Aug. 7, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo.--With the first practice on the schedule tomorrow, the Missouri Volleyball team received word from the Big 12 this afternoon that they are predicted to finish third in the conference this season as picked by the coaches. In addition, the league's coaches tabbed seniors Na Yang and Tatum Ailes with Preseason All-Big 12 honors. Ailes becomes the first defensive player or libero in the Big 12's history to be named to the preseason list.
"I think it's great for the program," said Head Coach Wayne Kreklow. "I think for this time of the year it speaks well to our veterans and the newcomers adding to the program. But, it's still on paper, and I always take these things with a grain of salt because we haven't practiced or played yet. But it's good to be recognized by the other coaches in the Big 12 and I'm happy for the players."
Tatum Ailes (Bellevue, Neb.) returns for her senior campaign fresh from an appearance on Team USA's A2-national training team this spring and returns to the team having been the Tigers' starting libero for three seasons. Meanwhile, Ailes has already made a lasting impression on the Mizzou program as the squad's all-time leader in digs (1,434) and digs per game (4.43). In 2005, the coaches of the Big 12 named Ailes as Libero of the Year.
Na Yang (Shan Dong, China) will also be in her senior season in 2007 and has an accomplished record from her previous three years at Mizzou. Yang has shown prowess during the regular season, but her numbers in the post-season are the outside-hitter's bread-and-butter. In eight NCAA Tournament matches, Yang has averaged 4.10 kills per game on a .304 hitting percentage.
Mizzou finished the Big 12 season with an 11-9 mark in 2006 for sixth place, falling a match short of Iowa State and Colorado for a tie for fourth. Nebraska won their third-consecutive conference crown with a 19-1 Big 12 record and later won their third national title, finishing the season 33-1 with the lone loss coming at Colorado.
The Tigers are coming off a 2006 campaign that included a seventh-consecutive birth to the NCAA Tournament. As a result, Mizzou and Nebraska are now the only programs in the Big 12 Conference to have made the post-season every year since 2000.
Mizzou won their first-round matchup in the tournament for the third-straight year, knocking off No. 21 Santa Clara in a three-game sweep in Palo Alto, Calif. The Tigers forced eventual national runner-up Stanford to a five-game thriller in the second round on the Cardinal's home floor, coming back from a game down and 16-10 deficit in the fourth stanza to produce a fifth-game.
Despite an 18-13 final record, the end-of-the-season surge produced a final AVCA Top 25 national-ranking, marking Mizzou's third-straight year among the nation's best. Only 15 teams have been sited on at least the last three final national polls.
In the coming days, a complete preview of the 2007 season will be released.
Fans will get their first look at the 2007 squad, which includes nine newcomers, at the Black & Gold Match and Youth Clinic on Thursday, August 16.
More details will follow, but youngsters (eighth grade and younger) can sign-up for the Youth Clinic that begins with check-in at 4 p.m. on the 16th, by emailing Emily Hawkins at hawkinse@missouri.edu. Those registering should include their name, address, phone, grade, and T-shirt size. Participants will receive a free T-shirt and pizza prior to the match.
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Rank Team (First-place Votes) Points
1. Nebraska (10) 100
2. Texas (1) 91
3. Missouri 68
4. Texas A&M 66
5. Colorado 62
6. Iowa State 57
7. Kansas State 54
8. Baylor 42
9. Oklahoma 31
10. Kansas 23
11. Texas Tech 11
Note: Ten points were awarded for first-place votes, nine for second, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Preseason Player of the Year: Sarah Pavan, Nebraska, RS, Sr., 6-5, Kitchener, Ontario/Forest Heights Collegiate Institute
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Nataly Korobkova, Kansas State Jr., OH, 6-3, Krasnoyarsk, Russia/State Siberian Technological
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Juliann Faucette, Texas, OH, 6-2, San Diego, Calif./Westview
PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
Name, School Pos. Cl. Ht. Hometown/Previous School
Taylor Barnes, Baylor S So. 5-11 Arlington, Texas/Martin
Amber Sutherland, Colorado OH Sr. 5-10 Glenwood Springs, Colo./Glenwood Springs
Erin Boeve, Iowa State OH/RS Sr. 6-2 Steen, Minn./Hills-Beaver Creek
Kaylee Manns, Iowa State S So. 5-10 Topeka, Kan./Washburn Rural
Tatum Ailes, Missouri L Sr. 5-6 Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West
Na Yang, Missouri OH Sr. 6-3 Shan Dong, China/Shan Dong Sports
Rachel Holloway, Nebraska S So. 5-10 Franklin, Tenn./Smoky Hill (Colo.)
Christina Houghtelling, Nebraska OH Sr. 6-2 Cambridge, Neb./Cambridge
Jordan Larson, Nebraska OH Jr. 6-2 Hooper, Neb./Logan View
Sarah Pavan, Nebraska RS Sr. 6-5 Kitchener, Ontario/Forest Heights Collegiate Institute
Tracy Stalls, Nebraska MB Sr. 6-3 Denver, Colo./Lakewood
Ashley Engle, Texas S/RS So. 6-3 Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza
Destinee Hooker, Texas OH So. 6-4 San Antonio, Texas/Southwest
Michelle Moriarty, Texas S Sr. 5-10 Houston, Texas/Stratford
Note: Twelve players are named to the preseason all-conference team -- a tie occurred in voting to result in 14 members this season.
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