Aug. 16, 2006

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - By the looks of the crowd in the Hearnes Center on Wednesday night, it was hard to tell only a scrimmage was occurring. A crowd of over 1,200 got their first look of the 2006 Missouri Volleyball squad as the Black team took the practice match 2-0. In addition, over 200 youths took part in a pre-match clinic featuring the Tigers.

The Black team of Lei Wang, Jessica Vander Kooi, Julianna Klein, Jilly Jaksich, Nicole Wilson, and Tatum Ailes took down the Gold team 30-27, 30-23. The Black squad was led by honorable mention All-American Nicole Wilson (Lincoln, Neb.) who scored 12 kills on .333 hitting, adding in part of all eight team blocks. Redshirt freshman Lei Wang scored on two service aces, adding four blocks while dishing 27 assists. Senior Jessica Vander Kooi (Hinton, Iowa) claimed nine kills adding nine digs. Freshman Julianna Klein (Keota, Iowa) scored five kills and two aces, adding nine digs and a block in her Tiger debut. The Black team, in total, scored on six aces, adding eight team blocks.

For the Gold team, redshirt freshman Amanda Hantouli and former Tiger Shen Danru led with six kills apiece in a more balanced scoring attack. Hantouli also added four blocks including two solo scores. Freshman Brittney Herzog (Boonville, Mo.) scored on four blocks adding three digs.

The Tigers will open the 2006 campaign at the Long Beach State Invitational next Friday, August 25. In the tournament will be NCAA Tournament team Long Beach State, along with Villanova and Alabama State. Mizzou will open the home season against UALR on Tuesday, August 29.