Sept. 26, 2006
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COLUMBIA, Mo.--The No. 19 Missouri volleyball squad goes for its 10th-straight home victory when they will host Baylor Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Hearnes Center. The Tigers are coming off an impressive 30-23, 30-23, 30-19 win over then-No. 5 Texas and are now on a three-match overall winning streak. A free First-Serve Tailgate will be held in the Hearnes Fieldhouse, starting at 5:30 p.m., for Missouri students.
(RV) Baylor at No. 19 Missouri
Wednesday, September 27, 6:30 p.m.
Webcast: Mizzou All-Access ... subscription required ...
http://all-access.cstv.com/cstv/player/player.html?code=miss
Radio: KCOU-FM, 88.1 FM in Columbia ... also heard online at http://kcou.mu.org
Live Stats: MUTigers.com ...
Coaches: Missouri (9-4) - Wayne Kreklow (Drake '80) ... 10-2 vs. Baylor
301-38 overall (8th season), 34-9 at Mizzou (2nd season), 143-55 with wife at Mizzou (7th season)
Baylor (13-2) - Jim Barnes (McNeese State, `94) ... 0-4 vs. Missouri ... 203-136 (10th season) overall ... 40-38 (2nd season) at Baylor
Series Matchup: Mizzou leads the all-time series 12-8, having won the last eight meetings overall, dating back to 2001.
Other Facts: Mizzou is 0-8 all-time on September 27, last playing on the date in 2000 and losing at Texas Tech in five games
Vander Kooi Named National and Big 12 Player of the Week ...
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) named Missouri senior OH Jessica Vander Kooi as its SportsImports/AVCA National Player of the Week it announced Monday evening. After winning the Big 12 Player of the Week honor earlier in the day for the second time this month, Vander Kooi, a native of Hinton, Iowa, becomes just the third Tiger to win the national weekly award.
Vander Kooi led then-No. 22 Missouri to a 2-0 record last week, including the sweep of then-No. 5 Texas -- the Tigers' first victory over a top-five ranked opponent.
At Kansas State on Wednesday, Vander Kooi scored 27 kills on 55 attempts (.327) and added 19 digs to the MU effort. The Hinton, Iowa native tallied the most kills for a Tiger in a four-game match since 2002, and the fifth 20-kill match this season.
Vander Kooi scored 19 points; recording 13 kills, five blocks and three service aces against Texas on Saturday. After rolling her ankle in game one, Vander Kooi committed only one hitting error in 32 attacks to record a .375 hitting percentage. In addition, Vander Kooi fielded 17 serve receptions without an error.
On the week, Vander Kooi averaged 6.86 points, 5.71 kills while compiling a .345 hitting percentage. She also posted 3.86 digs and 1.00 blocks in seven games.
In Big 12 matches, Vander Kooi currently ranks second in the conference in points per game (5.74), third in kills per game (4.65), and fifth in aces per game (0.47).
The last Tiger to earn the AVCA National Player of the Week award was Nicole Wilson last year. Ironically, Vander Kooi's honor came on the same week in the year as Wilson's occurred last season.
The Baylor Bears are coming off a 3-2 victory over Texas Tech last Wednesday that put them at 2-1 in the Big 12. The Bears are 13-2 on the season, losing only to California and Iowa State. Both of Baylor's losses have been on the road, making them 2-2 on the road. BU has faced only two ranked team so far, beating then-No. 24 Kansas State 3-1 and losing to then-No. 17 California.
In 15 matches, outside hitter Nicole LeBlanc leads the team with 4.00 kills per game and is second on the team with 3.08 digs per game. Middle blockers Desiree Guilliard-Young, who was named to the pre-season All-Big 12 Conference Team, and Anna Breyfogle lead the Bears with 1.57 and 1.45 blocks per game. Guilliard-Young is also hitting .403 and has 3.09 kills per game, good for second on the team. The Baylor defense has allowed opponents to hit only .117. Setter Taylor Barnes leads the Bears with 11.16 assists per game.
