June 23, 2014
Mizzou saw record crowds at the Hearnes Center last season
2014 Schedule
COLUMBIA, Mo. - After putting together an undefeated regular season and winning the school's first ever SEC Championship, the Mizzou Volleyball program and head coach Wayne Kreklow have released their 2014 schedule, as announced Thursday (June 12). The Tigers will open the season on August 29 against Mississippi Valley State in the North Texas Tournament. In all, the Tigers host 15 home matches next season and play 11 matches against teams that went to the NCAA Tournament last season.
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"With eight SEC teams making the NCAA Tournament last season, there are no easy dates on our schedule. We are going to need to prepare and put in the work. We are very motivated to get out there and defend our title."
Head Coach Wayne Kreklow
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"I think we have put together another competitive schedule for the 2014 season," Kreklow said. "In volleyball, you always want to put together a challenging schedule that will benefit your team and your league and I think the caliber of our opponents will help our girls when it is time to go into conference play. We have a very competitive league schedule, as well. With eight SEC teams making the NCAA Tournament last season, there are no easy dates on our schedule. We are going to need to prepare and put in the work. We are very motivated to get out there and defend our title."
With two returning All-Americans, three seniors and the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, the Tigers will bring back an experienced roster in 2014. The group will begin the season in North Texas where they will play Mississippi Valley State, Northwestern State and host North Texas from Aug. 29-30. Mizzou will then return home to host the annual Tiger Invitational, with Illinois State, Oakland, Xavier and Lipscomb scheduled to compete in the two-day event, which begins September 5.
Mizzou will then renew an in-state rivalry with St. Louis on September 9 at the Hearnes Center to close out a five-match homestand. Two consecutive road trips to tournaments then await the Tigers, first at Idaho from Sept. 11-13 against Idaho, Boise State, Portland and Eastern Washington. The Tigers will then take their talents to South Beach for a two-day tournament at Miami, a team that qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago. UNC-Greensboro will also be on hand at the event. That will be the Tigers' final tune-up before SEC play.
Defense of the SEC Championship will officially begin on September 26 when Mississippi State comes to the Hearnes Center for a 6:30 p.m. match. The Tigers will then play a run of three consecutive matches that will air live on the SEC Network, beginning with a September 28 matchup with Tennessee at 11 a.m. at the Hearnes Center. Road matches at Ole Miss (Oct. 1) and at Georgia (Oct. 5) will be next with both contests airing on the SEC Network.
The Tigers then come back to the Hearnes Center on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 for matches with Auburn and LSU, the latter of which will air live on the SEC Network at 5 p.m. Three road matches at Mississippi State (Oct. 19), at Florida (Oct. 24) and at South Carolina (Oct. 26) will follow for the Tigers with the first two airing on the SEC Network. That will round out the first half of league play.
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"Teams were intimidated stepping into an environment like that and it is something that is unique to Mizzou. There aren't a lot of places that have a home court advantage quite like Hearnes and we hope to give the fans even more reason to come out this season."
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The second half of league play features a Halloween contest against Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. at the Hearnes Center. Mizzou then begins November with another SEC Network match against Texas A&M at the Hearnes Center on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. Road matches at Tennessee and Kentucky will follow before the Tigers come home to play Georgia and Ole Miss on Nov. 14 and 16. Mizzou's final weekend road trip will be from Nov. 21-23 at LSU and at Texas A&M before coming home to close out regular season action against Alabama on Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Last season, Mizzou ranked third nationally in total attendance and sixth nationally in average attendance. In all, Mizzou saw 62,717 fans pass through the gates last season, averaging 3,301 per match. That mark was tops in the SEC.
"Our fans are the best," senior All-American Whitney Little said. "Last year was so incredible how they came out and supported us while we were on our run towards an undefeated season. What they didn't realize is how much that they helped us in all of those matches. Teams were intimidated stepping into an environment like that and it is something that is unique to Mizzou. There aren't a lot of places that have a home court advantage quite like Hearnes and we hope to give the fans even more reason to come out this season."
Since the Tigers' Sweet 16 in 2010, the Hearnes Center has become one of the toughest venues in America to play. In fact, the Tigers have won their last 18 regular season matches inside the friendly confines and have posted a 47-12 record over the last four years at the Hearnes Center.
When the Tigers are not at home this season, fans will have unprecedented access to Mizzou volleyball matches with the launch of the SEC Network. Fans will get to watch six SEC road matches on the SEC Network this season, in addition to four dates at the Hearnes Center.
For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouVB.