Aug. 9, 2007
Overview
The Mizzou volleyball program always seems to have something “up its sleeve”. The preverbal “ace-in-the-hole”, if you will. At least that's been the story around the Hearnes Center the past seven years. Just when it's thought that Mizzou is in a rebuilding year and that situations will be very difficult without stars from the past, here comes the new crop, fresh with new styles, new talents, and new stories to tell.
Last season, the youthful club had some ups-and-downs, but got down to business when it counted. While the team was knocked down from mid-October to mid-November, they proved they were “not out” in late November and into the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Truth be told, Mizzou was one of the last teams into the NCAA Tournament's field-of-64 last season (and one of the last teams announced on the selection show) with a regular-season record of 17-12 and a top-45 RPI. But, for some reason, not even a snowstorm could stop the team from charging to the Palo Alto, Calif., and impressing in the tournament's first rounds.
Mizzou's seventh-consecutive trip to the tournament was delayed for a day by an ice and a snowstorm that plagued Mid-Missouri and St. Louis and prevented the Tigers from getting off the ground for over 30 hours.
Once arriving in California, the Tigers had to face No. 21 Santa Clara in the first round, a foe that defeated the Tigers in four sets earlier in the season. Mizzou fired back with a three-game sweep which included a game one that had 21 ties.
In round two, host Stanford proved mighty, but not infallible. The eventual national runner-up had to go the full five rounds with the Tigers, nearly falling to a Mizzou team that was a game down and had a 16-10 deficit in the fourth stanza only to come back with a 20-7 run to force a deciding fifth set.
The end-of-the-season surge produced a No. 21 final AVCA 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.
That constant for the Tigers in the past three years has been seniors Tatum Ailes and Na Yang. Ailes and Yang will lead a group of seven that has not played in a Mizzou uniform.
“When I think of this year's team, one of the first words that come to mind is 'young'”, said Head Coach Wayne Kreklow. “We are definitely young. We will have two good upperclassmen veterans, but, after that, the bulk of the team will be freshmen or sophomores.”
Along with Ailes and Yang, the other veterans on the team are sophomores. Julianna Klein, Amanda Hantouli, Lei Wang, and Megan Wilson bring significant experience from last year's squad. Wang was the team's starting setter in her redshirt frosh season, replacing two-time All-American Lindsey Hunter.
“I think we made a lot of progress and I think our players made a lot of steps forward during the spring season,” said Kreklow. “We improved in a lot of areas that we needed to improve on.
“Looking down the road, I think what we are going to see are times where we will be very good, but I think there will also be times that we may struggle a little bit because of our youth. You can't make young players veterans, it takes time and you have to go through those battles to build up that experience and mental toughness. It's a good group, it's a hard-working group and I think they will do well.”
As in 2006, Mizzou will be without the services of players that made a huge impact on the team's makeup. Jessica Vander Kooi graduated from Mizzou as a two-time honorable mention All-American outside hitter. Vander Kooi, a threat all-around the court, left Mizzou as a top-five member of 11 career statistical categories on the school-record board including kills (2nd), points (2nd), digs (3rd), and blocks (3rd), among others. Vander Kooi joined the Mayaguez Indians, a Puerto Rico Superior League professional club, shortly after the 2006 season.
Nicole Wilson, the older sister of current squad member Megan Wilson, left the Tigers as the all-time leader in attack percentage (.350), block assists (376), and blocks per game (1.07). Her steady and consistent play at the middle blocker position, which included a career average of 2.97 kills per game on a .344 hitting percentage in nine NCAA Tournament matches, will be missed.
Abbie Booth was a two-year mainstay at defensive specialist and proved to be a vital part of the Tigers' passing and serving through a very successful two years. Booth's 39 service aces in 2005 ranked among the Big 12's top 10.
The new squad will include five that have just graduated high school and two that are transfers. True freshmen Caitlyn Vann and Catie Wilson were two of only 35 around the nation to be named to the AVCA's inaugural High School Senior All-American team.
Two transfers, Luiza Jarocka and Lauren Nuckolls, will also join the team in '07. Jarocka comes to Mizzou from Missouri State-West Plains where she earned AVCA NJCCA First-Team All-American honors as team's setter.
Setters
Lei Wang was Mizzou's starting setter a year ago as a redshirt freshman, taking the reins from two-time All-American Lindsey Hunter.
Wang had a successful year, leading the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament with a 12.46 assists per game, 2.39 digs per game, and 0.98 points per game average. During the Big 12 season, Wang averaged 12.86 assists per game, ranking fifth in the league. The Shanghai, China, native tallied 10 assist-dig double-doubles, including a 60-assist, 20-dig performance at Kansas State on September 20.
“I thought Lei finished well last season and had a great November,” said Kreklow. “I thought she was one of our players that really stepped it up at tournament time and really made a difference for us down the stretch.”
Wang recorded 63 assists in the five-game match at Stanford and was a crucial component of the Tiger game-four comeback, as Mizzou hit nearly .500 (13-2-24) from when the Tigers were down 16-10 to when Mizzou won the frame 30-25.
“Lei had a great spring, really showed a lot of improvement, and played well in the tournaments we participated in,” said Kreklow. “I think that she's positioned herself to pick up right where she left off last fall at the NCAA Tournament. I think we look to her to provide a lot of leadership and really take charge of the offense this year.”
Transfer Luiza Jarocka joins the team as a listed setter/opposite-side hitter. Jarocka showed much talent at Missouri State-West Plaines junior college a year ago, earning AVCA NJCCA First-Team All-America honors. Jarocka will have one year of eligibility remaining for the Tigers.
“I think 'Lu' will be a valuable addition this fall,” said Kreklow. “She has a lot of experience and she's a very accomplished setter as shown with her First-Team All-American honor and All-Tournament team honors. Lu is a physical player, she has good size. She has a lot of court savvy. She does a lot of things pretty well. I think she will provide a lot of stability and leadership. I think she gives us a real strong quality depth in the setter position.”
Outside Hitters
While the Tigers will be missing Jessica Vander Kooi, who led the Tigers in kills and points last year, Mizzou returns crafty veterans Julianna Klein and Na Yang.
Yang returns in her senior campaign to the Tiger squad as one of the best all-time post-season performers in Mizzou history. Yang, who earned Academic All-Big 12 honors last season, is a .304 career striker in the postseason with a 4.10 kills per game average in eight NCAA Tournament matches.
“I think Na was another player that in the fall had a very good November and December and stepped up for us at the end of the season,” Kreklow continued. “She played very well for us at the NCAA Tournament.”
Yang recorded 18 kills in the Tigers' three-game sweep of Santa Clara, hitting at a .372 clip while adding nine digs and three blocks. Against Stanford, Yang contributed 15 kills. In 2005, Yang scored 24 kills on a Tiger tournament-record 66 attempts in Mizzou's win in the regional semifinal over Hawai'i. During the second round the same year, Yang had an errorless 13 kills and hit .765 in a dominate three-game take on Arkansas.
“She had a very good spring season,” said Kreklow “Maybe the best spring since she's been here in terms of improvement as a player. Her commitment and dedication to training helped her excel this off-season.”
“We look for Na to be one of our main offensive weapons. I think she has the size and skill to be one of the best outside hitters in the conference. I think the challenge for her will be her ability to sustain a high-level of play from start to finish this year.”
Yang ranks seventh all-time at Mizzou with 3.30 career kills per game. Last year, Yang started to play more of the all-around game as evidenced by her nine kill-dig double-doubles in 2006 compared to zero in 2005.
Keota, Iowa, native Julianna Klein stepped up during her true freshman season, finding a starting role in 18 matches last season. Klein scored 10-or-more kills in 16 matches last season, including scoring a season-high 21 kills versus Baylor on September 27. Against Stanford in the NCAA second round, Klein carded 14 kills and six digs.
In addition, Klein's serve caught several opponents off guard early in the year as she scored 18 of her 23 aces from the season in the first 11 matches. Klein racked seven aces in an early-season tournament match against Villanova.
“Jules also had a very good spring,” said Kreklow. “She's worked very hard to improve her overall game. She's always been known as a power hitter, but she's worked very hard on the finer skill aspects of the game. She's worked hard on individual defense and passing, and, has just worked harder on being a better all-around player rather than just an outside hitter. I think over the spring, she's developed a lot confidence in her ability to play the whole game. She's another player that we will look to be one of our main offense threats.”
Megan Wilson will likely see quite a bit of playing time as a right-side hitter. The 6-2 sophomore from Lincoln, Neb., exposed much talent as a server as well last season. Against Stanford in the NCAA second round, Wilson added three crucial aces and served many points in efforts to throw the Cardinal offense. Wilson had three matches in 2006 with two-or-more aces.
“Megan last year was one of our most consistent servers,” Kreklow said. “If she can work on becoming more consistent as an attacker and establishing more of a court presence, she can be a real factor this fall.”
“Megan really had a great spring as well,” added Kreklow. “I think she made a lot of progress in terms of court presence. She worked very hard at becoming more of an explosive hitter and blocker and I think she is more dynamic, and, during the spring, showed signs of a breakthrough. She is starting to elevate her game to the level we need her to play at.”
Weiwen Wang will come to Mizzou from Nanjing, China, and is the fifth Tiger to come from the country. Wang was captain of her national-champion high school team and was a member of her country's team that won the 2006 World School Volleyball Championship in Porec, Croatia. Wang was a member of the Chinese 15 & Under Youth National team that took third.
