University of Missouri
Wisconsin
Tigers Open 2004 with Victory Over No. 23 Wisconsin
9/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2004
MADISON, Wis.-- - The Missouri volleyball team won its season opener for the fifth straight season, as it defeated No. 23 ranked Wisconsin 3-1 (30-19, 25-30, 37-35, 30-13) in the first day of the Badger Challenge hosted by Wisconsin in Madison on Friday.
After the Tigers and Badgers split the first two games of the match, Mizzou won a tough, and emotional game three by a score of 37-35, then used the momentum gained with that win to cruise to a 30-13 win in the fourth game to seal the match victory.
Sophomore Jessica Vander Kooi led the Tigers with 18 kills and a .412 hitting percentage, followed by fellow sophomore Shen Danru, who had a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs. Junior Lindsey Hunter had 54 assists to go along with seven kills.
A pair of freshmen, making their first appearance for Mizzou, turned in impressive performances. Na Yang had a double-double with 14 kills and 14 digs and Tatum Ailes led Missouri with 18 digs in her first start at libero.
Mizzou took the early advantage in the match, with a 30-19 opening game win. Yang had four kills in game one, including three during a 5-1 MU run to build an early 9-7 lead. She also led the Tigers with three digs in the first game as the MU defense held Wisconsin to a -.057 hitting percentage.
The Badgers evened up the match with a 30-25win in game two behind a hitting percentage of .378.
Game three saw two determined teams involved a classic battle. Trailing 2-4 to start the game, MU took the lead with three straight aces by sophomore Nicole Wilson. She finished with four aces in the game. The game remained tight throughout as the lead switched hands several times. The Tigers had six game points denied by the Badgers before putting the game away on game point number seven.
Mizzou carried the momentum from the emotional game three win into the fourth game, as it took control of the game early and never looked back. The Tigers won by 17 points, hitting .378 in the game while UW had a .000 hitting percentage.
Missouri improved to 18-10-1 in season openers since 1976. It has won its last five season openers and seven of the last eight.
With the victory Head Coach Susan Kreklow needs just one victory to reach 600-career wins for her career (599-147). She will get a chance to reach that mark on Saturday when the Tigers face another opponent from the Big Ten Conference, Purdue, in day two of the Badger Challenge. Purdue defeated Georgia Tech, 3-1 on Friday.
