Sept. 11, 2007

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The results from an MRI test conducted yesterday afternoon have come back with unsavory results for the University of Missouri volleyball team. Sophomore Julianna Klein (Keota, Iowa) was diagnosed late last night with a torn ACL in her left knee which was a result of the injury suffered in Friday's match versus Houston in San Marcos, Texas.

In the third of four games against Houston, with the Tigers up 20-12, Klein went to attack a ball and then came down in pain.

Klein was leading Mizzou with 4.44 kills per game, up from her 2.75 average her freshman season and stood fourth in the Big 12 in the category. In addition, Klein's defense showed much improvement as her digs-per-game shot from 0.75 her frosh campaign to 2.85 this season, resulting in the first five kill-dig double-doubles of her career. Along with leading Mizzou with 0.48 service aces per game, Klein was third in the Big 12 with 5.30 points per game, behind only 2006 National Player of the Year Sarah Pavan of Nebraska and All-American Destinee Hooker of Texas.

Despite not playing in the final match of the CenturyTel Premier against host Texas State, Klein was named the tournament's MVP, scoring 5.67 kills per game on a .342 hitting strike for the Tigers while adding 3.33 digs per game and scoring 6.67 points per game.

Klein was also named to Ole Miss' Magnolia Classic All-Tournament team, opening the season with a career-best 26 kills against the Rebels.

The Tigers wrap non-conference play Wednesday with a 6:30 p.m., first serve against UMKC in the Hearnes Center. Mizzou will start the Big 12 season on the road, facing No. 7 Texas on Saturday.

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