All-American. Team USA. Coach. #MizzouMade.

Over her four-year career as a student-athlete with Mizzou Volleyball (2010-13), setter Molly Kreklow cemented herself as one of the all-time greats in program history. The Delano, Minn., native stepped in immediately for head coach Wayne Kreklow, pacing the Tigers with 1,392 assists in her freshman season. The 2010 All-Big 12 Team honoree helped snap Mizzou’s two-year hiatus from the NCAA Tournament, as the Tigers advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history.

Kreklow continued her progression as Mizzou’s showcase setter the succeeding three seasons, averaging 1,300-plus assists each year in Tiger black and gold. Following another All-Big 12 Team recognition in her sophomore season, Kreklow entered her 2013 senior campaign with something to prove. The “STP” attitude quickly spread amongst her teammates and became the official motto of that year’s squad.

The hard work and cohesiveness demonstrated by everyone in the program paid off, culminating in a 2013 Southeastern Conference Championship and perfect 34-0 regular season record for the Tigers. It marked Mizzou Athletics’ first-ever SEC title since joining its new conference in 2012. For Kreklow, seeing the steady rise in the program from her freshman year to her senior campaign was extremely fulfilling.

“I was highly recruited in high school and I had offers from many top programs, but I came to Mizzou because I wanted to be a part of something special here. I wanted to try to make a difference in this program in getting to the next level. My senior season was that special year that everyone really gave a lot to make it happen. It wasn’t an easy road to get to that point, but I think that the 2013 season was validation for everyone in the program that all the hard stuff we went through and all the hours of extra work we put in finally paid off. It was really special earning that first SEC Championship for Mizzou. It’s something that everyone a part of that 2013 team will never forget.”

Following the Tigers’ magical run in 2013, Kreklow earned her first-ever AVCA All-American recognition and became only the 12th all-time individual in Mizzou Volleyball history with All-American honors. Along with her SEC Player of the Year honors, Kreklow departed Columbia, Mo., and began her rapid ascent into the professional volleyball scene. First, she headed overseas and competed with Dresdner SC (Dresden, Germany), Eczacibasi Vitra (Istanbul, Turkey) and Liu Jo Nordmeccanica Modena (Modena, Italy). Her crowning moment occurred with Dresdner SC, as the squad claimed the 2015 Bundesliga Championship.

Kreklow also multi-tasked with the U.S. National Team from 2014-16, including playing at the FIVB World Cup and Grand Prix. She captured a pair of bronze medals at the 2014-15 FIVB World Cups and a championship at the 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix. At the premier event, Kreklow earned “Best Setter” honors and later led to USA Volleyball’s “Female Indoor Most Improved Player of the Year” award.

“Wayne and Susan (Kreklow) were huge in preparing me for my post-college success. I really matured at Mizzou as a player and person under their guidance. I’m grateful that I was in an environment that shaped me in a positive way. My time with Team USA was incredible. I have so many great memories from those years I spent training and competing with some really great people. It was an absolute honor representing the U.S. and playing in tournaments all over the world. Playing for the National Team ultimately gave me the desire to start my coaching career and I hope that I can help college players reach their potential and dreams.”

Prior to the 2017 Mizzou Volleyball season, Tigers head coach Wayne Kreklow announced the addition of Molly to his staff as a volunteer assistant coach. With her years as a standout player at Mizzou and professional experience overseas and with the U.S. National Team, Kreklow was poised to make an instant impact with the current roster of Tigers student-athletes.

“My first season as a coach was a huge learning experience for me. I’m extremely passionate about winning and helping our student-athletes improve and grow as both players and young women. Our players did a lot of both of those things this past season, which was extremely fun to watch as one of their coaches. Wayne and Susan have taught me a great deal about coaching, recruiting, running a program and working with your spouse (current Mizzou Volleyball assistant coach, Joshua Taylor). They are incredibly selfless in the work they put in for this program and these players, which is something I hope to emulate for many years.”

Molly serves as yet another outstanding example of the “MizzouMade” brand that continues to shine each year at the University of Missouri and Mizzou Athletics. Whether it was her teammates, coaches or support staff, Kreklow attributes much of her success throughout her life journey so far to the countless individuals she interacted with during her tenure as an athlete and coach in Columbia.

“It’s hard to put into words all the lessons and takeaways that I’ve had from my time at Mizzou. I think the work ethic I developed at Mizzou and the belief that the work I was putting in ‘today’ was going to help me ‘tomorrow’. It was my coaches and teammates at Mizzou that really showed me how much potential I had in my career. Another big lesson for me was learning how to be a leader and positive influence on others. It wasn’t until my senior season that I learned the best way to make an impact on those people around me was to invest in them. I spent a lot of time with Director of Mental Performance, Dr. Scotta Morton. She really encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and become a better leader and teammate.”