A Season to Remember: Mizzou Volleyball 2016 SEC Champions
3/26/2020 5:14:00 PM | Volleyball
Former Tigers reminisce their magical season from four years ago
It's March 2016 inside the Hearnes Center. The Tigers are in midst of spring practice, as they officially turn the page on the campaign from a year earlier. Mizzou certainly had no reason to hang its head from 2015, posting a 27-6 overall record and 14-4 mark in Southeastern Conference play. The Tigers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but were handed a straight-set loss at No. 9 Kansas to conclude their season.
After losing only one senior from the 2015 roster, a bevy of returning talent and high-impact newcomers gave Mizzou head coach Wayne Kreklow reason for excitement heading into 2016. Headlined by three returning AVCA All-Americans and one of the most accomplished senior classes in program history, the 2016 Tigers were poised to make the next step in the upcoming fall.
Hungry for More
Beginning with offseason workouts, it was evident very early to each member of the 2016 roster that this team was different. 12 of the 15 Tigers were returners, including eight upperclassmen. The Mizzou Volleyball culture and expectations were already widely established, allowing the team to get to work immediately.
"I think the biggest thing that led us to winning in 2016 was the number of returners we had and how similar the team was from the year prior," 2015 AVCA All-American right side Kira Larson said. "With that number of upperclassmen, everyone was already on the same page, so when we brought in the freshmen and transfers it was a smoother transition than usual. It made it easier for them to buy into the system since everyone else already had."
While the 2015 campaign was certainly a success, each Tiger knew that this group was capable of so much more. In order to make the next step in 2016, each individual understood that this started with a unified mindset and determination towards achieving a common goal: an SEC Championship.
"I think the mindset going into 2016 was one of focused confidence and composure," defensive specialist Riley Sents recalled. "We had done a lot of preparation before the season to outline our goals and spoke frequently about the steps we would take to achieve them. Our ability to all be on the same page and work together was extremely special. Every single person bought in and everyone understood the importance of their role."
"As a team, we came in that year with a relentless mindset," four-time AVCA All-American middle blocker Alyssa Munlyn proclaimed. "We came together and decided that we were going to take control of our season and our destiny. I think what set us apart was our sense of unity and respect for one another. That team had a bond that was strong on-and-off the court. We created a standard of excellence every day in the gym."
With the championship culture and positive mental state locked in throughout the offseason, Mizzou was eager to begin competition on the court. The 2016 campaign got off to a fantastic start, as the Tigers went 3-0 at the Kennesaw State Invitational. With confidence riding high, the Tigers then returned home for the Mizzou Invitational.
A Piece of Humble Pie
Historically, the Mizzou Invitational has been dominated by the host Tigers. Since 2009, the Hearnes Center has hosted 10 Mizzou Invitationals with the Tigers producing a brilliant 30-6 (.833) overall record. Mizzou recorded a flawless weekend in seven of those 10 home tournaments.
Oddly enough, the Tigers' worst Mizzou Invitational run over the aforementioned stretch was in their 2016 SEC Championship-winning campaign. Albeit suffering a pair of close five-set losses, Mizzou went 1-2 that weekend in front of the black and gold faithful.
A performance like that at home was a true rarity for the current era of Mizzou Volleyball. Suddenly, the Tigers were searching for answers on the court.
"I'll never forget that tournament and the way it made me feel," middle blocker Emily Thater recalled. "I was so mad, embarrassed and confused."
With the uncommon early-season adversity now present, the team knew that it would become a pivotal point of their championship-aspiring season. Either the team would dwell on the disappointing performance inside Hearnes, or it could use it as a rallying point for the rest of the year.
"We struggled some early on that season and we had some unexpected losses during non-conference play," libero Alexa Ethridge said. "I think that was probably one of the best things to happen to us though, because it was sort of this catalyst for making some changes and finding the system that ultimately propelled us to bigger things."
