Nov. 13, 2001
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This Is Where the Plot Thickens
Coming off of a huge win last Saturday night over Texas in Columbia, the University of Missouri volleyball team (19-8, 9-8 Big 12) sets its sights on the Texas Tech Red Raiders (16-10, 7-8 Big 12). Mizzou travels to Lubbock on Wednesday in search of its 20th win of the season. If the Tigers do come away victorious, it would mark the first time MU has had back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1982 and 1983 (26-6 in 1982 and 26-11 in 1983).
The Tigers are currently alone once again in fifth place following last Saturday's action with Colorado at 11-5 in the Big 12 in 4th place while Baylor checks in with an 8-8 conference mark in 6th place. The Tigers certainly control their own destiny as far as NCAA Tournament qualification is concerned. If past criteria gives some direction to the selection committee's method of madness for an at-large bid into the tourney, Mizzou needs to post at least 20 wins and a better than .500 mark in the Big 12.
Missouri Family Remembers Kent Heitholt
The University of Missouri Department of Athletics offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Kent Heitholt, the late Sports Editor of the Columbia Daily Tribune, who was killed on Nov. 1. Kent was truly one of the "Good Guys" in our industry and he will be missed. Not only was Kent a consummate professional, he was a dear friend to those who worked directly with him. The coaches and administration of the University of Missouri are deeply saddened by this tragedy.
Tiger Tidbits
Missouri recorded its fourth-straight win over Texas last Saturday night...sophomores Mary Lauren Smith and Ashlee Johns each recorded career-highs in kills on Saturday against the Longhorns putting down 23 and 25 kills respectively...the last time two Tigers put down 20+ kills in a match was on Sept. 19, 1996 when Jodi Maune and Barb Sheahan put down 31 and 20 kills respectively in a 2-3 Tiger loss to Wichita State...senior Naaron Branson recorded 21 digs against the Longhorns on Saturday and needs just 37 digs over the last three regular season matches to become MU's all-time digs leader...Branson also moved into third on the all-time kills list at Mizzou on Saturday with 1,061 career kills, she needs 86 kills to move into the second spot on the MU charts...Head coach Susan Kreklow recorded her 499th career NCAA Women's volleyball victory on Saturday night and needs just one win to reach 500 for her career.
A Look at the Red Raiders
Winners of four of their last six matches, the Texas Tech Red Raiders enter Wednesday's contest with a 16-10 overall mark and a 7-8 Big 12 Conference record. Tech has been outstanding in the at home this season slating a 10-4 mark at the United Spirit Arena. Tech's most impressive home triumph was a 3-1 win over No. 22 Kansas State on Sept. 22.
Junior Melissa McGehee and freshman Kelly Johnson lead TTU's offensive charge averaging 3.29 and 3.75 kills per game, respectively. McGehee has also been excellent defensively averaging 3.23 digs per game and 0.45 blocks per stanza.
Despite winning two of the last three meetings between the two, Mizzou still trails in the all-time series with the Red Raiders, 10-2. The Tigers won the latest meeting, a 3-1 triumph in Columbia on Sept. 19.
Building a Tradition
2000 Big 12 Coach of the Year Susan Kreklow and her husband, associate head coach Wayne Kreklow, lead the Tigers into action on Wednesday against the Red Raiders. The Kreklows are in their second year at the helm of the Tigers and sport a 43-15 mark (.741 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 Kreklows continued to rewrite the Tiger record books in 2001 as Susan Kreklow won her 550th career match when the Tigers swept Oklahoma. However, the AVCA does not recognize both men's and women's volleyball victories when coaching them at the same time, which Susan did for three years winning 53 matches as the men's co-head coach with Wayne at Columbia College before coming to MU. That being said, Susan needs just one more wins to reach the 500-win plateau coaching women's collegiate volleyball.
Don't Get So Defensive
Senior Defensive specialist Katie Sowers continues to be a quality defensive stopper for the Tigers as they approach the end of the regular season. Since equaling a career-high with 18 digs vs. Texas on Oct. 17, Sowers has averaged 11 digs per match and has averaged 0.70 service winners per match. Sowers is currently second on the squad in total digs (279), digs per game (2.85) and is third in service aces (26).
Quick Like a Kat
After recording five service aces and 2.22 digs per game at the Tigers season opening tournament in West Virginia, junior defensive specialist Katherine Wingert (her teammates call her Kat) was sidelined with an injury for over month. Since returning to the Tiger line up on Oct. 22, Wingert had received situational playing time. However, with the injury to Lisa Morris, Wingert will be called upon to rotate into the back row and serve for Mizzou. She has executed that role very well the last two matches averaging 12.5 pickups per match over the last two matches.
The Ace of the Staff
In baseball, a middle relief pitcher has the job of either maintaining a lead or stopping the other squads assault on the starting pitcher. Senior defensive specialist Rachael Taylor could be considered the middle reliever for the Tigers when she goes back to the service line. Five to 10 point runs are not uncommon when Taylor steps to the line with her laser-knuckle ball serve. The native of Kirkwood, Missouri, has recorded a team-high 36 service aces this season and equaled a season-best with three service winners against Texas last Saturday.