Aug. 9, 2011

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Big 12 Conference announced its Preseason All-Big 12 Team on Tuesday (Aug. 9) and a pair of Tigers were honored as both sophomore Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minn.) and senior Brittney Brimmage (East St. Louis, Mo.) were named to the 14-member team. It marks the first time in both players' careers that they have been named to an All-Big 12 Preseason team, which is selected by the Big 12's nine coaches. Mizzou was one of five Big 12 schools to have multiple athletes selected to this year's team.

Brimmage, a 6-3 middle hitter, is the Tigers' top returning attacker this season as she hit .331 with 291 kills, 119 blocks and 360.0 total points last season, all bests among the Tiger returners this season. She was a COBRA Magazine Preseason All-National Third Team selection earlier this summer as well. Brimmage is one of the most physically imposing players on the Tiger roster as she owns several strength and conditioning records at Mizzou and she looks primed for a break-out season with Mizzou. Should she have another year like her 2010 season, Brimmage has a chance to finish among the program leaders in blocks and hitting at the end of the season.

Setting Brimmage this season, Kreklow will anchor the Tiger offense and was a shoe-in for Preseason All-Big 12 honors after earning a spot on the All-Big 12 honorable mention team and AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year honors last season. She averaged 11.70 assists per set and dished 1,392 assists while anchoring what was one of the league's and nation's most explosive offenses in 2010. This is her second Big 12 Preseason award as she was named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year prior to the 2010 season. Among true freshman nationally, she ranked second in assists per set last season, trailing only Oregon's Lauren Plum. She was also a key reason why the Tigers qualified for their second-ever Sweet 16 in 2010.

Mizzou volleyball opened its preseason training camp today and will host its annual media day at the Hearnes Center tomorrow morning. Also, the Big 12 Preseason Poll will be announced by the league office tomorrow as well. For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MU_Volleyball.