Klein's injury forces Tigers to regroup

By Ian Thomas, Reporter
Sept. 14, 2007

Outside hitter sophomore Julianna Klein might be down, but she's not out. And she's at least not out of valuable enthusiasm.

Klein, who tore her left anterior cruciate ligament last Friday during a win against Houston in San Marcos, Texas, offered smiles and encouragement from the sidelines as the Missouri volleyball team defeated the UM-Kansas City Kangaroos on Wednesday at the Hearnes Center.

Klein was the team's kills and service aces leader at the time of injury and will miss the remainder of the Tigers' 2007 campaign.

"To be honest, (the injury) is really disappointing, but this is making us all stronger," she said.

The Tigers begin league play on Saturday against No. 7 Texas, who is considered one of the Big 12's powerhouses in 2007, before returning home to face a surging Kansas squad that won five of its last six matches.

The schedule doesn't get any easier after that as MU faces the 7-4 Iowa State Cyclones, a 9-2 Kansas State team and 8-2 Oklahoma all before October. Now they must do so without their star outside hitter.

"I tell the players a lot, 'We need to expect the best, but prepare for the worst,'" coach Wayne Kreklow said. "I think that's what we're doing now."

This situation is far closer to the "worst" than it is to the "best," but Kreklow's healthy Tigers won't let that faze them.

"We're disappointed, but we're going to step it up," defensive specialist Shayli Meyer said. "It'll take some time."

Kreklow will be forced to juggle his lineup to accommodate for the loss. He said he plans to use freshmen Caitlyn Vann, Catie Wilson and Weiwen Wang in more prominent roles, at least for now.

"Catie Wilson is now going to have to be out there," Kreklow said. "Caitlyn has got to do a good job on the back row. (Wang), Wilson, we've got to have them."

But the loss of Klein will resonate throughout the season. As a freshman in 2006, the six-footer led the Tigers in total kills during three separate matches, including a 21-kill outburst against No. 2 Penn State. The outside hitter racked up an impressive 86 digs overall and displayed tremendous talent during her first career start, achieving seven aces and adding seven blocks.

Klein was a big factor for MU during the NCAA Tournament and scored 14 kills and six digs in a heartbreaking second round loss to eventual tournament runner-up Stanford.

Klein, in only a little more than a full season, has shown an invaluable ability to come alive during big games, an attribute this year's team will surely miss.

"(The injury) is obviously disappointing, but we all look at it as an opportunity," Vann said. "Everyone looks at this as a chance to prove everyone wrong."

For now, Klein can only help her team with optimism and confidence, and she displays both well.

"This creates new opportunities which, in the end, make everyone stronger," Klein said.

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Klein's injury forces Tigers to regroup

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