July 1, 2014

Something to prove.

That was the team motto in 2013 and did the Tigers ever prove something, winning the school's first ever SEC Championship while putting together the first undefeated regular season in SEC history. They reset school records for wins, conference wins, consecutive wins, sweeps and led the nation in hitting, kills, assists and wins. They also earned the highest ranking in school history and were one of the top four seeds in the NCAA Tournament while resetting nearly every attendance record in program history. But a second round NCAA Tournament loss has left this year's group with yet something still to prove.

With 11 returning players, including a pair of All-Americans and five starters, the Tigers don't figure to be rebuilding despite losing a pair of AVCA First Team All-Americans. Instead, the Tigers look poised for another run at the top spot in the SEC as they look to defend their title. With a senior trio that has amassed 75 wins in three seasons and two All-Americans, head coach Wayne Kreklow will have plenty of weapons at his disposal in 2014.

Starting on the outside, the big hole to fill will be departing senior Lisa Henning, who was the program's first-ever three-time AVCA All-American, earning first team distinction in 2013. Henning led the team with 499 of the Tigers' 1,789 kills and she did so on .330 hitting. Although they may seem like big shoes to fill, the Tigers have another All-American waiting in the wings to take some of that burden as SEC Freshman of the Year Carly Kan returns for her sophomore season. A do-it-all, six-rotation player, the 5-9 Kan wowed fans and the opposition with her leaping ability and shot-making prowess. She finished second on the team with 383 kills (3.27 per set) on .364 hitting, a freshman record for an outside hitter at Mizzou. Not only that, but she was one of the best two-way players in the conference in 2013 as the only player in the SEC to average both 3.00 kills per set and 3.00 digs per set in league action. Kan got better as the year went on and was arguably the top attacker on the team down the stretch. In fact, over her last four matches - all against NCAA Tournament teams including two top-25 opponents - in 2013, Kan averaged 4.77 kills per set on .442 hitting. Her stats were somewhat aided by a balanced Tiger offense and plenty of attention being paid to Henning, but that balance should figure you to be there again in 2014 thanks to senior Emily Wilson.

A three-year starter for Wayne Kreklow and company, Wilson is a big, physical swing that causes problems for a lot of opposing blockers. She spent the summer touring Europe with USA Volleyball and seems to play her best in big matches. In fact, in Mizzou's upset of then second-ranked Florida on Oct. 20 last season, Wilson tallied a match-high 14 kills on. 351 hitting, including the match-clinching kill in the fourth set. She also tallied the set clincher in the opening frame at Florida as she helped Mizzou all but secure its first SEC Championship last season. Wilson was third on the team with 2.57 kills per set last season and hit .310, making her a great weapon for the Tigers as she returns for her senior season.

Mizzou is really deep at outside hitter. Juniors Regan Peltier and Lydia Ely return after serving as key contributors at times during their careers. Peltier hit .310 with 45 kills in 33 sets last season and should figure into the mix for a starting role this season. Ely, the tallest Tiger in program history at 6-6, is an opposing right side hitter that offers a huge block for Wayne Kreklow on the right side and should also figure into the mix. Additionally, the Tigers added a pair of athletic hitters to their freshman class in Sydney Deeken and Kasey Reuter. Both were elite level track performers while excelling on the volleyball court in high school. Both are tremendous athletes with great leaping ability and should figure to fight for playing time in their first seasons in black and gold.

As deep as the Tigers are at outside hitter, they may have even more quality depth at the middle of the net in 2014. Anchored by two-time All-SEC and AVCA All-American Whitney Little the Tigers are loaded at the position. Little is one of the most prolific players statistically in school history. Her .463 attack clip last season was a single season record and her .372 career attack clip is tops in program history as well. Last season, Little had the fewest errors in the nation among qualified hitters with just 36 on 492 attempts. But as good as her offensive production is, Little is known for her blocking and is quite possibly the top returning blocker in the nation. She has reset the single season Mizzou blocks record in each of her three seasons in black and gold, highlighted by her 139 last season. With 416 blocks in her career, she is tops in the Mizzou record books with 1.20 blocks per set in her career and needs just 38 blocks to take over the top blocking spot all-time at Mizzou, a feat that she should accomplish in the first third of the season if she stays on her pace of the last three seasons. She also owns six career matches with 10 or more blocks, also a school record. With stats like that, it is easy to see why Little is one of the top returning middle blockers in the nation.

As a compliment to Little, the Tigers also have a pair of sophomore middles that will fight for the M2 spot. Last year, Emily Thater won that job and should be in the mix again after hitting .377 with 151 kills and 93 blocks, the second-best total on the team last season. Classmate Julia Towler is also expected to be a key contributor this season. After serving as a side-out machine and playing in 59 sets last year, she hit .380 with 67 kills and 54 blocks. The duo gives Mizzou three solid options at middle.

The most daunting task facing Wayne Kreklow and company will be replacing First Team All-American and four-year phenom Molly Kreklow, who led the nation in assists last season while quarterbacking a Mizzou offense that led the nation in kills, hitting and assists. While that is no easy task, the Tigers have two players that will look to take the reins this season. Sophomore Loxley Keala, who played last season as a defensive specialist, has plenty of Division I playing experience but none at setter. However, the Honolulu native is a seasoned setter and comes from a coaching family. She assisted on 49 kills last season while playing at DS and is the front-runner to take the position this season.

Wayne and Susan Kreklow's daughter, Ali Kreklow, has joined the team this season as well for her freshman year. After setting at Rock Bridge High School for four seasons, Kreklow should figure into the mix this season and will likely push Keala for the starting role.

Senior libero Sarah Meister returns to Mizzou for her senior season and figures to be one of the top passers in the SEC this season. 2014 will mark her third full season as the Tigers' starting libero. Last season she averaged 3.92 digs per set and converted nearly 96-percent of her service receptions. Kan, a true six rotation player, will also figure to be one of the Tigers' top passers in 2014 after converting 713 of her 741 chances a year ago, good for a .962 clip.

Returners Courtney Meek and Linda Steinhardt will also be back this season along with newcomer Alexa Armendariz, sister to former Tiger libero Priscilla Armendariz. All three should battle for the defensive specialist position that Keala played in last season.