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Nov. 27, 2001
Tigers Invited Back to the Big Dance
Mizzou faces University of Illinois on Friday in Champaign, Ill.
The University of Missouri volleyball team will make its second-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday when it faces the University of Illinois in a first-round border battle in Champaign, Ill. The Tigers received an at-large bid to the Extremely Large Dance Party after finishing the regular season 20-10 overall and 10-10 in the Big 12. The Tigers were one of eight Big 12 schools to be named to the field of 64. Eastern Illinois and Arizona, the tournament's fourth seed, are the regional's other two teams. The top 16 teams are seeded in the tournament field. This berth marks only the second time in school history Missouri has qualified for postseason play, the other time being last year when the Tigers dropped a 3-2 first-round heartbreaker to Utah State in Provo, Utah.
Tiger Tid Bits
Last week, Missouri dropped matches to No. 19 Kansas State and Baylor to end the regular season... Junior middle blocker Christi Myers recorded her 10th and 11th double-doubles of the season by putting down 11 kills and picking up 10 digs against K-State, and then hammering 19 kills and slating 11 digs at Baylor last Saturday... Senior outside hitter Naaron Branson had yet another historical night last Saturday, with her 12-dig effort against the Bears...Branson became the all-time digs leader at Missouri with 1,151 career pickups, surpassing Yvette Buhlig (88-90, 92)...Since 1983 (the year the Tigers joined the Big 8), no MU class has recorded more wins during its four-year stint at MU or a better winning percentage than the class of 2001...The class of 2001 led the Tigers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and have posted a 44-17 overall record the past two seasons.
The Bragging Rights Game...A Little Early
While the official Bragging Rights games which pit the University of Missouri men's and women's basketball teams against its Illinois counterparts doesn't happen for another three weeks, Friday's match will offer true insight into the Missouri-Illinois Border War.
The Fighting Illini of Illinois, is ranked No. 21 in the latest USATODAY/AVCA Coaches poll. Illinois recorded a 20-8 overall record and a 13-7 Big 10 mark, taking fourth place in the conference. Two members of the Illini, Lisa Argabright and Shadia Hadad, are averaging more than 3.0 kills per game and three members have recorded a hitting percentage of .300 or better. Illinois, which went 10-3 at home, also ranks 16th in attendance according to the Monday's attendance rankings averaging 1,460 fans per match. They finished the regular season in the fourth spot in the Big 10. The Illini went 5-3 over their final eight matches of the season.
Big 10 Coach of the Year Don Hardin leads the Illini into the match. Hardin recently won his 100th match at Illinois and sports a 103-74 mark as head man. The Fighting Illini own a 5-1-1 advantage in the series between the two schools. The two will face off for the first time since 1995, a 3-0 Illinois win in Champaign.
The Tale of the Tape
MU vs. U of I Kills 1768 1465 Kills per gm. 15.9 15.1 Errors 657 188 Attacks 4645 3668 Hitting % .239 .248 Assists 1572 1322 Aces 181 148 Digs 1935 1338 Block solo 68 81 Block assists 389 426 Blocks/gm. 2.4 3.0
A Look in the Ol' Crystal Ball
If the Tigers defeat the Illini on Friday evening, they will face the winner of the Arizona/Northern Illinois match. The Wildcats of Arizona enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 ranked team in the nation. They have won 13 of their last 14 matches and continue to be one of the premier squads in the nation. Dave Rubio heads up the Wildcats, who received an at large bid to the tournament, recorded a 21-4 overall record and a 12-1 mark in the Pac 10 this season. Lisa Rutledge leads a balanced UA offensive attack averaging a robust 4.20 kills per game while Jill Talbot provides balance for the Wildcats averaging 3.26 kills and 3.26 digs per game. The Wildcat's opponent on Friday evening will be Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Champions Eastern Illinois Panthers. The Panthers finished the regular season with a 21-8 overall mark and a 12-4 mark in the OVC. EIU took the Championship match from the No. 1 seed of the tournament, Tennessee Martin exciting five-game fashion and received an automatic bid to the tournament.
