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Dennis Murphy

For the students, by the students

MU club volleyball team ranks No. 1 in nation
By Justin Otto, Corner Post staff

For the second time in three years, the woman’s club volleyball team at Mizzou is ranked first in the nation. Two years ago the Mizzou club team was upset by Texas in the National Championship game. However, this year’s team doesn’t compare to the team of 2003.

Mike Jackson has coached the team for the last five years and was surprised at how well the girls came together.

“ In 2003, the girls had been playing on the same team for two years,” Jackson said. “This year I knew we had the individual talent to be this good, but I was surprised at how well the girls began to play as one.”

The team had a shaky start and didn’t become comfortable until they found a permanent line up, said Jackson. Lindsay Smith, a sophomore on the team, agreed.

“ Once we got a solid line up, everything changed,” Smith said.
Since then the girls have gotten first or second in three of the last four major tournaments they have played in. This included a crushing victory over Miami University of Ohio, the number one team at the time.

The team may be labeled as a club, but their level of play is anything but that. Most of the girls had been recruited to play Varsity volleyball at the college level. Freshman, Ashley Ebert, walked on to the Varsity team at Mizzou, but stopped playing because of the time commitment.

“ I wanted to concentrate on school, and I felt like I didn’t have a life other than volleyball,” Ebert said.

Smith also says the love of the sport is one of the reasons the team gets along so well.

“ I was recruited to play for Mizzou’s division one team, but I decided it wasn’t for me. I still loved to play volleyball so the club team was perfect, because all the girls had the same passion for the sport,” Smith said.

This passion for volleyball is also noticed through the coaching of Mike Jackson.
“ Coach Jackson is very upbeat and tries to keep our season fun,” Ebert said.
Jackson enjoys the competition of the game but insists that above everything they are still a bunch of friends that enjoy playing volleyball. This fun has brought a level of confidence to the team.

“ Even in the closest games, I feel like our team is so relaxed because we trust each other and we just know that we will win,” said senior Kelly Young. “I feel like no one in nationals will be able to beat us except ourselves.”

The national tournament is held in Kansas City this year April 14 -16.

To view club rankings, click here.

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