Overall, No. 19 Missouri leads the series against Baylor 12-8. The Tigers have won eight straight and have not lost to the Bears since 2001, with four wins coming in Columbia, Missouri and four in Waco, Texas.
BU was picked to finish ninth in Big 12 this year, but have some potential with a top-20 recruiting class and are currently in fifth place. The class was ranked No. 16 in the nation, the second best recruiting class in Baylor history.
Head Coach Jim Barnes enters his third year with the Bears, leading them to a 40-38 record. Baylor finished ninth in the conference last year with a 6-14 conference record. The Bears ended the season 15-17. Barnes is 0-4 against Missouri.
-- Mustafa Mohammad
Recapping a Heckuva Week ...
* The Tiger volleyball team had a very successful time last week, going on the road and defeating Kansas State in four games on Wednesday on regional television before pulling off a stunning upset of No. 5 Texas on Saturday night. Mizzou has now won three straight overall and nine straight at home and are tied for second place in the Big 12.
* In front of 2,477 Mizzou fans, the Tigers swept the Longhorns, defeating UT 30-23, 30-23, 30-19. The win was Mizzou's first all-time over a top-five team and the team's fourth sweep of a top-10 team overall, with all coming in the last two seasons. The combined-point victory of 25 points marks the Tigers' largest win against the Longhorns in the all-time series and is the third-largest margin of victory all-time for the Tigers against a ranked team. In addition, Mizzou won its seventh-straight over Texas in Columbia. Also, Mizzou has now won four-of-the-last-five over ranked teams that come to the Hearnes Center.
* Missouri as a team committed zero hitting errors in dominating Texas 30-19 in the third game marking the first time in school history in a rally scoring match and the first time against a ranked team that the Tigers have went without an error. Na Yang scored eight kills on 12 attempts in the frame as part of her team-high 17 kill night. Also, Mizzou outblocked UT 15-4 and outhit the Longhorns .312 to .154 in the match. In addition, Mizzou came back in game one, down 14-9 and for the first time in 2006, won the frame despite giving up a five-point run.
* On Wednesday at Kansas State, head coach Wayne Kreklow won his 300th match as a collegiate women's head coach. Technically in his second year at Mizzou, Kreklow is now 301-38 overall combining his time as a co-head coach at Columbia College with his two years at Mizzou. Susan and Wayne Kreklow also advanced to 72-18 with Mizzou all-time at home with the win over the Longhorns.
Big 12 Report ...
Following the lead of week two of Big 12 play, only one team, the University of Oklahoma, was able to pull out a road victory.
For the second-straight match, the then-No. 22 Missouri Tigers made history. First, earlier in the week, they defeated Kansas State for the second time in a row on the road since the 1986-1897 seasons. They followed that up with their biggest victory of all-time, when they defeated then-No. 5 Texas in their first victory over a top five team. Na Yang led the Tigers with 17 kills, while Jessica Vander Kooi and Nicole Wilson added 13 and 11 kills, respectively. For her efforts last week, Vander Kooi was named AVCA Player of the Week. Missouri hosts Baylor on Wednesday at 6:30 (CT) and Texas plays at Oklahoma at 7 (CT).
The University of Kansas lost a heartbreaking match to Colorado in five games. Three Jayhawks scored double digit kills, led by Jana Correa's 18 kills. Colorado was led by Amber Sutherland and rookie Mallori Gibson, who both ironically had 18 kills as well. Kansas plays at Texas Tech on Wednesday at 7 (CT), while Colorado hosts Texas A&M at 8 (CT).
No. 1 Nebraska continued its dominance of not only the Big 12, but the nation, by sweeping Texas Tech 3-0 and defeating Creighton 3-1 in Omaha on Sunday afternoon. The Huskers victory over the Blue Jays was played in front of the second largest volleyball only crowd in NCAA history, with 12,112 in attendance. Creighton became one of only two teams, Minnesota is the other, to take a game from the Huskers so far this year. Sarah Pavan led the Huskers in kills in both matches, with 19 and 18, respectively. Texas Tech was led by Philister Sang's 13 kills. Nebraska is idle until Saturday, September 30th.
Oklahoma finished their weekend with a three game sweep of Iowa State. Bridget Laplante was one of four Sooners in double digits with kills, as she led Oklahoma with 15. The defense, led by libero Anna Monsen `s 19 digs, kept the Cyclone hitters, who were led by Nicole Lorenzen and Katie Jessen's 13 kills each, to a .198 clip. Iowa State plays at Kansas State on Wednesday at 7 (CT).
On a rare Friday night match, the Kansas State Wildcats went into College Station, Texas, and came away with a five game loss to Texas A&M. Senior Sandy Werner led the Wildcats with 19 kills, while Sarah Ammerman's 19 kills led the Aggies.
-- Michael Wojtychiw
Fountain of Youth ...
At any one time Missouri could have three freshmen on the floor and many times will have two froshs in the front row. Progressively, the freshmen are growing more-and-more comfortable in the their roles and are each adding their own niche.
Setter Lei Wang, as the team's quarterback, has had to mature more quickly and has. In the match at Kansas State, Wang produced 60 assists in the four-game match and was running a familiarly fluid Tiger offense. In addition, Wang has known when to use the "second touch" as a attacking device. Against the Wildcats, Wang scored four kills on setter-dumps. In addition, Wang has done well defensively, scooping 20 digs at KSU and producing four double-doubles so far this year.
OH Julianna Klein has had some big-hitting games early in the season. At No. 21 Notre Dame, Klein scored 19 kills on a .280 hitting percentage. Later versus No. 2 Penn State, Klein scored 10 kills on .304 hitting. On Saturday versus then-No. 5 Texas, the Keota, Iowa, native scored seven kills on .312 hitting, adding five blocks.
In the MB position, Amanda Hantouli and Brittney Herzog split time and continually improve their contribution to the system. Megan Wilson has been entered into the lineup on several occasions as well, playing a broad role that helps the Kreklows determine the right combinations to use on the floor on any given time. Herzog scored four kills and four blocks when Texas visited town.
Vander Kooi Taking A Bigger Role ...
Senior OH Jessica Vander Kooi was in the top-10 of the Big 12 in points per game in 2005. This season, the Hinton, Iowa, native has taken an even bigger role. So far Vander Kooi is averaging 4.40 kills per game, up from 3.42 kills per game a year ago. In addition, her blocks and digs numbers are up, (blocks up to 1.17 to 0.99 bpg, digs up to 3.21 from 2.77 dpg), as Vander Kooi solidifies her status as one of the better all-around players in the country. In 2005, Vander Kooi had 10 double-doubles. Already in 2006, Vander Kooi has eight. And, she was named AVCA National Player of the Week on September 25.
Na Playing Double Role ...
Junior OH Na Yang has returned to play all-around, a role that she also fulfilled in 2004. The real evidence of the fact is Yang's five double-doubles on the season. In 2005, Yang zero double-doubles as she was replaced when in the back row. Yang now has five double-doubles this season.
National Report ...
UPSETS: Then-No. 22 Missouri swept then No. 5 Texas 3-0 in Columbia, Mo ... then-No. 19 Michigan lost to Indiana in five games at home in Ann Arbor, Mich. ... then-No. 25 Long Beach State was swept on the road by Sacramento State 3-0
POLL MOVERS: No. 25 Long Beach State dropped out of the poll, with the University of San Diego replacing them ... No. 24 Michigan made the biggest drop as it fell five spots, from 19th, while Missouri made the biggest jump, from 22nd to 19th.
Tigers Opponents and Big 12 teams receiving votes in the polls: #1 Nebraska, #8 Texas, and # 19 Missouri are all in the AVCA's Top 25 poll, while Baylor and Colorado are both receiving votes.
AWARDS: Missouri's Jessica Vander Kooi was named the AVCA's Player of the Week for the week of September 18th-24th
-- Michael Wojtychiw
The 2006 Journal ...