Three Tigers Receive Big 12 Volleyball Honors
Columbia, Mo.- Juniors Christi Myers and Lisa Morris were named to the All-Big 12 honorable mention team and senior Katie Sowers was tabbed as the Big 12 Defensive Specialist of the Year, it was announced on Sunday by the Big 12 Conference. This marks the second consecutive year Myers and Morris have been recognized by the Big 12 and is the first such honor for Sowers. The conference accolades were decided though polling of the conference's head coaches.
Sowers, who is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree the past three seasons, has been fantastic in the back row for the Tigers this season. She is second on the squad in total digs (295) and digs per game (2.71). Sowers has also done well from the service line recording 27 service winners. She has recorded career-highs in digs in a season, service aces in a season and digs in a match in 2001.
Myers, who was named also named to the Big 12 honorable mention team in 2000, had an outstanding regular season for the Tigers averaging 3.43 kills, 2.34 digs and a team-best 1.22 blocks per game. Myers currently leads the Big 12 in solo blocks with 22 and needs just two more block assists to move into second place on the MU all-time block assists charts. The 6-1 middle blocker from Raytown, Mo. has recorded 11 double-doubles on the year and was the only Tiger to record a triple double in 2001 with her 18 kill-15 dig-11 block performance against Texas A&M on Sept. 22.
An All-Big 12 first team selection in 2000, Morris was sidelined by a season-ending shoulder injury after 24 matches this season. However, Morris had posted quality numbers to that point in the season, averaging a team-high 4.10 kills, 2.53 digs and 0.40 digs per game. Morris reached double figures in kills in 21 of the 24 matches she played in and reached the 20-kill plateau four times. She has been selected to the Verizon academic all-district team the past two years receiving second team honors last season and first team honors in 2001. Morris has also been a member the Academic All-Big 12 first team the past two seasons.
The Big 12 Conference...Flexing its Proverbial Muscle
The Big 12 Conference led all conferences with eight teams selected (No. 2 Nebraska, No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 18 Kansas State, Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech). The Big 10 and Pacific-10 conferences each have six teams in the field while the Big West and Mountain West conferences have four. The strong showing by the Big 12 ties the Big 10's mark set in 1999 for the most teams to ever to play in the NCAA Tournament from one conference since the 64-team field was implemented. In each of the previous five seasons, the Big 12 qualified six teams.
Four Tigers Named to Academic All-Big 12 Team
DALLAS-The Big 12 Conference announced the names of 53 student-athletes who have been named to the 2001 Volleyball Academic All-Big 12 Team, the conference office announced Monday.
Among the 53 honored were four members of the University of Missouri volleyball team. Senior defensive specialists Katie Sowers and Rachael Taylor, and junior outside hitter Lisa Morris were named to the first team while senior outside hitter Naaron Branson was named to the second team. Taylor and Sowers are both three-time recipients of the honor while Branson and Morris have been named to the team twice.
Sowers currently is second on the team in digs per game (2.83) while Taylor leads the squad in service aces (36). Branson leads the Tigers in digs per game (3.43) and became only the second player in MU history to record 1000 kills and 1000 digs in her career. This is Morris' second award of the season. She was named to the Verizon Academic All-District VII first team earlier in November.
500 and Counting
2000 Big 12 Coach of the Year Susan Kreklow took home her 500th career women's collegiate volleyball victory on Wednesday at Texas Tech. Susan and her husband, associate head coach Wayne Kreklow, lead the Tigers into action on Saturday against the Bears. The Kreklows are in their second year at the helm of the Tigers and sport a 44-16 mark (.733 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 earlier this season. 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.
The Electric Slide
Although junior middle blocker Christi Myers is a fan of hip-hop, her favorite dance might be the electric slide. That is exactly what Myers has been who the Tigers run the slide play, "electric." She has been the Tigers steadiest contributor during the 2001 season. She is averaging 3.41 kills, 2.34 digs and 1.24 blocks per game and leads the Big 12 in solo blocks with 22. Myers has also recorded ten double-doubles this season.
