Sept. 11, 2012

#17 TENNESSEE (7-2) at MISSOURI (8-2)

Sept. 12, 2012 | 8 p.m. ET

Hearnes Center | Columbia, Mo.

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THE MISSOURI MATCH

Wednesday night's match represents the third all-time meeting between the Lady Vols and Tigers. With Mizzou joining the Southeastern Conference this season, it also represents the first league match between the two opponents.
The series is currently tied at 1-1, with both meeting coming during the 2005 campaign. UT posted a 25-9 overall record in 2005, including a 13-3 mark in the SEC, en route to the program's only NCAA Final Four appearance.
The No. 9 Big Orange was shutout by the No. 21 Tigers at their regular season tournament - the Tiger Invitational - on Sept. 4, 2005, but rebounded to upset No. 8 Mizzou in four sets (30-28, 30-27, 25-30, 30-17) at the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on Dec. 10, 2005 in University Park, Pa.

The Lady Vols were ranked 17th in the nation - their current national ranking - in the Elite Eight matchup.
Tennessee finished the 2011 campaign with a 19-1 record in the SEC, winning its first outright league title in program history. With all starters returning, including the defending SEC Player and Freshman of the Year, UT was voted by the league's coaches to unanimously repeat as conference champions in 2012.
The Lady Vols are seeking back-to-back SEC Championships, which they accomplished in 1981-82, and their seventh combined league title. In addition to 1981-82 and last season, UT won the 1984 and 2004 championship. The Orange & White also took home the 2004 SEC Tournament Title.

SCOUTING THE MIZZOU TIGERS

The Missouri Tigers open a new era on Wednesday night, hosting their first SEC match.
The Tigers are 8-2 on the campaign with losses coming against Michigan and Morehead State and are currently ranked 10th in the NCAA in hitting pct. (.310).
Mizzou is led by junior outside hitter Lisa Henning and middle blocker Whitney Little. Henning ranks second behind Kelsey Robinson in the SEC in kills per set (4.39), while Little comes in at second in hitting pct. (.446) and sixth in blocks per game (1.13). Little was named this week's SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Mizzou junior setter Molly Kreklow ranked fourth in the SEC in assists per game (10.73) and recently passed the 3,000-career assist mark with 3,099.
Mizzou had made two-straight NCAA Tournament trips - losing to Florida in the opening round in 2011 - and reaching the Sweet 16 in 2010.
Wayne Kreklow and his wife Susan Kreklow have combined to win over 250 matches at Mizzou. He is in his 13th season at the helm and has reached the NCAA Tournament 10 of the last 12 seasons.