Nov. 4, 2002

By John Pizzitola
Media Relations Student Assistant

If you haven't noticed Missouri's outside hitter Mary Lauren Smith, you need to. This season Smith has been named to the Crimson Tide All-Tournament Team, Big 12 Player of the Week (Sept. 30), AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week (Sept. 30), and most recently Smith was featured in this weeks' issue of Sports Illustrated.

Smith's name became well known in college volleyball after Missouri defeated Texas A&M and Colorado. Against these two teams Smith had back-to-back 20 kill matches. Against A&M, she had a .414 hitting percentage and against Colorado she hit .394.

With all this success and publicity, you might think that it all goes straight to a player's head, but Smith is able to stay humble and build on her success.

"I don't really feel any pressures, and of course it makes you more confident," said Smith. "It's nice to see that other people see that you're working so hard and doing well. If it puts any pressure, it puts pressure on me to keep performing that way."

Smith's collegiate volleyball career began at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Ca., where she spent her freshman year playing for the Tigers. She transferred to Missouri at the end of her freshman year.

Smith was attracted to MU's team because "it was a program that is building, but it's not starting from rock bottom. In one year they (the coaches) took the program and completely flipped it around."

Last season, Smith had a total of four matches in which she recorded at least 20 kills. In 2001, Smith averaged 2.85 kills per game, a .206 hitting percentage, and a total of 51 blocks.

So far this season Smith has been averaging 11.81 kills per match and 1.76 blocks per match. Smith attributes her improvements in play to the conditioning and workouts she and her teammates went through over the summer.

"The big difference was that I worked out over the summer," said Smith. "Not only did we work out, but also we worked out as a team. Our team chose to stay here and work out together. I think that shows in everyone not just me."

Smith's ability to play in several games this season was questioned due to illness. Smith was able to play through a mild case of mononucleosis, but it was decided that it would in the best interests of Smith and the team for her to sit out the October 9 match against Nebraska.

" I didn't like it, but I felt it was the smartest decision at that point," said Smith. "No athlete likes to be on the sidelines, especially against Nebraska. I think it was the best decision at that point for myself and for the team."

Smith, who is originally from Atlanta, Ga., has done a lot of moving in her life, but she currently resides in Columbia during her tenure at Mizzou.

"The south will always be my home," said Smith laughingly. "Columbia feels comfortable and I like it here, but the south will always be my true home."