Set, Spike, Score!
By Sarah Jackson

MU’s veteran women’s volleyball team has been “Putting all the pieces together for a great season,” said Tom Lewis, an associate of MU’s athletic media relations.

With season-high service aces and blocks and a lot of playing time under their belts already, the Tiger team has been moving up in the conference and national team rankings. The Tigers swept No. 9 ranked Tennessee over Labor Day weekend. The win also boasted the first sweep by the Tigers on a top 10 ranked team ever and the biggest upset in the collegiate volleyball season so far. MU is now ranked No. 14 after moving up from the No. 21 spot. It is the highest ranking in MU women’s volleyball history.

Na Yang, a sophomore international business major from Shan Dong, China, led the Tennessee sweep with 15 kills.

“We have played pretty well during the last three weeks,” Yang said. “The team is getting better. If we keep pushing, we’ll be better.”

“The season is going great!” Sarah Entzeroth, a freshman business major from St. Peters, Mo., said. "Everyone is playing so well, and we are really proving ourselves to be among the best. It has been a lot of fun so far!”

MU has some tough competition, though, from other nationally ranked teams who also happen to call the Big 12 Conference home. The University of Nebraska is ranked No. 1 in the country, while Texas A&M University is also in the top four.

“What’s been great about Mizzou volleyball is that there are more and more fans every year,” Lewis said. “It’s a great atmosphere.” That’s what convinced many players to call Mizzou home.

“I considered many other schools and programs, but nothing compared to Missouri,” Entzeroth said.

The team is assembled of very accomplished players who chose MU for their college volleyball experience. Lindsey Hunter, a senior from Papillon, Neb., leads the nation in assists, and was named Big 12 player of the week on Sept. 5, 2005. Megan Wilson, a freshman from Lincoln, Neb., was the 2004 National Christian High School Player of the Year. Yi Zhang, was on three Chinese Junior National teams.

Four players on this season’s team hail from China. Four to five years ago, MU began integrating Chinese players into the women’s volleyball program. As the university’s relationship with China has improved, more students have accepted scholarships to play for the Tigers.

“They have added a lot to the team,” Lewis said. "The team views them as valuable additions too.”

“It has been a lot of fun getting to know them and learning more about their culture,” Entzeroth said. “We are really meshing well.”

The MU women’s volleyball team is led by head coach Susan Kreklow, assistant head coach Wayne Kreklow, and assistant coaches Chen Feng and Deng Yang.

All of the Lady Tigers’ practices and home games are played at the Hearnes Center. The Tigers have been nationally ranked in the top 20 in attendance for the past few years.

“We want a big crowd for the home court advantage,” Lewis said.

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