 overall and 4-0 conference start. Junior Nancy Metcalf (formerly Meendering) was named Big 12 Volleyball Athlete of the Week last week and leads an NU squad that is hitting .304 on the season and is averaging 4.13 total blocks per game. Metcalf is averaging 4.45 kills per game while senior middle blocker Jenny Kropp leads the Husker in blocks per game (1.92).
The Tigers are definitely due against the Huskers. Mizzou has not defeated the Huskers since 1982, a 3-2 win in Columbia. The Huskers hold a 52-2-1 all-time lead in the series. As a matter of fact, Mizzou has not taken a game from NU since 1998 when the Tigers took it to five games but lost, 2-3.
After reeling off 36 straight wins dating back to last season, the Huskers did drop a 3-1 match to Long Beach State, who replaced the Huskers in the No. 1 spot on Monday after a record 17 weeks in the top spot despite the Huskers sweep of three opponents last week.
Kreklow Corner
Head coach Susan Kreklow and her husband, associate head coach Wayne Kreklow, lead the Tigers into action on Wednesday against the Huskers. The Kreklows are in their second year at the helm of the Tigers and sport a 35-9 mark (.795 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).
The Tale of the Tape
MU vs. NU Kills 787 629 Kills per gm. 16.1 16.6 Errors 250 194 Attacks 1977 1430 Hitting % .272 .304 Assists 692 459 Aces 84 60 Digs 856 541 Block solo 28 39 Block assists 181 236 Blocks/gm 2.4 4.13
Like a Cat
Mizzou has shown the balance of...well...a Tiger this season offensively. Four Tigers are averaging at least 2.41 kills per game (Lisa Morris, 4.24 kpg, Christi Myers, 3.44 kpg, Kristen Johnson, 2.41 kpg and Mary Lauren Smith 2.83 kpg.) and five Tigers enter the match with Nebraska with a .300 or better hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Chrissy Elder leads the squad in assists averaging 12.54 assists per game and leads the team in hitting percentage with a .418 mark.
The Cardiac Kids
The Missouri volleyball must love action suspense movies like Mission Impossible, Patriot Games or the X-Files. The Tigers have left their fans clutching their hearts several times this season with their exciting and unpredictable play. Of Mizzou's 10 wins so far this season, five of them have been of the "3-1" variety. Both of the Tiger losses have come in five-game stomach clinchers when Mizzou has held leads in Game 5. Missouri volleyball in 2001 is definitely not for the weak of heart.
Missouri Reschedules Volleyball Matches
The Missouri volleyball team has rescheduled its match with Iowa State University that was postponed following the tragic events that gripped our nation. Mizzou will host the Cyclones of Iowa State on Monday, Oct. 8th, at 7 p.m.
Morris Minutes
Junior outside hitter Lisa Morris has been the one of the Tigers most steady producers so far this season. Morris is averaging 4.24 kills per game overall and 3.64 kills per game in conference matches. She has recorded 20 kills or more four times and has recorded six double-doubles this season. Morris is currently climbing the MU career kills charts faster than the new N'Sync album (which she does not like). She is currently second on the kills per game list (3.65 kpg) and needs just 107 kills to move into the MU Top 10 kills list.
Consistency Personified
Middle blocker Christi Myers has been as reliable as Maytag Appliances, the U.S. Postal Service and my old golden retriever, Spot. Over the course of the past eight matches, she has averaged 16.13 kills per match, 9.875 digs per match and 5.13 total blocks per match. Myers has also recorded two double-doubles this season.
The junior middle blocker boldly went where no Missouri Tiger volleyball player had went in the past two seasons on Sept. 22 against Texas A&M. The 6-1, 2000 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection recorded the first triple-double of her career against Texas A&M (18 kills, 15 digs and 11 total blocks.
The last eight matches have been microcosms of Myers' career up to this point. Myers currently holds the highest career hitting percentage (.313) in MU history and jumped into third on the kills per game list (3.19). Myers is also rewriting the Mizzou career blocking books. She is currently fifth in solo blocks (60), seventh in block assists (200) and third in blocks per game (1.07)
Sowers Has Been Solid
The position of defensive specialist does not garner much of the spotlight in modern volleyball. However, the specialists are crucial in getting the team into system and providing a good pass. Senior defensive specialist Katie Sowers has been outstanding of late for the Tigers in the back row. Over the past seven matches, Sowers has averaged 14 digs per match including a career-high 18 against Southern Illinois in the championship match of the SIU Best Inns Invitational.
Getting Up for the Down Stroke
Sophomore transfer Mary Lauren Smith has jumped onto the Big 12 volleyball scene in a big way. The 6-2 outside hitter is averaging 2.83 kill per game in all matches this season and 3.10 kills per game in conference matches.
Smith has been especially effective over the past five matches. Smith had a breakout 13-kill, seven-block performance against Texas A&M on Sept. 19 and has averaged 14.8 kills per match since. She put down a career-high 20 terminations against Oklahoma in the Tigers 3-1 win over the Sooners and is currently bolstering a .313 hitting percentage in conference matches
Tigers on a Tear
Once again, the Tigers are off to one of the best starts in MU history. Mizzou 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 their 3-1 win over Kansas on Monday, the Tigers are 11-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12.
