Volleyball

MIZ-USA: Mizzou Volleyball With Team USA

July 24, 2014


Emily Wilson and Whitney Little are two of for Mizzou volleyball players to represent Team USA this summer.

After capturing the nation's attention in 2013 with an SEC Championship and an undefeated regular season, Mizzou volleyball got a chance to represent the nation this summer as four Tigers were selected to participate as members of the USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team. For three of the four Tigers, it meant trips overseas and for all four, a summer that they would never forget.

"It was really cool because I had never been out of the country," senior Emily Wilson said. "For volleyball to give me the opportunity to travel the world, I am just so grateful. I am so happy that four of us got to experience being with USA Volleyball this summer."

.raisedquote {font-family:arial, helvetica; font-size:14px; font-weight:700;} .raisedquotesig {font-family:arial, helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style: italic;}




"For volleyball to give me the opportunity to travel the world, I am just so grateful."

Wilson joined classmate and All-American middle Whitney Little in Europe while freshman Carly Kan took part in the Collegiate National Team's tour of China. Senior libero Sarah Meister trained in Minneapolis with some of the other top players in the nation. The Collegiate National Team was considered a tryout for the US National Team, which former Tiger Molly Kreklow is a member of. Kan was first up as she toured China from June 17-27.

"It was amazing," Kan said. "I didn't really know what to expect at first but it was nuts. The people in China just love Americans and they made us feel at home. It was great to experience a different culture and play volleyball against some great competition."

Kan got a great taste of what playing international volleyball was all about. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year and her teammates played professional and club teams in China. With different rules and in a totally different setting, Kan agreed that it was great training for and preparation for year two in the SEC.

"I think we got a look at what real international volleyball is all about," Kan said. "People on the other side of the net don't know what you are saying and you have no idea what they are saying. The substitution rules are different and it really puts an emphasis on being a great all-around player. It was an awesome experience playing at such a high level."

Although she was competing at the highest of levels in China, Kan thrived. In her first match, she led her team with 19 points and played all six rotations as one of the team's primary passers. She had double digit points in her first four matches with the team. She played for Michigan head coach Mark Rosen, who Kan compared to Mizzou head coach Wayne Kreklow.

"They are very similar with their approach to the game and are both very calm on the court," Kan said of the coaches. "Wayne is such a great coach and I learned a lot from him last year so it was nice playing with someone who had a similar style."

While Kan played for Rosen, Little and Wilson played with UCLA head coach Mike Sealy, touring Europe from July 8-19.

"He was great," Little said. "He did a great job of making sure that we enjoyed the trip and got to experience all the things that are great about being in Europe. While there was an emphasis on volleyball, he did a great job of making sure that we got out and saw everything that there was to see."


Wilson and Little at Lake Bled.

Little and Wilson started their tour in Slovenia and managed to make it to Croatia and down to Italy as well. The duo got to take in the sights a Lake Bled and even watched the FIFA World Cup Final amidst a slew of Germany fans.

"Just seeing the culture over there was incredible," Wilson said. "To have volleyball open those doors for me to experience something like that is so humbling and so rewarding."

The two saw plenty of success in Europe. The Tigers also got to play with three members of the Florida volleyball team, a team that became a rival last year when Mizzou went 18-0 in league play en route to winning the SEC Championship.

"Honestly, they were awesome girls," Little said. "We had so much fun getting to know all of the other players that we were with, but the Florida girls were great. We really made friends with them and we'll look forward to seeing them this season."


Wilson and Little with their teammates.

Bringing in athletes from all over the country, one of the biggest challenges was meshing with the playing styles that each different player brought.

"A lot of schools play different styles and at Mizzou, we play a very fast offense so we brought that to the table early in practice," Little said. "The biggest challenge was learning everyone's style and getting used to playing with each other since we only had a few practices to learn cohesion with one another. By the end of the trip you could tell we had figured things out."

And while Kan, Little and Wilson were overseas, Meister was training in Minneapolis at the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships from June 22-July 1. She was one of 36 players selected to participate in the tournament.

"Honestly it was some of the best competition that I have ever been a part of," Meister said. "It was an extremely high level of play and seeing the skill level of the players around you, it really helped me to elevate my game. I learned a lot and I hope to bring the things I learned into the gym heading into this season."

Although these four Tigers spent the summer donning the Red, White and Blue, all four will be ready to suit up in Black & Gold this year in defense of the program's first ever SEC Championship. The season begins August 20 with the Black & Gold scrimmage and the home opener is slated for Sept. 5 against Lipscomb.

.video-container {position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden;} .video-container iframe, .video-container object, .video-container embed {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 80%; height: 80%; margin:1em 10%} } @media (max-width: 1023px) { .video-container iframe, .video-container object, .video-container embed {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 80%; height: 80%; margin:1em 10%} } @media (max-width: 767px) { .video-container iframe, .video-container object, .video-container embed {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin:1em 0} } @media (max-width: 480px) { .story-wrap-right {float:none; display:block; width:80%; margin:1em 10%; text-align:center} .video-container iframe, .video-container object, .video-container embed {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin:1em 0} } @media (max-width: 360px) { .story-wrap-right {float:none; display:block; width:80%; margin:1em 10%; text-align:center} .video-container iframe, .video-container object, .video-container embed {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;} }