“Wang Weiwen is an excellent all around player,” said Kreklow. “Every team needs a couple of players that play the whole game well. While Wang Weiwen may not be a dominant player in any one area, she should be one of our best all around players. We will look for her to be what I would call a 'glue type player', someone that does many of the little things that often go unnoticed but are critical to binding all of the pieces into a cohesive whole.
“She could play both middle and right side. Her strengths are more along the lines of skill, she has a very good feel for the game, she's a very intelligent player, she's not particularly tall, but she has very good timing. I think she has good command of a lot of shots and would probably classify her as a finesse player rather than a player, but I think she will be able to help us play the game as someone that will make the small balls, make the little plays. She's not going to be the big bomber, but she is going to be a valuable person to have on the court to help us do the little things well.”
Middle Blockers
Nicole Wilson was a four-year started for the Tigers at middle blocker and became Mizzou's all-time leader in hitting percentage and blocks per game. With her eligibility exhausted, the Tigers will look to Amanda Hantouli and newcomer Catie Wilson to take the torch, following in the footsteps of two highly-decorated middles, the other being Christi Myers who came before Nicole Wilson.
Hantouli started 25 matches last season as a redshirt freshman, finding her first playing time since an ACL injury sidelined the Omaha, Neb., native during her senior year in high school. Now a sophomore, Hantouli contributed 10-or-more kills in four contests and five-or-more blocks in six matches last season. Her play against Stanford in the NCAA second round gave many a picture into the possible future as she scored 10 kills on 15 attempts (.533), adding three blocks.
“I think Amanda since the ACL injury has continued to make steady, slow but steady, progress,” said Kreklow. “She has worked very hard in the weight room and has gotten a lot of her strength back.
“This spring, I could start to see things click for Amanda. She has great lateral quickness, she's always had a fast arm, and I think this spring she started to become more consistent with spacing and timing and at becoming more of a consistent hitter. I think understanding the tempo we want our middles to play at and what we want our middles to do are things she has started to understand this spring.”
Catie Wilson (no relation to the aforementioned Wilsons) will come to Mizzou from Omaha, Neb., and Gross High School. Wilson was one of 35 around the nation to be named to the AVCA's inaugural High School Senior All-American Team. In addition, Wilson was a four-time All-State selection, earning first-team honors in her junior and senior seasons.
Wilson was also named to prepvolleyball.com's Senior Aces last season and to the website's top-70 junior prospects a year ago. Wilson also played for the Nebraska Elite volleyball club, along with newcomer Shayli Meyer.
“Catie is another great player from the state of Nebraska,” said Kreklow. “She is also one of those classic great players that are also great students, and are the types of people we are looking for here at Mizzou. Catie is a very good offensive player, hitter, and blocker. At 6-3, she most definitely has the size and athletic ability to compete in the Big 12.”
“She's an experienced player, having played a number of years in club. Catie's strength is probably her ability to attack the ball. She's got a good swing. Obviously at her height, she's a good blocker. She's a great student and I think we look for her to challenge for playing time immediately. I think she is going to be right in the thick of things. I know in the past she's played all three positions on the front row. She may get some time in the middle. She might get some time on the outside and on the right side as well.”
Defensive Specialists / Libero
Mizzou shouldn't have many problems in terms of depth in the defensive category this season as they are loaded with veteran and newcomer talent.
“I think we are still looking at Tate as our veteran libero,” said Kreklow. “But, we have some very good defensive specialists who will be looking for playing time. We may use a number of them during the season. “
The Tigers' best statistical defensive player of all-time, Tatum Ailes, returns for her senior campaign at libero. Ailes in fresh off a tour with USA Volleyball's A2-national training team and brings loads of talent, leadership, and experience to the 2007 squad.
“What can you say about her that already hasn't been said?,” said Kreklow. “Tatum has continued to get better and better, she has always been a great defensive player and I think this last fall and spring she spent a lot of time on her passing, and I think it has improved and will continue to improve. I think she has worked on developing a tougher serve this spring and is showing more confidence in the area.
“I think she has worked hard on developing leadership skills, preparing herself to step into the role of 'Senior.'”
The 2005 Big 12 Libero of the Year, Ailes is Mizzou's all-time leader in digs (1,434) and digs per game (4.43). All-the-same, Ailes' dig per game average went from 4.12 in 2005 to 4.91 in 2006 and she has tallied a 4.90 dig per game average in eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Against Stanford in the NCAA second round last year, Ailes tallied a Tiger-tournament record 29 digs. Ailes is also a noticeable threat behind the service line.