The junior middle blocker boldly went where no Missouri Tiger volleyball player had gone 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 2001 season has been a microcosm of Myers' career up to this point. Myers currently holds the second-highest career hitting percentage (.298) in MU history and jumped into third on the kills per game list (3.21). Myers is also rewriting the Mizzou career blocking books. She is fourth in solo blocks (73), fourth in block assists (255) and third in blocks per game (1.09).
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 10 digs per match. Sowers is currently second on the squad in total digs (289), digs per game (2.78) 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 more than a 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 has been called upon to rotate into the back row and serve for Mizzou. She has executed that role very well the averaging 10.25 pickups per match over the last four matches.
There's No Place like Where ever We Are
The Tigers sported a 14-1 home mark last season while registering a 9-5 mark on the road and a 2-1 record in neutral court battles. This season, the Tigers have been equally as good on the road (7-5) as they were in the friendly confines of the Hearnes Center (8-5). The Tigers have also been outstanding on neutral courts sporting a sparkling 5-0 mark in those 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, Mo., has recorded a team-high 37 service aces this season and equaled a season-best with three service winners against Texas on Nov. 10.
The Termination Association
The fans at the MU volleyball match on Oct. 22 witnessed history as senior Naaron Branson put down her 1,000th career kill to give the Tigers a 15-8 lead over Southern Illinois in Game 1. After recording her 1,000th career dig in Game 1 at Texas A&M on Oct. 20, Branson became the second MU volleyball player to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. The other Tiger in the 1,000 kill-1,000 dig club is Yvette Buhlig (1988-90, 1992) who is the all-time leader in both categories with 1,478 kills and 1,149 digs for her career.
Branson picked up 12 digs against Baylor to become the all-time digs leader in MU history last Saturday. Branson currently leads the squad in digs (364) and digs per game (3.53). She also has recorded a team-best .292 hitting percentage against Big 12 Conference foes this season and is averaging a robust 3.63 digs per game in conference matches.
MU All-Time Kills List 1. Yvette Buhlig (88-90, 92) 1,478 2. Jodi Maune (95-98) 1,147 3. Naaron Branson (98- ) 1,088 4. Renee Rosinski (95-98) 1,049 5. Sherri Gentry (86, 88-90) 1,030 6. Christi Myers (99- ) 986 7. Lisa Morris (99- ) 969 8. Sharon Zaehringer (84-87) 929 9. Gwen Mullens (91-94) 927 10. Melinda Wrye (90-92) 906MU All-Time Digs List 1. Naaron Branson (98- ) 1,151 2. Yvette Buhlig (88-90, 92) 1,149 3. Gwen Mullens (91-94) 1,103 4. Margaret Yanics (84-86, 88) 1,038 5. Chandra Hopkins (95-98) 1,033 6. Annette Luyten (97-00) 996 7. Sherri Gentry (86, 88-90) 972 8. Cindy Atteberry (90-93) 920 9. Stacy Harris (84-87) 859 10. Melinda Wrye (90-92) 845
Duitsman is Just Doing It
Tiger freshman middle blocker Jenny Duitsman (pronounced Doots-man) has stepped in nicely and provided much-needed depth for the Tigers. Duitsman started the first match of her career last Saturday and had a great night. The 6-2 native of Lincoln, Neb., recorded career-highs in kills (9), attacks (16) and total blocks (4, 1 solo and 3 assists). She has played in 23 games this season for the Tigers recording a .400 hitting percentage while averaging 0.39 blocks per game.
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 17-4 this season and an astounding 42-4 over the last two seasons. However, when Mizzou drops the opening stanza of a match, it is a not so good 2-13. Look for Mizzou to concentrate on getting off to a good start in Game 1.
Game 2 Blues
The Tigers have been the opposite of good...bad...in Game 2 at home this season. Mizzou is 6-7 at home in the second stanza of matches and 17-13 in Game 2 overall.