"I think all of us were definitely disappointed with our performance throughout that weekend," 2016 AVCA Third-Team All-American outside hitter Melanie Crow recalled. "Through those losses we realized we needed to make some changes. I think a fire ignited inside each and every one of us. We knew we had the potential and pieces necessary to be a great team. I remember there being a distinct change in attitude when we came into practice that next week. We were unwaveringly focused on further developing our skills, as well as a newfound grit and tenacity."
Mizzou sat at 4-2 through six matches played and possessed two final non-conference tournaments. The rejuvenated Tigers handled their Mizzou Invitational stumble well, tallying a 5-1 record at the Idaho State Invitational and Delaware Invitational. Standing at 9-3 overall, Mizzou next turned its attention to SEC play where they would evolve into one of the nation's elite.
A Trio of Season-Defining Wins
The Tigers opened their 2016 SEC schedule as well as one possibly could. Mizzou simply dominated its opposition early on, producing an 8-0 mark with seven sweeps over that stretch. However, up until that point, the Tigers hadn't faced traditional SEC powers in Kentucky and Florida.
With the No. 21 nationally ranked Wildcats visiting the Hearnes Center in late October, Mizzou knew that its chance to really prove itself was right around the corner.
"We just always got up for Kentucky," Larson said. "It's the matches we looked forward to the most. Kentucky puts out a good team year after year, so a win against them is always something to be proud of, because the Tigers versus the Wildcats is always good volleyball."
Mizzou jumped out to a commanding 2-0 set advantage that Sunday afternoon at Hearnes, but Kentucky had an answer with back to back set triumphs of its own. Behind 2,600-plus passionate Tiger fans, Mizzou ultimately walked away with a thrilling five-set victory. Mizzou won its 13th consecutive match at that point and at 9-0 stood as the SEC's last remaining unbeaten team in conference play.
"The energy and excitement throughout that afternoon was unmatched," setter Ali Kreklow recalled. "It showed that through the highs and lows, we were able to show grit, battle together and end up on top. Winning a match like that was the best kind of win."
Only four matches later, the Tigers and Wildcats would meet yet again, but this time the match took place in Lexington, Kentucky. Entering that afternoon, Mizzou possessed an outstanding 20-4 overall record and 11-1 mark in SEC action. Yet, the Tigers weren't nationally ranked and still faced doubters across the collegiate volleyball landscape.
Mizzou quickly silenced the critics inside Memorial Coliseum, delivering a dominant sweep over No. 18 Kentucky. The Tigers offense was lights out, recording 46 kills on .382 hitting.
"A defining moment in 2016 that stuck out to me was sweeping Kentucky in Lexington," three-time AVCA All-American outside hitter Carly Kan said. "The match had never felt so easy before. Everybody was in the flow. It was a powerful moment, because we loved to compete against Kentucky. It was great to show everybody that beating them earlier in the season wasn't a fluke."
"I remember getting on the bus after that win at Kentucky, then getting on the plane and eating some Skittles I had saved for after the match and was like, 'oh wow, we really just did that!'" Thater recalled.
With only five matches on the SEC schedule remaining, Mizzou sat with a 12-1 record in conference play and its preseason championship aspirations were becoming a real possibility. However, in a few weeks No. 5 Florida was heading to Mid-Missouri for a showdown to ultimately make or break the Tigers' potential SEC title season.
On Nov. 20 in front of 2,300-plus black and gold fans, the nationally ranked Tigers and Gators competed in a five-set classic. The two squads exchanged wins in the first four sets, setting up a deciding fifth set inside the Hearnes Center. After possessing a slim 8-7 advantage in set five, Mizzou captured the momentum with a thunderous 7-3 scoring run and ultimately walked away with the match victory.
"I think the five-set win against Florida was our defining moment in 2016, because they were ahead of us by one match in the standings heading into the day," outside hitter Paige Perego said. "We knew that if we could beat them that we would almost likely win the SEC with only two matches left after that."
