Dec. 9, 2002

By John Pizzitola
Media Relations Student Assistant

Sara Parks may be a new face to many fans at Missouri volleyball matches, but the Tiger players know Parks as a former opponent.

Last year Parks was a member of the University of Nebraska volleyball team and played against MU both times Nebraska and Mizzou faced off. While at Nebraska, Parks averaged 1.55 digs per game and had three service aces in the 77 games she played in.

After spending her freshman year at NU, Parks decided to transfer to Missouri. She chose Missouri because she would have the opportunity to play with former high school and club teammates. She was also intrigued with the way Susan and Wayne Kreklow have been able to rebuild the Missouri volleyball program.

"I knew Lindsey (Hunter) was coming here, and I'd played with Mel (Mary Lauren Smith) in club so I already knew some people on the team," said Parks. "I saw that Susan and Wayne had bettered the program and we're making it a lot better and were turning it around. It was close to home too, so I thought it was a good place to look. When I came here I just loved it."

Being a former Cornhusker, Parks looks forward to the matchups with Nebraska, but finds it strange to talk about her previous team.

"It's a little awkward, especially when we talk about Nebraska," said Parks. "It's actually weirder for me now to be playing Nebraska, especially when we went to the Coliseum earlier this year and played. The atmosphere there just makes it such an awesome place to play. It's weird wondering what was going through people's heads. But it was exciting."

This season, Parks has been assigned to the libero position, a position new to NCAA volleyball. Parks has been able to adjust rather easily, averaging 9.6 digs per match. She had a career-high 19 digs against Oregon State and Iowa State this season.

Though the libero is new to collegiate volleyball, Parks had previous experience playing libero and knew what to expect with the new rules that went along with the new position.

"Since I played libero my senior year in club volleyball I kind of already had a head start and new about the position," Parks said. "It gives us an opportunity to have more subs during a game and allows for better ball control."

Having to adjust to new teammates and coaches has been made a little easier for Parks with the support she has received from her father. Perry Parks travels from Nebraska to Columbia and is at every Mizzou home match sitting courtside supporting his daughter and the rest of the Tigers.

"My dad and I are really close," said Parks. "It was really tough for me to go through everything at Nebraska and he was there by my side through everything. He's always loved to watch me play and he supports me in whatever I do.."

With the support of her family, as well as the support of her Tiger teammates, there is no question that the move to Mizzou was a positive one for Parks. And she has been a positive addition to the Tiger squad.