Molly Kreklow doesn’t get to go home for Thanksgiving.
Like many other fall athletes, she doesn’t have the time to go on trips for spring break. Over the summer, she stays in Columbia and practices. It’s been so long that it takes a while to remember when she was last home.
“I haven’t been home since…July? No, not even July. I haven’t been home since May,” she said. “I try not to think about it too much since you put in the time to be here.”
Kreklow said she will spend time with her parents and siblings, who are visiting, after the Tigers finish the regular season on Wednesday, a day before Thanksgiving.
But, soon after that, it’ll be back to practice.
“I am so excited to play our last three matches of regular season,” she said. “All the stuff we’re doing here is definitely worth it.”
The players’ sacrifice has been paying dividends all season. No. 4 Missouri (33-0, 17-0 Southeastern Conference) is still undefeated and owns the best record in program history. Colorado State is the only other volleyball squad that is undefeated in the nation.
A big leap the Tigers took to get here was a sweep at then-No. 5 Florida last weekend. The ratings-friendly match was symbolic of an overthrow in the SEC revealing Missouri’s powerful presence in the conference.
The match also put the Tigers in positions to mark off their goal of the regular season: win the SEC Championship. After that, the team’s next goal is to reach the Final Four, but Kreklow isn’t looking that far ahead. For now, she’s still working up to it.
“It was amazing to put in the work and to realize that we just beat Florida at their place,” Kreklow said. “That was the best feeling in the world, to put in all the hard work and have it pay off.”