Here are some of the headlines that will stay with us for the rest of the season ...
September 1
Jules' Jumpin' Jives ...
True freshman Julianna Klein (Keota, Iowa) made quite an impression with her killer jump serves at the Long Beach State Invitational. In the final match of the weekend, against Villanova, Klein got her first start of her career, and, boy, was it a good one. Against the Wildcats, Klein scored on seven service aces, the most a Tiger has accumulated in a match since 2003. In addition, Klein added six kills and two blocks to score 15 total points in Mizzou's three-game match. Only six other times in school history has a person scored seven or more aces in a match, and only twice in three-game matches.
September 5
A Week in the Life of Jessica Vander Kooi ... Big 12 Player of the Week ...
Senior Jessica Vander Kooi performed phenomenally in the Tigers' four-match week and as a result was named the Big 12 Player of the Week, earning the honor for the first time in her career.
In defeating UALR, Idaho, Valparaiso, and No. 21 Notre Dame, Vander Kooi scored an average of 6.00 points per game (90 total) on 5.00 kills per game (75 total), 0.87 aces per game (13 total), and 1.33 blocks per game (20 total), adding 4.40 digs per game (66 total) in what was one of the best all-around individual week-long performances in Mizzou history.
Vander Kooi, a 2005 AVCA honorable mention All-American, was named MVP of the Shamrock Invitational, held in South Bend, Ind., with her outstanding play in helping the Tigers to a tournament championship.
In what was the eventual championship match with the No. 21 Irish, Vander Kooi captured the third 20-20 of her career with 30 kills and 25 digs, both career bests in their respective categories. Her 30 kills, the third-highest single-match kill total for a Tiger all-time and the most by a Tiger since 1996, came on a career-high 71 attempts and equaled a .254 hitting percentage. In addition, Vander Kooi scored on eight blocks against the Irish and added a service ace to produce 34.5 points in the match, the second-highest scoring total for a Tiger in school history (35, Yvette Buhlig, October 1, 1992). Statistically, there has been only one other performance in Mizzou history, Yvette Buhlig's 34 kill, 30 dig match against Washington in 1989, that produced more kills and digs than what Vander Kooi posted against the Irish.
Earlier in the week, Vander Kooi nearly became the first Tiger to earn a 20-20 in only three games, scoring 20 kills and adding 19 digs to an awe-inspiring performance against UALR.
September 17
Kreklows to be inducted in Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame ...
Columbia College announced that Tiger coaches Susan and Wayne Kreklow will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame on October 6.
Susan and Wayne Kreklow began their coaching careers at Columbia College at different times, but they shared the enjoyment of leading the college's Cougar Volleyball team to its first national championship in 1998, with a repeat performance in 1999. Susan Kreklow joined Columbia College in 1990 as volleyball coach. During the next four seasons, she led the Cougars to four straight conference championships and an overall record of 189-57 (.768). Wayne Kreklow joined her in 1994 as co-head coach of the women's volleyball team and head coach of the newly created men's volleyball team. The following six seasons "Team Kreklow" saw unmatched success at Columbia College with six more conference championships, back-to-back undefeated seasons in 1998 and 1999, two NAIA National Championships and an overall record of 267-29 (.902). They were six-time Conference Coaches of the Year, five-time Region Coaches of the Year and two-time NAIA Coaches of the Year. The Kreklows coached nine NAIA All-Americans, two NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes, five NAIA Players of the Week and one NAIA Player of the Year.
Reruns ...
Like Nick-at-Nite we give you the stuff you may have already seen, five, six, seven times, again and again ... ah, remember these good notes? ...
Tigers Picked Third in Big 12 Preseason Poll ...