Newcomer Caitlyn Vann will comes to Mizzou from Muncie, Ind., and Burris High School. As with Catie Wilson, Vann was one of 35 to be named to the inaugural AVCA High School Senior All-American list.
Vann was a three-time All-State selection at Burris, earning first-team honors in her junior and senior seasons. While Vann was recruited as a libero, she played as a left-side hitter in her years in high school, tallying 442 kills and 368 digs as team captain in her recently completed senior season.
Vann was also a part of USA Volleyball's Junior National Training Team in 2006 and was before a two-year member of USAV's Youth National-A2 team. In addition, prepvolleyball.com has proclaimed Vann with many honors including in 2006 when she was tabbed as a “National First-Team Dandy Lion” for her all-around play that will likely be transformed into outstanding back-row play in the future. Also this season, she was selected by the online site as a Senior Ace. In 2005, she was named as Top-50 Junior Recruit.
“Vann is an incredibly hard worker and has an outstanding work ethic,” said Kreklow. “She has a great personality and is an extreme competitor. She has established a reputation of being a fierce competitor, a great defender, and a real spark plug and catalyst for teams she's played for. I look for her to provide the same thing for us. She has the potential to be out on the floor immediately. I think we look to her to add that type of competitiveness and defensive drive and her attitude will be infectious which is a great plus for this team.”
Shayli Meyer comes to Mizzou from Sioux City, Iowa, as a walk-on. Meyer played with Catie Wilson on the Nebraska Elite volleyball club. The team finished tied for fifth in nation in the spring of 2006. Meyer was named to the All-Western Iowa honorable mention team. In addition, Meyer was named to her high school conference's first team the last two seasons.
“She is another experienced defensive specialist,” said Kreklow. “Shayli was another who had an ACL injury and spent her high school senior year out. I think she just started to get back into playing this past spring club season. She is a very good defensive player, very good passer, and, again, just a very hard worker and is a very outgoing, competitive individual. I think she will also be competing for playing time as a freshman.”
The Tigers will have three more walk-ons in the position that will compete for playing time. Lindsey Smith will be a senior this season, first joining the squad late last fall. Lauren Nuckolls is a transfer from Central Missouri and Allie Groomes will be a true freshman, hailing from Chesterfield, Mo.
“I think Lindsey Smith brings a lot of maturity to the team as an upperclassman,” said Kreklow. “Lindsey is a very good student and has a good work ethic. She has a natural ability and has worked during the spring semester to improve her passing and defense. She's been at a little bit of a disadvantage because she got a late start with us. But, she's worked real hard in the spring to break some old habits. I think she has fit in well and has brought a lot of maturity to the team at the D.S. position. We look to her as being in the midst of those battles for that spot on the floor.
“Lauren Nuckolls is from Central Missouri and was a six-rotation player for them. She suffered an ACL right at the end of the season last year, and has just got back. She has the potential to work her way in to being a D.S. for us in the future.
“Allie Groomes has a good personality, is a very good student and is a competitive kid. She played both front and back row for her high school and was a pretty good front row player, but we look to her more in the D.S. category. She's very quick, very fast, and has good defensive skills. I think she can catch on to things quickly and she also has a shot as well in being in the mix of things at the D.S. position this year.”
The Schedule
Mizzou will face nine teams in 2007 that reached the NCAA Tournament last season, including four in non-conference play.
The Tigers will open the season with the Magnolia Classic in Oxford, Miss., on August 24 and 25. The Lady Rebels of Ole Miss will be the first team on the schedule, a team that reached the tournament for the first time in its school history in 2006. The following day, the Tigers will take on Jacksonville State and Arkansas State. The Gamecocks of Jacksonville State were winners of the Ohio Valley Conference, with a 16-0 conference record, a year ago and earned their second-consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament, finishing the year with a 24-5 record.
Mizzou hosts the Tiger Invitational August 31 to September 2 with Florida A&M, Notre Dame, and Florida International as guests. Florida A&M made its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance last year as perennial winners of the MEAC. Notre Dame, who have made the last 15 NCAA Tournaments, will look to avenge a five-game loss at the hands of Mizzou that took place at last year's championship of the Shamrock Invitational, which was hosted by the Irish. Florida International tied for the Sun Belt title last season and finished the season with a 24-8 record.
The CenturyTel Premier in San Marcos, Texas, will feature Cal State-Fullerton, Houston, and Texas State on September 7 and 8. Mizzou will round out the non-conference schedule with a Wednesday-evening meeting with in-state and in-system UMKC.
Obviously, the Big 12 is tougher than ever. Six teams, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa State, and Oklahoma, along with Mizzou, made the NCAA Tournament a year ago and Nebraska is the defending national champion. On average, the RPI of each of the teams in the Big 12 jumped 10 points last year when compared to 2005.