Volleyball posts loss against Iowa State

Despite losing their third conference match, the Tigers find hope after a late rally.

By Mike Bushnell

Published Sept. 25, 2007

The Missouri volleyball team has started its Big 12 schedule in a hole, but after Saturday's loss, the Tigers were less upset than what might be expected from a team that's 0-3.

Down 14-7 in the fifth game to the Iowa State Cyclones at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, the Tigers staved off seven consecutive match points before losing two in a row to lose the match.

The Cyclones won 30-27, 24-30, 26-30, 30-26, 16-14, but MU coach Wayne Kreklow said he was happy with the team's fifth game rally.

"It would have been easy to give up," he said. "I think the rally shows the players the value of continuing to play."

Freshman Catie Wilson called the game "awesome," and said the whole team found a silver lining in the loss.

"The defense picked up, girls were hitting insane shots," she said. "I am so happy we didn't just roll over and die."

But Kreklow said it was hard for the Tigers (7-6, 0-3 Big 12) to get over the hump once they tied it.

"It's a matter of odds," he said. "The odds of winning nine straight points, which is what we would have had to do to win, was astronomical."

Compared to the Tigers' loss last Wednesday, Kreklow said the loss to the Cyclones was like night and day.

"I felt 100 percent different Wednesday than I did Saturday," he said. "We gave that match to Kansas. We played at a high level Saturday."

As with the two losses before it, Kreklow lamented the absence of sophomore Julianna Klein, who is likely out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

"Without her (Klein), we're missing a swing," he said. "Losing her means we're weaker in our rotations."

The Tigers hit just .152 for the match, compared to Iowa State (9-3, 3-1), who hit .171.

The loss wasted a 20-20 night from senior Lei Wang, just the second of her career. Wang had 24 digs and 30 assists.

But that paled in comparison to Cyclone senior Kaylee Manns, who recorded an incredible 63 of her team's 71 assists.

Senior Luiza Jarocka was an unexpected boost for the Tigers, earning her first career double-double with 16 assists and 10 digs.

Senior Tatum Ailes said the Tigers know that the Big 12 season is long and full of swings.

"We know that there's a lot of time left for us," she said. "We started last year 7-1 and finished 11-7. It's easy for any team in a conference this good to lose three in a row, so we're not worried yet."

But Wednesday's match against the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan, Kan., is crucial.

There's a big difference between 0-4 and 1-3, and senior Na Yang said the team will come out strong.

"We all still are confident," she said. "I think we're gonna be fine. We're 0-3, yes, but the key now is how we face it."