Aug 20, 2013

COLUMBIA, Mo. - As the Mizzou volleyball season nears, the Mizzou Department of Athletics has announced that fans can attend the first five scheduled Mizzou volleyball home events free of charge this season. The Tigers' season-opening Black & Gold scrimmage (Thursday, Aug. 22) and Mizzou's entire Tiger Invitational (Aug. 30-31), which features four Mizzou contests, will both have free admission. As always, Mizzou volleyball matches are always free to Mizzou students as well. Below is a look at the first five matches for the Tigers:

Aug. 22 - Black & Gold Match - 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 - Tiger Invite vs. South Dakota - 2 p.m.
Aug. 30- Tiger Invite vs. Pittsburgh - 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 - Tiger Invite vs. Idaho State - 12:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 - Tiger Invite vs. Arkansas State - 4 p.m.

Those five matches will be the first time that fans can check out the Tigers this season. They embark on a seven-match road trip spanning much of the month of September before returning home for the Mizzou Classic on Sept. 20. The Tigers return all six starters and their libero from a season ago and bring in the No. 18 recruiting class nationally. Three of the returning starters - Molly Kreklow (Delano, Minn.), Lisa Henning (Blue Springs, Mo.) and Whitney Little (Keller, Texas) - were All-SEC picks last season while Henning earned her second AVCA All-America Third Team honor last year. Both Krelow and Henning were All-SEC Preseason picks for the Tigers, who were picked to finish third in a loaded SEC East. Mizzou brings back 90-percent of its kills, 90-percent of its blocks and 89-percent of its total points from a season ago as well.

For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouVB.