Oct. 3, 2006
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COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The 2006-07 edition of the Mizzou-Kansas Border Showdown presented by Midwest Ford Dealers will officially kickoff on Wednesday when the No. 17 Missouri volleyball squad (11-4, 5-1) hosts Kansas (8-7, 1-5) in a 6:30 p.m. tilt in the Hearnes Center. Mizzou is alone in second place in the Big 12 and carries a five-match overall winning streak and a 10-match home winning run.
Kansas at No. 19 Missouri
Wednesday, October 4, 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 ... can also be heard at kcou.mu.org
Live Stats: MUTigers.com ...
Coaches: Missouri (11-4) - Wayne Kreklow (Drake '80) ... 10-2 vs. Kansas
303-38 overall (8th season), 36-9 at Mizzou (2nd season), 145-55 with wife at Mizzou (7th season)
Kansas (8-7) - Ray Bechard (Fort Hays State, `80) ... 5-11 vs. Missouri ... 862-175 (22nd season) overall ... 145-115 (9th season) at Kansas
Series Matchup: Mizzou leads the Border Showdown series in volleyball, 42-31, having won the past four meetings and 10 of the last 12 ... the Tigers have also won four straight at home versus the Jayhawks and are 21-9 against KU at home all-time
Other Facts: Oddly enough the Border Showdown series in volleyball is tied on Wednedays as both teams have won 13 matches on hump-day.
The Kansas Jayhawks are on a three game losing streak and are only 1-5 in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks are 8-7 on the season. KU takes on the No. 17 Missouri Tigers hoping to win their second conference game of the season.
In conference play, outside hitter Jana Correa leads Kansas with 4.57 kills per game and is second on the team with 3.09 digs per game. Middle blocker Savannah Noyes is second on the team with 3.22 kills per game and leads the Jayhawks with 1.04 blocks per game. Setter Katie Martincich leads the team with 11.04 assists per game. Junior setter Emily Brown, who was selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, has 2.83 kills per game and 2.43 digs per game during the six conference games. Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Natalie Uhart was injured during a preseason scrimmage.
As a team, the KU defense has struggled to keep their opponent attacking percentage low, allowing opponents to hit .237, while the Jayhawks are hitting only .175. The Jayhawks have only won one game on the road, with none coming in Big 12 play.
Kansas has lost to No. 1 Nebraska, No. 5 Texas, whom Missouri swept, Colorado, Texas Tech, and Iowa State. KU's lone Big 12 win came at home against Texas A&M in five games.
In the overall series with Missouri, Kansas trails 42-31 and has lost four straight to the Tigers. The Jayhawks have not beaten Missouri since 2003, and are 2-10 against the Missouri coaches Wayne and Susan Kreklow.
Kansas Head Coach Ray Bechard is in his ninth year at Kansas, and has led them to a 146-115 record. KU loses three starters from last years 15-15 team that finished eighth in the conference with a 7-13 record. The Jayhawks made the NCAA Tournament only to lose in the first round.
-- Mustafa Mohammad
Road Iowa State Match Time Change
When Mizzou travels to Iowa State this weekend, first serve with the Cyclones is now slated at 4 p.m., changed from 6:30 p.m. The Iowa State-Nebraska football game caused the change and will begin in Ames at 6 p.m.
Nebraska-Mizzou Match to be Televised LIVE in Columbia, Kansas City, and St. Louis
Set the TiVos, but come to "Can the Huskers" Night II.
When the No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers visit town next Wednesday, the Mizzou Sports Network will televise the action, live at 6:30 p.m. In Columbia, fans can watch on KZOU-TV. In Kansas City, the match will be aired on MetroSports. And, in St. Louis and most areas in Missouri, the match can be seen on FSN Midwest. More details will be released once they become available.
When the Hearnes is a Rockin' ...
In the Tigers' 10-match home winning streak - that includes two sweeps over Texas (the Longhorns were in the national top 10 in both meetings), two wins each over Texas A&M and Baylor, and the first-and-second rounds of the 2005 NCAA Tournament - the Tigers have won 30 of 35 games and are averaging a game victory of 30-24 in the streak.
Looking for 10 to the 100th ...
Senior Jessica Vander Kooi has played and started in all 104 Tiger matches in her four years at Mizzou. When she next scores over 10 kills in a match, that will mark the 100th match of her career above 10 kills. Vander Kooi currently ranks fourth all-time at Mizzou in total kills with 1,282.
Big 12 Report
LOOK OUT FOR THE SOONERS: Oklahoma pulled off its first victory over a ranked team since 1988 and won their first ever match against the Texas Longhorns, when they defeated them in five games. Joanna Schmitt and Bridget Laplante led the Sooners with 24 and 20 kills, respectively. Oklahoma came out and won an exciting five game match against the Colorado Buffaloes to improve to 30 on the road in Big 12 play. The Sooners host Baylor and Kansas this week. Oklahoma, which last year went 2-18 in Big 12 play and 7-22 overall, has won 10 of their last 11 and is undefeated in three Big 12 road matches.
