Tiger Volleyball Inks Three More For '07

Mizzou has incoming class of at least seven

April 23, 2007

 

COLUMBIA, Mo.--The University of Missouri volleyball team announced Monday that Luiza Jarocka, Trinity Ojo, and Weiwen Wang have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Mizzou squad in the fall of 2007. The group will be among at least seven new faces to the Tigers squad in 2007.

 

"Overall, we are very pleased with our three new additions," said Kreklow. "All bring unique talents that should blend very nicely with those of their new teammates.  I feel like we have added three outstanding student-athletes to the Missouri volleyball program and expect big things from them in the future."

 

Trinity Ojo (MB, Arlington, Texas, Grace Preparatory Academy)

Ojo comes to Mizzou from Arlington, Texas, and Grace Preparatory Academy. Ojo, a 6-3 middle blocker, has earned second-team All-State honors and was named to the All-Tournament team at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state tournament. In addition, Ojo has earned All-District honors in both volleyball and basketball her junior and senior seasons.

 

"We are very excited about Trinity's long term potential," said Head Coach Wayne Kreklow. "She is an excellent athlete who has not played a lot of volleyball up to this point.  Trinity is a very bright and motivated individual who I think will be a great fit for our program. She has the size, athletic ability, desire, and intelligence to develop into an excellent volleyball player."

 

As a basketball player, Ojo was recognized by the Dallas area press as a leading shot blocker (4.2 bpg) and rebounder (10.5 rbg) among all schools.

 

Trinity plans to major in Interdisciplinary Studies with theatre and communication as component areas.

 

Luiza Jarocka (OPP/S, Warsaw, Poland, Mo. State-West Plains)

Jarocka will come to Mizzou with two years of eligibility after spending two years at Missouri State of West Plains. While at West Plains, Jarocka earned honors as an AVCA First-Team All-American at the Junior College level and was also named as a NJCAA All-American in 2006, earning additional honors as a NJCAA National Player of the Week during this past season.

 

"We really love everything that Lu brings to our program," said Kreklow. "She is a great student and an outstanding setter.  Her size and experience will be a great addition to our squad, and her presence will give us a lot of options in terms of what we can do offensively.  She is not only a great setter, but an excellent defensive player and also has played the opposite position as well."

 

Jarocka was also recognized for her academic prowess as one of 22 students at West Plains to be named to the Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.

 

Weiwen Wang (RS/MB, Nanjing, China, Jiangsu Education Institute)

Wang will come to Mizzou as from Nanjing, China, and will be the fifth Tiger to come from the country. Wang was captain of her national-champion high school team and was a member of her country's team that won the 2006 World School Volleyball Championship in Porec, Croatia. Wang was a member of the Chinese 15 & Under Youth National team that took third.

 

"Wang Weiwen is an excellent all around player," said Kreklow. "Every team needs a couple of players that play the whole game well. While Wang Weiwen may not be a dominant player in any one area, she should be one of our best all around players.  We will look for her to be what I would call a "glue type player", someone that does many of the little things that often go unnoticed but are critical to binding all of the pieces into a cohesive whole."

 

The three signed in the spring bring the incoming Tiger class to seven. Below is a list of the incoming newcomers to the 2007 squad.

 

The Tigers will kickoff the 2007 season with a tournament at Mississippi on August 24 and 25.

 

Player

Pos.

Ht.

Class

Hometown (High School/Previous School)

Notes of Note

Luiza Jarocka

OPP/S

6-0

Jr.

Warsaw, Poland (Mo. State-West Plains)

Spring signee

Lindsey McDaniel

S

5-10

Fr.

Columbia, Mo. (Rock Bridge)

Walk-on that joined the squad upon

high school graduation in December

Shayli Meyer

DS

5-6

Fr.

Sioux City, Iowa (Bishop Heelan)

Fall signee

Trinity Ojo

MB

6-3

Fr.

Arlington, Texas (Grace Prep Academy)

Spring signee

Caitlyn Vann

L

5-9

Fr.

Muncie, Ind. (Burris)

Fall signee

Weiwen Wang

RS/MB

6-0

Fr.

Nanjing, China (Jiangsu Education Institute)

Spring signee

Catie Wilson

MB

6-3

Fr.

Omaha, Neb. (Gross)

Fall signee

 

 

 

 

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