No. 7 Mizzou Volleyball Visits Alabama in Fall 2020 Opener

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 7 Mizzou Volleyball opens its long-awaited fall 2020 campaign this Wednesday-Thursday at Alabama. First serve inside Foster Auditorium is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and 8:30 p.m. CT, respectively.

Wednesday evening’s contest will broadcast live digitally on SEC Network + via WatchESPN. The Tigers and Crimson Tide’s two-match series finale will air live Thursday on SEC Network. Sam Gore and Jenn Hoffman will be on the call.

#ShowMe Mizzou Game Notes

• at Alabama (Oct. 21-22)

Series Snapshot vs. Alabama

• Mizzou leads the all-time series, 11-3.
• The two programs met twice a season ago with the Tigers earning victories in both contests. That included a thrilling five-set win in Mizzou’s last visit to Tuscaloosa (Nov. 8, 2019).
• The Tigers are riding a seven-match winning streak over the Crimson Tide, dating back to 2015. Three of those triumphs have occurred at Alabama, while four victories have taken place in Mid-Missouri.

Mizzou Ranked No. 7 in First AVCA Fall Coaches Poll

• The Tigers placed No. 7 in the first edition of the 2020 AVCA Fall Division I Coaches Poll, announced on Sept. 30 by the organization. This fall’s AVCA Coaches Poll will be different than past years, as COVID-19 is still affecting the NCAA Volleyball landscape. The ACC, Big 12, SEC and Sun Belt are the only eligible conferences in voting for the current fall AVCA poll.
• Mizzou’s No. 7 ranking is its highest placement in the first release of an AVCA Coaches Poll in program history. The Tigers have been recognized in an AVCA’s initial season poll seven times overall: (2003 – No. 21 // 2005 – No. 21 // 2006 – No. 13 // 2007 – No. 20 // 2014 – No. 15 // 2017 – No. 19 // 2020 – No. 7).

Deberg and Omazic Named 2020 Preseason All-SEC

• Senior OH Kylie Deberg and senior MB Tyanna Omazic were each named to the 2020 Preseason Volleyball All-Southeastern Conference Team, announced Oct. 8 by the league office.
• It marked Deberg’s second consecutive Preseason All-SEC honor, while Omazic received her first career preseason recognition by the league office. Nine total student-athletes across the league were selected to this year’s squad.
• Mizzou has been represented on the annual Preseason All-SEC list in each year since joining the SEC (2012-present). It marked the fifth time there has been multiple Tigers on the preseason list (2012, ’13, ’14, ’17, ’20).

Mizzou Season Openers Snapshot

• The Tigers are in the midst of a fantastic stretch with season-opening success, claiming 12 consecutive season openers dating back to 2008.
• Over the aforementioned stretch, Mizzou has produced seven sweeps, two four-set wins and three five-set triumphs.
• Traditionally, the Tigers have opened their seasons with non-conference tournaments, but due to COVID-19 altering the 2020 campaign, Mizzou will open its season against a Power 5 opponent for only the third time since 2008. The Tigers opened at Miami (Fla.) a season ago (Aug. 30, 2019), while hosting Maryland 10 years ago (Aug. 27, 2010).
• In fact, Wednesday will mark the first time Mizzou has opened its season against a conference opponent in 39 years. The Tigers traveled to Kansas (Sept. 10, 1981) that year as part of the Big Eight Conference, producing a straight-set victory in Lawrence.

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