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.
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.
Tracking the Tigers
Last Time Out...
Balanced Tigers KO KU
Lawrence, Kan.- Balance and resiliency proved to be the key for the Tigers on Monday night as they defeated the Kansas Jayhawks, 3-1 (30-21, 21-30, 30-25 and 30-17) in the Horejsi Family Athletic Center on the campus of KU. Four Tigers had 14 or more kills and two Tigers recorded double-doubles (Lisa Morris, 20 kills-12 digs and Christi Myers, 15 kills and 12 digs) as the Tigers improved to 11-2 on the year and 3-2 in the Big 12 while Kansas falls to 11-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12.
Mizzou would come out on fire in the opening stanza leading 7-2. The Jayhawks would cut that lead to as close as one point at 11-10 but Mizzou would hold KU off and go on a 19-12 lead to take Game 1, 30-22. Myers had a huge game putting down nine kills, three less than KU's team total for the game, on 11 attacks, good enough for a .727 hitting percentage. Senior Naaron Branson had a very good game from the service line recording two service winners while also picking up three digs.
The Tigers and Jayhawks would battle to a 19-19 tie to open Game 2. However, KU would go on an 11-2 run to end the game and take the Game 30-21. The Tigers gave up 11 points on 11 attack errors in the Game 2 and KU would record four total team blocks in the game.
The archrivals would play to a 22-22 tie in Game 3 before MU's outside hitters would absolutely take the game over. Sophomore Mary Lauren Smith put down three kills and a block assist and Morris recorded two kills from that point in the game as the Tigers went on an 8-3 run and won the game, 30-25.
Game 4 ended the same way it started, with a kill by senior Kristen Johnson. Johnson recorded seven other kills during Game 4 for a total of nine as the Tigers took the Game, 30-17 and took the match, 3-1. Mary Lauren Smith continued her streak of good play putting down 16 kills while senior Katie Sowers paced the Tigers in digs with 14.
Branson Update
The "Myth from Fort Smith," senior Naaron Branson, has jumped into the Top 10 in career kills in the early going this season.
However, it has been Branson's defensive skills that have been notable so far this season. Branson is leading the Tigers in total digs (150) and digs per game (3.26) and has jumped up into fifth place on the MU career kills list. She also jumped into the Top 10 in digs and is now in seventh place on the MU all-time charts.
All Time 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. Naaron Branson (98- ) 930 6. Sharon Zaehringer (84-87) 929 7. Gwen Mullens (91-94) 927 8. Melinda Wrye (90-92) 906 9. Margaret Yanics (84-86, 88) 902 10. Annette Luyten (97-00) 896 Lisa Morris (99- ) 779.All Time Digs List 1. Yvette Buhlig (88-90, 92) 1,149 2. Gwen Mullens (91-94) 1,103 3. Margaret Yanics (84-86, 88) 1,038 4. Chandra Hopkins (95-98) 1,033 5. Annette Luyten (97-00) 996 6. Sherri Gentry (86, 88-90) 972 7. Naaron Branson (98- ) 925 8. Cindy Atteberry (90-93) 920 9. Stacy Harris (84-87) 859 10. Melinda Wrye (90-92) 845
Missouri Volleyball Top Ten Attendance Marks
Date Opponent Att. 1) Oct. 25, 2000 Nebraska 2,009 2) Nov. 4, 2000 Texas Tech 1,484 3) Sept. 29, 2001 Oklahoma 1,416 4) Oct. 31, 1997 Colorado 1,350 5) Nov. 11, 2000 Texas 1,195 6) Oct. 11, 2000 Kansas 1,148 7) Sept. 22, 2001 Texas A&M 1,125 8) Sept. 25, 1999 Kansas 1,107 9) Nov. 22, 2000 Oklahoma 1,091 10) Sept. 19, 2001 Texas Tech 1,0491994-Present As of Sept. 22, 2001
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 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.
The Tiger Triple and Double-Double Club
With a variable plethora of offensive weapons at the Tigers disposal, look for the Tigers to have several members of the Triple and 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 65 assists, 10 digs vs TTU, 9/19 63 assists, 14 digs vs KSU, 9/26 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 17 kills, 12 digs vs SEMO, 9/24 23 kills, 12 digs vs. KSU, 9/26 20 kills, 12 digs vs. KU, 10/1 Naaron Branson- 15 kills, 21 digs vs. Akron, 9/2 10 kills, 12 digs vs. W. Kent, 9/8 Christi Myers- 18 kills, 12 digs vs. OU, 9/29 15 kills, 10 digs vs KU, 10/1Triple-Doubles Christi Myers- 18 kills, 15 digs, 11 blocks vs. Texas A&M, 9/22
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.
The 2001 Schedule
Mizzou has now begun its Big 12 Conference schedule in the double round robin format. 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 this season. The 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 Tigers' 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.