May 24, 2010
USA Volleyball Release | Kreklow's USA Volleyball Bio
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- After three days of tryouts over the weekend, Tiger setter Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minn.) earned a spot on the USA Volleyball Junior National Team and will now compete at the NORCECA Women's Junior (Under-20) Continental Championships, which will be held July 5-10 in Tijuana, Mexico. She was one of 12 players selected to the team and one of only two setters.
"Earning a spot on the team really means a lot to me," Kreklow said. "I was really excited to go in and play because for me personally, it was my goal to be a part of this. It really puts me in a good position for future opportunities with USA Volleyball. I think I did well over the weekend, but with over month and a half before we start to play there is still a lot of room for growth. They chose two setters so I still have to earn playing time and I am really looking forward to it."
Over the weekend, 20 athletes competed for a spot on the 12-man roster, which was selected by U.S. Women's Junior National Team head coach Rob Browning Saturday evening following the tryouts. The field of 20 that competed over the weekend was whittled down from the 710 players that had tried out across the country between mid-February and late April.
"We had a difficult time choosing this team because we had 20 very good players in the gym this weekend," Browning said in a press release from USA Volleyball. "We are confident that the 12 players chosen will represent the USA very well in Tijuana this summer."
Kreklow, who is the niece of Mizzou coaches Wayne and Susan Kreklow, was also on the US Youth National Team back in 2008 and led her team to NORCECA Continental Championship Gold Medal. The berth to the Junior National Team is just another accolade for the Tiger setter as she continues to build an outstanding résumé heading into her first season at Mizzou.
Of the 12 players that made the US Junior National Team, Kreklow is the only one with collegiate experience as she enrolled in classes at Mizzou back in January, allowing her to participate during the Tigers' spring training period. During that time, she played in scrimmages against some of the top teams from around the region, including Iowa State, Iowa and Wisconsin among others. The national-level experience that she will gain as a member of the team this summer will undoubtedly help her as she begins her freshman season in 2010.
Other players selected to the 2010 Junior National Team have signed with programs such as Stanford, UCLA, Illinois and Northwestern, but none of them enrolled in the spring like Kreklow did.
MUTigers.com will chronicle Kreklow's journey all summer long as she looks to earn her second international gold medal as a member of the Junior National team. For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com.