The coaches of the Big 12 picked Mizzou third in the preseason poll behind Nebraska and Texas. The Tigers finished the 2005 season third, behind Nebraska (19-1) and Texas (17-3) in the Big 12 with a 16-4 record (a new school record in conference wins). Nebraska was dealt with bad news to start the '06 campaign when their 2005 AVCA National Player of the Year Christina Houghtelling had to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery in the off season. Texas, ranked No. 8 in the national-preseason poll, return everyone from their '05 squad, adding Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year Ashley Engle and NCAA high-jump Champion Destinee Hooker.
Mizzou was picked 13th in the AVCA Preseason Coaches' Top 25, earning the program's highest preseason ranking all-time. Last season, the Tigers were picked 21st and finished eighth in the final poll.
Suddenly Seniors ...
All of the sudden, Tigers Jessica Vander Kooi, Nicole Wilson, and Abbie Booth are seniors. The trio has already accumulated quite a resume together and would like to add a successful 2006 run to it. Wilson earned AVCA honorable mention All-America honors a year ago for her amazing play at MB. In 2005, Wilson averaged 3.16 kpg on a .415 hitting percentage, setting a new Big 12 record in the category, adding 1.26 bpg. Wilson was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team and was named AVCA National Player of the Week during the 2005 season.
Vander Kooi has been an amazing all-around player for the Tigers, as she earned honorable mention All-America honors as well a year ago. Statistically, Vander Kooi was in the Big 12's top 15 in four categories including kills per game (3.36, 13th), aces per game (0.31, t8th), digs per game (2.62, 14th), and points per game (4.16, 10th). Vander Kooi has now started in each of the Tigers' 96 matches in her four years on campus. Vander Kooi's real strong suit comes from her game-changing play based on the situation. Against Kansas State a year ago on the road, she helped the Tigers comeback from two games down, capping the fifth game with three-consecutive blocks. At Nebraska, she scored 23 kills adding 22 digs for the squad's only 20-20 of the season. Against Hawaii in the NCAA Tournament semifinal, she was more of a defensive threat, grabbing 20 digs adding six blocks.
The New Crop ...
To replace three Tigers that had a large impact on the team, Mizzou will have five freshman in 2006 season, three of which redshirted in 2005. Lei Wang (Shanghai, China) has positioned herself to take over as Missouri's new setter, replacing first-team All-American Lindsey Hunter (who now is on the USA National Team). Amanda Hantouli (Omaha, Neb.) has been impressive in spring and early fall workouts and will likely see some playing time in the replacement of Lisa Boyd. Megan Wilson (Lincoln, Neb.) has been equally impressive and will likely take on an all-around role on the Tiger side. True freshman Julianna Klein (Keota, Iowa) has shown her strength this fall, having delivered some shattering cross-court shots from the left side and raising some eyebrows with her jump serves. Brittney Herzog (Boonville, Mo.) has also shown a lot to the Tiger coaching staff at the MB position.
Tatum Libre-o ...
As a sophomore she won Big 12 Libero of the Year honors. This year, junior Tatum Ailes will be looking for more as an encore. Leading the conference a year ago with 4.12 digs per game, Ailes has found a knack to be at the right place at the right time. With amazing dives and accurate passes Ailes is not only a physical force for the Tigers, but also an emotional and vocal leader on the floor. In addition, her play in last year's NCAA Tournament played a vital role in the Tigers' run to the Elite Eight as she wiped the floor averaging 5.00 dpg in the four matches. In the regional rounds alone, she scooped 26 against Hawaii and 22 against Tennessee.
Remarking on 2005 ...
We can't go without mentioning the greatest season in Tiger volleyball history (so far). In 2005, Mizzou reached the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history, then beating Hawaii to reach its first-ever NCAA Regional Final. Making their sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament, the Tigers went 7-4 against teams in the top 25, and took down four top-10 teams adding sweeps against then-No. 9 Tennessee and then-No. 9 Wisconsin. The Tigers had the winningest record in school history with a 25-5 mark. Mizzou hosted first-and-second rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year, having the largest attended early rounds of the 16 sites. In addition, Mizzou ranked sixth in national attendance, attracting an average of over 2,600 fans a match.
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