Sept. 23, 2009

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By Ryan Schmitz, Media Relations Student Assistant

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Mizzou volleyball team stepped out of Big 12 Conference play to defeat in-state foe UMKC, 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-12), at the Hearnes Center Wednesday night (Sept. 23). With the win, the Tigers improve to 9-4 on the season and 5-0 at home, their best home start to a season since 2005, when Mizzou also opened 5-0 at home.

Junior outside hitter Paola Ampudia (Cali, Colombia) led the team with nine kills while junior libero Caitlyn Vann (Muncie, Ind.) paced Mizzou with a team-best 13 digs and added a career-best six service aces. As a team, the Tigers served a season-best 11 aces and the Kangaroos' 39 total points in the match are the fewest that Mizzou has allowed this season. The Tigers also limited the `Roos to -.065 hitting, their best opponent hitting percentage of the season.

"It was a good match for us. It's nice when we have these bye weeks in Big 12 play to schedule these matches to keep us sharp and in rhythm," head coach Wayne Kreklow said. "They were very competitive and we had to do things differently to earn points tonight. Playing a match like this gives us a chance to improve on all the little things that we still need to work on."

The Tigers continued a positive trend of winning matches following a loss, rebounding from a 3-1 defeat on Saturday at Oklahoma as Mizzou has not lost consecutive matches this season.

UMKC led the first set 5-4, but the Tigers scored six straight points as part of a 21-10 run to take control of the frame. Sophomore middle blocker Brittney Brimmage (East St. Louis, Ill.) led the team with four kills in the set, while Julianna Klein (Keota, Iowa) and Ampudia each had three. Klein won six consecutive points on her serve for Mizzou in the set, including two aces, to spark the Tiger run in the first. Vann also posted three aces in the set to go along with her three digs.

The Tigers jumped out to a 9-3 lead to open the second set, prompting a UMKC timeout. Following the break, Mizzou outscored the Kangaroos 16-9 to put away the set. Ampudia and junior middle blocker Catie Wilson (Omaha, Neb.) shared the Tiger lead with four kills in the frame.

Mizzou won 11 of the first 15 points in the final set and eventually extended its lead to 20-5. The Tigers withstood a late 7-5 charge from the Kangaroos to close out the match. Outside hitter Rosa Medrano (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) led Mizzou with three kills in the set.

The Tigers' next match is Saturday (Sept. 26), when they continue Big 12 play as they host Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. at the Hearnes Center. For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com.