Game Record Winning % 1 22-8 .733 2 17-13 .567 3 18-12 .600 4 11-5 .688 5 2-3 .400 70-41 .630
The Tiger Triple and Double-Double Club
With a variable plethora of offensive weapons at the Tigers disposal, look for Mizzou 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. Akron, 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 54 assists, 12 digs vs. UT 10/13 51 assists, 10 digs vs. TAMU, 10/20 41 assists, 12 digs vs. ISU, 10/31 73 assists, 15 digs vs. UT, 11/10 68 assists, 16 digs vs. BU, 11/24 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 19 kills, 14 digs vs. BU, 10/6 11 kills, 10 digs vs. UT, 10/13 14 kills, 10 digs vs. Colorado 18 kills, 16 digs vs TAMU, 10/20 12 kills, 10 digs vs. KU, 11/3 Naaron Branson- 15 kills, 21 digs vs. Akron, 9/2 10 kills, 12 digs vs. W. Kent, 9/8 21 kills, 22 digs vs. UT, 10/13 14 kills, 19 digs vs. TAMU, 10/20 15 kills, 21 digs vs. KU, 11/3 11 kills, 15 digs vs. CU, 11/7 13 kills, 21 digs vs. UT, 11/10 12 kills, 12 digs vs. BU, 11/24 Christi Myers- 18 kills, 12 digs vs. OU, 9/29 15 kills, 10 digs vs KU, 10/1 14 kills, 11 digs vs. BU, 10/6 10 kills, 12 digs vs UT, 10/13 10 kills, 11 digs vs. Neb. 10/24 10 kills, 13 digs vs. Okla. 10/27 12 kills, 10 digs vs. ISU, 10/31 22 kills, 12 digs vs. KU, 11/3 15 kills, 12 digs vs. UT, 11/10 11 kills, 10 digs vs.KSU, 11/21 19 kills, 11 digs vs. BU, 11/24Triple-Doubles Christi Myers- 18 kills, 15 digs, 11 blocks vs. Texas A&M, 9/22
You Are Cordially Invited...
The University of Missouri volleyball squad is ranked 23rd in the nation according to average attendance, it was announced on Monday. The Tigers averaged 1,175 fans per home contest and hosted six of the Top 10 largest crowds in MU history this season. The jump in attendance has been astounding over the past two years. In 1999, Mizzou averaged 335 fans per match. The current mark of 1,164 Mizzou maniacs more than triples that number, sparking a huge jump in average attendance just in the past three seasons. Below is a list of the Top 10 MU crowds in volleyball.
Missouri Volleyball Top 10 Attendance Marks
Date Opponent Att. 1) Oct. 25, 2000 Nebraska 2,009 2) Oct. 24, 2001 Nebraska 2,002 3) Oct. 6, 2001 Baylor 1,823 4) Nov. 3, 2001 Kansas 1,727 5) Nov. 4, 2000 Texas Tech 1,484 6) Sept. 29, 2001 Oklahoma 1,416 7) Nov. 10, 2001 Texas 1,402 8) Oct. 31, 1997 Colorado 1,350 9) Nov. 21, 2001 Kansas State 1,313 10) Nov. 11, 2000 Texas 1,195 1994-Present
Tracking the Tigers
Last time out...
Tigers Fall in Five at Baylor
Waco, Texas- The University of Missouri volleyball team dropped its second straight match in five hard-fought games on Saturday night, 2-3 (23-30, 23-30, 31-29, 30-22, 11-15). Sophomore Mary Lauren Smith put down 20 kills while junior Christi Myers pitched in with 19 kills and 11 digs, but it wasn't quite enough as the Tigers saw their gallant comeback attempt thwarted by the Bears.
The Tigers would jump out to an early 8-6 lead on a solo block by freshman Jenny Duitsman, who started the first match of her career tonight. However, BU then went on a 24-15 run to end the game at 30-23. Duitsman paced the Tigers offensively putting down three kills in the game. The Tigers could manage only 13 kills in the game while outside Baylor outside hitter would put down seven kills herself, as the Bears would dominate Game 1.
