Missouri volleyball sophomore transfer Kira Larson helped lead the Black and Gold Scrimmage last Thursday to success, contributing six kills.
Mizzou coach Wayne Kreklow, now on his 15th season with the Tigers, was pleased with the way the scrimmage turned out.
“I think we competed really well, and I really liked that, especially in the last match,” Kreklow said. “It was a game to 15, and we ended up going to 25. I liked the competitive spirit that we showed out there.”
Kreklow said that he’s happy with the 2015 squad when comparing it to previous Tiger teams, citing his players’ “pretty solid” athleticism and ball control.
Part of that athleticism comes from Larson, a middle blocker who transferred to MU this year after being granted a release from her scholarship at Nebraska last spring.
“This new team is a great group of girls,” the nursing major said. “I feel like I fit in really well, and I get along with absolutely everyone on the team. Playing on a team that has so much passion and is out there in the gym everyday and wanting to get better is really awesome.”
Setter Ali Kreklow has worked with Larson since she began her career at Mizzou.
“I love playing with her,” sophomore Kreklow said of Larson. “She’s athletic, she’s strong, she’s someone you can count on. Kira is always willing to do her best and is always working as hard as she can. As a setter and a teammate, knowing one of your teammates is that dedicated and that willing is something that I really appreciate.”
Kreklow said Larson “brings a lot of dedication” and hard work to practices and that she’s shown big improvements throughout the preseason.
After finishing first in the Southeastern Conference in 2013, the Tigers struggled without star setter Molly Kreklow and wrapped up last season with a 16-17 record. With the addition of players like Larson, Mizzou will look to improve.
“I’m really excited to watch this team come together,” Kreklow said. “We have a lot of new players, freshman and transfers. There’s a lot of things going on, and a lot of people filling in places they’ve never been before. I’m excited to see the way everything turns out. I think it’ll be really great.”
Coming from a different school, Larson said she brings in a unique point of view to the team that not all players have.
“I think being at another school, I’ve seen what it’s like playing for another coach and even in another division,” she said. “We played in the Big 10 there and the SEC here. I think my knowledge of the game is something I can really bring.”