"I believe the defining win of the year was the five-setter against Florida," middle blocker Julia Towler recalled. "Looking back now, a lot of that year's matches seem to blur together, but you sure do remember the upsets and intense matches. That Florida match was one of them. They were No. 5 in the country and we were No. 25. The feeling of playing Florida in Hearnes is indescribable. The energy was electric and it intensified through each set. To this day, I can close my eyes and still picture everything in Hearnes from that match."
A Goal Becomes a Reality: 2016 SEC Champions
Two matches remained in the regular season. Both Mizzou and Florida possessed a 14-2 record in SEC play, but the Tigers held the head-to-head tiebreaker for a potential outright conference championship. The Tigers had dates at Georgia and versus Tennessee remaining, while the Gators hosted Auburn and traveled to Arkansas.
On Nov. 23, Mizzou easily swept the Bulldogs in Athens, while later in the evening Florida took down Auburn in four sets. It would all come down to the final day of the regular season, as the Gators first competed against Arkansas at 2:30 p.m., while later that night the Tigers hosted the Volunteers.
Florida would easily sweep the Razorbacks on the afternoon of Nov. 26, putting all the pressure on Mizzou later that day. It was simple. Either the Tigers defeat Tennessee and become SEC Co-Champions, or they falter and come up one match short of their goal.
"I remember before the match trying to be as calm as possible, because that was one of my roles on the team," setter Courtney Eckenrode recalled. "Deep down though, I was so pumped!"
"Honestly, that day was surreal," Munlyn said. "I remember thinking about how the championship was right in our hands. I kept telling myself, 'don't overlook them and don't give them a chance to take this away from us.'"
"I remember being nervous and excited," Crow remembered. "I think I was nervous, because so much had led up to that point. We had fought so hard to win an SEC title and only one match stood in the way of that dream. There were so many fans at Hearnes. I remember looking around in awe simply at the amount of support we had from our friends, family and community. It was almost overwhelming. More than ever, I wanted us to do well for the fans and not let them down."
The pre-match jitters quickly went away that night, as Mizzou cruised to a 25-15 first set win. However, things changed in a flash, as the Tigers saw a 23-18 second set lead evaporate. Tennessee produced a big 6-1 scoring run to even the set at 24 apiece.
The Tigers' destiny was no match for the Volunteers though, as Kan registered a kill followed by a Tennessee double contact to give Mizzou a 26-24 second set triumph. Momentum and all of the building's energy had returned to the Tigers, as they held a 24-16 lead in the third and final set.
Ethridge, one of the program's four seniors that season, walked to the service line with a chance to conclude the magical regular season. The Lee's Summit, Missouri, native didn't disappoint, producing an ace to give the Tigers a match sweep and 2016 SEC Championship.
"Man, that was a fairytale ending to an incredible regular season," Ethridge recalled. "Winning the SEC title at home on my senior night. It just doesn't get much better than that. I remember standing on the stage with my team and the crowd cheering. Coach Kreklow was holding the SEC trophy up in the air and confetti was falling. I remember thinking that this is a moment I'll never forget."
For the 15 Tigers on that year's squad, the evening of Nov. 26, 2016, was a day that they'll never forget.
"Winning the SEC for the second time felt amazing," Kan said. "We won my freshman year in 2013 as well and then closing it out in my senior year was the perfect end to the regular season. I couldn't have asked for more from my teammates."
"That final point felt almost unreal," Sents exclaimed. "Everyone stormed the court and the confetti just started pouring down from the ceiling. I remember feeling pure joy. Winning the SEC Championship was a goal we had been working towards for so long and finally achieving it was so incredible."
"The last point of that match is something I will always remember," Kreklow said. "I was on the bench still recovering from an injury, but my heart was racing. I knew what we had just done and I knew how hard we worked to get there. Even thinking about it now gives me that pit feeling in my stomach full of excitement and goosebumps. I remember being on the stage with the confetti dropping, holding the trophy and looking into the eyes of my teammates. I will also never forget the watery eyes of my dad (Coach Kreklow) thinking about what our team just accomplished and how proud he was of us. That moment, winning that trophy, will always be one of the best moments of my life."