CYCLONES, DOING IT ALL RIGHT: Last week, Iowa State proved the theory of winning on the road in the Big 12 is rough, as they won both their matches last week, both away, against Kansas State and Kansas. The Cyclones, 3-2 in Big 12 play, and 11-4 overall, have the reigning Big 12 and National Player of the Week in Erin Boeve, and host two ranked opponents this week, # 11 Texas, and # 17 Missouri. Iowa State is 5-1 at home.
CLOSE CATS: Kansas State lost two heartbreakers last week, losing to both Iowa State and # 11 Texas in five games. With the two losses, the Wildcats are the only team in the Big 12 without a conference win and have lost their last six matches. Things don't get any easier for the Wildcats, as they play at # 1 Nebraska and host Colorado this upcoming week.
HUSKER HARVEST: Nebraska continued its domination of the Big 12 as they strolled in Waco, Texas and defeated the Baylor Bears 3-1, losing game one. This week, the Cornhuskers play host to Kansas State, the match will be aired on CSTV, and travel to Texas A&M.
-- Michael Wojtychiw
National Report
UPSETS: Then 8 Texas lost 3-2 against then unranked Oklahoma in Norman...then 9 Santa Clara lost to St. Mary's 3-2 in Moraga, CA....then 22 New Mexico State lost 3-2 as well to Nevada in Reno...then 24 Michigan lost to then unranked Minnesota in Minneapolis.
POLL MOVERS: 22 San Diego made the biggest jump rising from the 25 spot to # 22 courtesy of its 2 wins last week. Oklahoma and Minnesota enter the polls at the 25th and 24 spots, respectively. This is very impressive of Oklahoma, as they have entered the polls for the first time since the 1988 season, when they were a member of the now defunct Big Eight Conference.
TIGER OPPTS: # 1 Nebraska, #11 Texas, # 17 Missouri, and # 25 Oklahoma crack the AVCA's Top 25 poll, while Colorado is receiving votes.
IMPRESSIVE STATS: Rice University's Rachel Lopez, a setter, recorded a triple double on Sept. 24th, her first of the year, as she dished out 47 assists, had 11 kills, and 17 digs against Memphis. On that same day, Memphis' Christen Clayton had 32 digs, while Syracuses' Joscie Kaup had 31 against Cincinnati. Kelly-Ann Billingly of Marshall had 31 kills on September 24th against Tulane.
AWARDS: Erin Boeve, a junior middle blocker from Iowa State University, has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week. Boeve led her team to two road conference wins this past week over rivals Kansas State and Kansas. In a five-game Cyclone win over K-State, Boeve posted a double-double with 22 kills and 12 blocks, while hitting at a hitting percentage of .375 for the match. Later in the week in a sweep of the Jayhawks, she put away another 17 kills, while adding a career-high seven digs and four more blocks. For the week, Boeve averaged 4.88 kills per game and an impressive 2.0 blocks per game; and hit a notable .352. Boeve is the first Iowa State player to win the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week honor.
-- Michael Wojtychiw
Recapping Last Week ...
* The Tigers won its fourth- and fifth-consecutive matches last week in defeating Baylor at home on Wednesday in four games and sweeping Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday. The win over BU marked Mizzou's 10th-consecutive home win and their ninth-straight over Baylor. Mizzou has also now won eight straight over Tech and eight straight over teams from the state of Texas.
* Thanks to an Oklahoma (4-1) victory at Colorado (4-2) on Saturday, Mizzou (5-1) took over sole-possession of second place in the Big 12 Conference, trailing only No. 1 Nebraska (5-0) who the Tigers host on Wednesday, October 11.
* Senior Jessica Vander Kooi (Hinton, Iowa) was named AVCA National and Big 12 Conference Player of the Week last Monday for her performance in wins over Kansas State and Texas. Vander Kooi became the third Tiger to ever win the national award and the second to do so in two years. In addition, Vander Kooi was named Big 12 Player of the Week twice in September.
* Senior Nicole Wilson (Lincoln, Neb.) moved to second all-time in Mizzou history in total blocks with her tied-career high nine block effort against Baylor. Wilson passed Shannon Brown (1989-92) on the list and now has 383 total blocks. Christi Myers (1999-02) is the Tigers' all-time blocker with 454.
* Both junior Tatum Ailes (Bellevue, Neb.) and Vander Kooi passed Gwen Mullens for fourth all-time in Mizzou history in digs. Ailes currently stands fourth with 1,136 career digs while Vander Kooi is in fifth with 1,116 digs. Standing in third is Yvette Buhlig (1988-92) with 1,149.
* Only a year out of Mizzou, former Tiger Lindsey Hunter gained three starts as setter of the USA Volleyball team this week in a tournament in Monterrey, Mexico. Hunter is positioning herself for a possible spot on the World Championship team that will be announced in the coming weeks. The FIVB World Championships will occur in the first two weeks in November in Japan.
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, now averaging 13.05 assists per game in the last five matches. 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 September 23 versus then-No. 5 Texas, the Keota, Iowa, native scored seven kills on .312 hitting, adding five blocks. When Baylor came to Mizzou, Klein scored a career-high 21 kills on .268 hitting.
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. At Texas Tech, Hantouli scored seven kills on an errorless 14 attempts.
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 1.13 from 0.99 bpg, digs up to 3.31 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 nine. And, she was named AVCA National Player of the Week on September 25 and Big 12 Player of the Week twice in September.
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.
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.
September 25
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.
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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