Mizzou would lead only once in Game 2 at 1-0, but from that point on, it was all Baylor. The Bears would run out to a 17-11 advantage only to see Mizzou claw back to within two at 18-16. However, the Bears were able to hold the Tiger attack in check going on a 12-7 run the rest of the way taking the game, 30-23. Junior Christi Myers paced the Tigers with three terminations and recorded a.333 hitting percentage.
The Tigers looked much more like the squad that had won 20 matches this season recording a .395 hitting percentage in Game 3. The game would be tied for the 15th time at 26-26. Baylor would then go on a 3-0 run and was on the cusp of taking the game and the match at 29-26. However, Smith would step to the service line and serve the Tigers to four straight points, as the Tigers would rally to take the game, 31-29. The two squads would battle to an 8-8 tie to open Game 4. Smith and Duitsman would then take the game over putting down seven and three kills, respectively, and would lead the Tigers to a 30-23 Game 4 win. Baylor would take a 10-8 lead to open Game 5 and would not look back taking the game, 15-11.
Senior Naaron Branson had yet another historic night as she recorded 12 digs on the night, making her the all-time digs leader at Mizzou with 1,151 career pick-ups. Duitsman also had a career-night putting down 9 kills.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS
You must request an official NCAA credential and parking pass for the first and second rounds. Contact Derrick Burson of the Illinois Sports Information Office (217-333-1391) or fax (217-333-5540) to request credentials. Regular season credentials will not be accepted for entry. The NCAA has official guidelines on the number of passes which can be issued to a media agency, so please only request credentials which are necessary. Media seating is limited at Huff Hall and credential requests will be filled as seating and NCAA requirements allow.
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.
Tiger Volleyball All Business in China
Exerpts from an article in the Columbia Daily Tribune by David Chou on June 21
Earlier this month (May 21-June 4), the Tigers traveled with two professional club teams in China. The trip's purpose was to allow for the team to practice with the Chinese teams, which had a higher skill level, in the hope the Tigers could learn more about the game.
The Tigers got more than they could have ever bargained for both culturally and athletically.
Missouri first played the Jiang Su province team, the home club of MU assistant Deng Yang. The Tigers began their trip at the Nanjing Physical Education Institute, where much like Olympic training centers in the United States, the students are there specifically to train for sports and also academics...
The Tigers then traveled to Shanghai, where they faced the Shanghai women's team. While the Jiang Su team played in more rural settings, Shanghai, which is more modernized, played in even larger stadiums. The Tigers played in front of 8,000 people once.
Shanghai allowed the team to have more modern conveniences like McDonald's and shopping areas. The team was split up in a shopping district with members of the Shanghai team.
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 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.
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.
Tigers Signs First Member of 2002 Recruiting Class
Head women's volleyball coach Susan Kreklow announced that standout setter Lindsey Hunter (Papillion La Vista, Neb.) will join the Tigers in 2002. Hunter is the first Tiger commitment of the early signing period and she, along with sophomore Chrissy Elder, will provide quality depth at the setter position.
Hunter was tabbed a pre-season All-American by Studentsports.com as "one of the top 50 (players) talented enough to be the best in the land." Hunter led the Papillion La Vista Monarchs to back-to-back Nebraska Class A volleyball championships in both 2000 and 2001 and to a runner-up finish in 1998. She was named MVP of the 2000 and 2001 tournaments and was named to the Nebraska SUPER STATE 1st team in 2000, the only junior to be named to the team.
She garnered the latest of four Nebraska Class A all-state selections this past week by NebraskaPrepReport.com and was also named to the all-class all-state team. She has earned All-Metro Conference honors the past three seasons and was team captain for the Monarchs the past two seasons. The Monarchs were 15-0 this year against the Class A state tournament field heading into the state championships. They took out Lincoln Northeast in the finals to win its second-straight title on the strength of Hunter's 44 assists, and finished as the No. 14 ranked team in the nation according to Studentsports.com.
Hunter is also an excellent third baseman for Sizzle Blue in Omaha. She recorded a .975 fielding percentage last season and was a member of 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Omaha Metro Championship squads. Hunter has also played tennis, track and basketball at Papillion and currently holds the school record for most rebounds in a season, a mark she set in 1998.