September 23, 2016

Junior setter Courtney Eckenrode has had an incredible start to the season as a leader on Missouri volleyball’s offense so far, but her accomplishments go back to before her career began in Columbia.

Eckenrode was a setter for The Woodlands High School in Texas, where she earned four varsity letters and graduated in 2014. In 2013, she was named the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and was honored as the USA Today Player of the Year. She won MVP for the state tournament in 2013, leading her team to the 5A championship.

Eckenrode’s success continued as she decided to transfer from San Diego State before the 2015 season to join the Tigers.

“I knew that when I talked to [head coach] Wayne Kreklow on the phone that it is a program I wanted to join,” Eckenrode said. “The program has such a family atmosphere, all the players really push each other, and I was excited to play in the [Southeastern Conference].”

In her sophomore year, Eckenrode dominated, leading the team with 742 assists in one season. She finished her first season as a Tiger with a season-high of 35 assists in a game, which she managed to do twice.

“As a setter, I like running the game, making decisions, owning the strategy and messing with the blockers,” Eckenrode said.

So far in her junior year, Eckenrode has shined in leading the Tigers’ offense to victory.

For the first time this season, Mizzou played with a 5-1 offense. Running a 5-1 offense means there is only one player on the court that is playing the setter position. The new offense means that Eckenrode plays all the way around, setting from both the front and back rows. The Tigers originally ran a 6-2, in which the offense has two setters and six hitters.

“I look at our group and I think over the course of the season, my goal is to be prepared to be able to utilize both the 5-1 and the 6-2,” Kreklow said. “Each offense has its advantages and disadvantages.”

Eckenrode has had an outstanding performance setting on both the front and back rows. Through six nonconference matches, she led the offense, pacing Mizzou in assists. Eckenrode had 31 assists in the match against Delaware, keying Missouri to victory. She also recorded her fourth 30-plus assist match of the year.

“I get to be more involved in the game; running a 5-1 has gone really well, it’s lots of fun, and I want the team to play with their strengths,” Eckenrode said.

Kreklow sees the benefits of the 5-1 offensive system.

“With the 5-1 you have more subs, more opportunities to put in defensive players, that helped us out a lot,” he said. “Having one setter, it is easier to get into a flow.”

The Tigers are looking to win tough match-ups in the SEC this year against teams such as No. 19 Texas A&M and No. 6 Florida. It is unclear whether the Tigers will continue to use the new offense.

“I think it depends match by match and what our matchups are and what is working well that week in practice,” Eckenrode said. “It depends on what is going to work best for us.”

_Edited by Theo DeRosa | tderosa@themaneater.com_

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