2001 Volleyball Preview
8/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Coming off of one of the best seasons in school history, a high level of excitement surrounds the 2001 Missouri Volleyball team heading into the upcoming season. 2000 Big 12 Coaches of the year Susan and Wayne Kreklow return five starters from last seasons squad that went 24-7 overall (the sixth most wins in a season in school history) and 14-6 in the Big12 (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 years 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.
The Kreklows will look to a talented and experienced senior class to lead the 2001 squad back to the NCAA Tournament, a place no MU squad had been until last season. Last years team captain, Heather Gerber, and versatile defensive player Annette Luyten along with Jen Gerlach and Jana VerBrugge were lost to graduation. However, the Tigers return five starters and seven players who saw significant playing time during the 2000 Tiger Turnaround Tour. Seniors Naaron Branson, Krista Johnson, Rachael Taylor, Katie Sowers and Nikki Myhra will play key roles in the continuance of the turnaround that has been set in motion.
Middle Blocker
One of the keys to the Tigers overall improvement lies in their blocking. Junior middle blocker Christi Myers played a huge role in last seasons offensive and defensive schemes and had a breakout season in 2000 leading the team in hitting percentage (.363), blocks (138), and blocks solos (40). Myers was named All-Big 12 honorable mention while slating the second
-best season hitting percentage in school history. Myers also is a high jumper for the Mizzou track team and won two meets during the indoor season with a best of 5'10.
Krista Johnson will also provide a very athletic presence at the net. Johnson will look to regain her early 2000 form when she averaged 7.48 kills per match through the first 19 matches. KJ finished the season with a bang, however, putting down seven kills and seven total blocks against Utah State in the NCAA Tournament.
Freshmen Lindsey Noll and Jenny Duitsman will add size and outstanding ability for the Tigers in the middle. At 6-5 and 6-2 respectively, Noll and Duitsman will also bring much needed size to the Tiger lineup.
Setter
The Tigers transition game and quick offensive tempo they established in 2000 ran directly through last years senior setter, Heather Gerber. With the departure of Gerber, sophomore Chrissy Elder will be looked to become the new leader of the Tiger offense. Elder made major strides during spring working with assistant coach Deng Yang to prepare for 2001. She can provide instant offense for the Tigers with great jumping ability and a good swing at the setter position. The Kreklows also look for talented incoming freshman Jenny Bybee to be a valuable back up for Elder during 2001 season.
Outside Hitter
Balance and efficiency were the keys for the Tigers offense last season as they had four players who averaged 3.00 kills or more per game and five players who hit better than .300 on the season. Elder will be aided by a talented group of outside hitters returning this year for Mizzou and will be quality advisors for Elders baptism into Big 12 volleyball.
After being one of the thinnest positions last season for Mizzou, outside hitter has become one of the deepest over the off-season. Junior outside hitter and all-Big 12 first team selection Lisa Morris recorded the second highest single-season kills-per-game average in school history last season averaging 4.40 kpg overall and 4.77 kpg in Big 12 competition.
Besides having Morris, the left-handed "Myth from Fort Smith" Branson had a huge second half last season averaging 3.37 kills per game over the last 17 matches of the season and will provide a great athletic presence at the net and a huge amount of experience for the Tigers.
Kristen Johnson (3.40 kpg in 2000) returns from knee surgery and looks to regain her early 2000 season form. Despite her season threatening injury, Johnson was still a finalist for Big 12 newcomer of the year. Sophomore Ashlee Johns stepped in last season and provided a much-needed spark for Mizzou averaging 3.29 kpg at outside hitter and will be looked to as a catalyst once again. With two talented freshmen (Danru Shen and Loretta McGovern) also entering the fray, the Tigers could have one of the most talented outside-hitter corps in school history.
Defensive Specialists
The Tigers are very deep and also experienced at defensive specialist and they will be looked to be floor leaders for Tigers. The line up of DS' includes three seniors, Taylor, Sowers and Myhra. Taylor (Kirkwood, Mo.) was a member of the starting six last season and averaged nearly two digs per game while finishing second on the squad in service aces (34) after setting for the last half of the 1999 season.
Sowers was valuable substitute off of the bench for Mizzou when they needed a quality pass. The academic All-Big 12 selection finished 2000 with 69 digs and seven service aces, four of which came against Iowa State on Oct. 28.
Myhra will also provide depth for Mizzou at DS. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native had her best match of the 2000 season in the Tigers first ever sweep of Texas where she recorded a key service ace in the three-game win. China, West Virginia and Many Points in Between After going 6-1-3 during the spring campaign, the Tigers will take a two week trip to China from May 21-June 4. The Tigers are headed for Nanjing and Shanghai, China for a series of 10 matches in 14 days with Chinese Club Teams. This is the first time a Tiger Volleyball team has traveled outside of the country for any kind of match. The trip will offer a great opportunity for Mizzou to be ambassadors of the game of volleyball as well as for the University of Missouri.
Assistant Coaches Deng Yang and Chen Feng have former National Team teammates that now coach club teams in China with one club located in Shanghai and the other in Nanjing. Mizzou will spend time training and competing with each club team. An itinerary and preview of the upcoming trip will be posted in the upcoming days so continue to point your browser to www.mutigers.com.
Following the trip, the Tigers will return for workouts in August to prepare for the 2001 season. Mizzou will open the season at the Moutaineer Invitational on Sept. 1-2 in Morgantown, Penn. and will travel to the Best Inns Invitational the following weekend in Carbondale, Ill. Following their two opening tournaments, Mizzou will take on the once again tough Big 12 Conference in the double round robin format utilized by the Big 12 in volleyball.
