Nov. 6, 2001
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Tigers look for Rocky Mountain Rebound
The University of Missouri volleyball team looks to get back on track on Wednesday night when it travels to Boulder, Colo., to take on No. 21 Colorado in Big 12 conference volleyball action. Mizzou fell to 18-7 overall and 8-7 in the Big 12 Conference on Saturday when it dropped its third match in its last six to Kansas, 1-3. However, over the last two seasons, the Tigers are 9-3 when coming off a loss and have endured only two two match (regular season) losing streaks during that time. And although the Tigers did drop their match this weekend, they were able to hang on to the fifth place spot in the Big 12 Conference and continue to receive votes in the AVCA/USAToday Coaches Poll.
Mizzou continues to improve its chances of returning to the NCAA tournament with every win in 2001. Although that last statement might seem to have been brought to you by the department of redundancy department, Mizzou looks to reach the 20 win plateau for only the ninth time in school history and could need 20 wins to advance to tournament play. The Tigers went 3-2 during their first trek through the Big 12 against their remaining opponents.
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 last Thursday morning. 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 The University of Missouri volleyball team went 1-1 last week sweeping the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames on Wednesday and losing to the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday. The win over the Cyclones marks the 10th straight win over ISU dating back to 1996. Head coach Susan Kreklow needs just two more wins to reach the 500-win plateau coaching women's collegiate volleyball. The Tigers played in front of the fourth-largest crowd in school history on Saturday against the Jayhawks (1,727). Senior Naaron Branson, who became only the second player in Tiger volleyball history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs during her career earlier this season, needs just 64 more digs to become MU's all-time digs leader. Junior Christi Myers equaled a career best with 22 kills in the match against the Jayhawks and recorded two double-doubles last week.
A Look at the Buffaloes The Buffaloes once again take on the Tigers as one of the hottest teams in the nation, winning four straight. The last time Mizzou took on CU, an Oct. 17th tilt in Columbia, the Buffs entered the contest having won five of their last six, but Mizzou was able to handle Colorado and take the then No. 20 Buffaloes, 3-1.
The Buffaloes latest conquest came on Nov. 3, when they took out a pesky Texas Tech squad in Lubbock, 3-1. The Tigers take on Tech on Nov. 14 in Lubbock.
Middle blocker Monique Gerlach and outside hitter Meghan Barkman continue to lead the offensive attack for CU. Gerlach leads the team in kills per game (3.71) and is second on the squad in blocks per game (0.86). Barkman is second on the team in kills per game (3.14) and leads the team in both hitting percentage (.363) and blocks per game (1.38). Despite Mizzou taking two of the last two meeting with CU, the Buffs continue to dominate the series, 27-3.
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 Buffaloes. The Kreklows are in their second year at the helm of the Tigers and sport a 42-14 mark (.750 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 two 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 11.875 digs per match and has averaged 1.00 service winners per match. Sowers is currently second on the squad in total digs (264), digs per game (2.93) and is third in service aces (26).
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 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 needs to average 12.6 digs per match during the rest of the season to become the all-time digs leader in MU history. Branson currently leads the squad in digs (301) and digs per game (3.38). She has been en fuego the past eight matches averaging 12.25 kills and 13.75 digs per match while recording a .329 hitting percentage.
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. Naaron Branson (98- ) 1,037 5. Sherri Gentry (86, 88-90) 1,030 6. Lisa Morris (99- ) 969 7. Sharon Zaehringer (84-87) 929 8. Gwen Mullens (91-94) 927 9. Christi Myers (99- ) 920 10. Melinda Wrye (90-92) 906All-Time Digs List 1. Yvette Buhlig (88-90, 92) 1,149 2. Gwen Mullens (91-94) 1,103 3. Naaron Branson (98- ) 1,086 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
Tracking the Tigers
Last Time Out...
Tigers Fall to Kansas
Columbia, Mo.- The University of Missouri volleyball team came out on fire in Game 1, winning 30-23, but had no answer for a pesky KU squad as the Jayhawks would take the next three games and win the match, 3-1 (30-23, 28-30, 24-30, 23-30) on Saturday night in the Hearnes Center. Mizzou falls to 18-7 on the year and 8-7 in the Big 12 while KU improves to 14-12 overall and 4-11 in the Big 12.
The Tigers were outstanding in Game 1 hitting .405 as a team and blew by KU, 30-23. Juniors Christi Myers and Lisa Morris paced the Tigers, as Myers would put down six of her match-high 22 kills while Morris also pitched in with six kills. In Game 2, KU would take leads of as large as 10 at 20-10 and would hold off a late, frenzied Mizzou charge and take the game, 30-28. The Jayhawks would go have the Tigers on their heels the rest of the way and would sweep the next two games 30-24 and 30-23 and the match, 3-1.
Three Tigers would go on to record double-doubles in the match but the could only manage a .203 team hitting percentage. The Tigers out-killed (67-64), out-blocked (11.0-10.0) and out-dug (77-61) the Jayhawks but could not overcome poor passing and a solid all-around match by Sarah Rome and Molly Scavuzzo, who put down 17 and 15 kills respectively. The Tigers all recorded 30 attack errors, the second highest total of the season, in the four-game loss.
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 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 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 Triple-Doubles Christi Myers- 18 kills, 15 digs, 11 blocks vs. Texas A&M, 9/22