Aug. 13, 2002
The Missouri volleyball team has been picked third in the Big 12 Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll released on Tuesday. The poll, which is voted on by the conference head coaches, has the Tigers tied with Colorado with 72 points.
"We're very happy for our team that the coaches think that highly of our players and our team," Missouri Associate Head Coach Wayne Kreklow said. "It's a great thing for our team and our program and we are happy for our players. But we understand that nothing has been done yet. No matches have been played."
Nebraska received 10 of the 11 first place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team). Texas A&M was second followed by MU and Colorado. Last season the Tigers finished fifth in the league behind Nebraska, Texas A&M, Kansas State and Colorado.
Also announced on Tuesday were the Big 12 Conference Preseason Team, Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Missouri redshirt freshman Shen Danru was voted the conference Newcomer of the Year. Danru is an outside hitter from Shanghai, China.
"It's great for Shen," Kreklow said. "We are very happy for her and this is also good for the team. She is very enthusiastic and intense and she will work hard to live up to the expectations."
Also this week, the Tigers received 58 votes in the first USA Today/ AVCA Coaches' Poll, ranking them 34th.
Missouri opens its season on Aug. 30 in the Oregon State Volleyball Showcase in Corvallis, Ore.
2002 Big 12 Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Nebraska- 100
2. Texas A&M- 86
T3. MISSOURI- 72
T3 Colorado- 72
5 Kansas State- 67
6. Texas- 64
7. Baylor- 45
8. Texas Tech- 40
9. Kansas- 31
T10. Iowa State- 14
T10 Oklahoma- 14
Big 12 Conference Preseason Team:
Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska
Stevie Nicholas, Baylor
Amber Holmquist, Nebraska
Mira Topic, Texas
Elizabeth Gower, Colorado
Laura Pilakowski, Nebraska
Big 12 Conference Player of the Year:
Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska
Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year:
SHEN DANRU, MISSOURI
Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year:
Laura Jones, Texas A&M