Missouri Coach Endorses Baden Volleyballs

Missouri Coach Wayne Kreklow Endorses Baden Volleyballs

Tigers’ women’s volleyball team to use Baden balls exclusively in camps, clinics, practices and non-conference home games

RENTON, Wash. (August 14, 2015) – Baden Sports, Inc., today announced an endorsement deal with University of Missouri women’s volleyball coach Wayne Kreklow, the 2013 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Coach of the Year. Under terms of the agreement, the Tigers will use Baden volleyballs exclusively in all camps, clinics, practices and non-conference home games, starting this year.

Kreklow, along with wife, Susan, formerly the head coach, now assistant coach, have built Missouri into a national power since they arrived in Columbia, Mo., in 2000, combining for 11 trips to the NCAA tournament and averaging 20 wins a year. The Tigers enjoyed their best season in program history in 2013, winning the school’s first SEC championship and becoming the first SEC team to go unbeaten through a regular season at 34-0. They finished the year ranked first nationally in hitting, kills, assists, wins and points per set. Last December, Missouri was named the sixth-best college in the nation for playing women’s volleyball by College Factual, which used “consistent excellence in the sport” as a key criterion.¹

“Wayne and Susan Kreklow have done a remarkable job building the Missouri program and we’re excited to support their continued success,” said Michael Schindler, CEO, Baden Sports. “Our volleyballs are designed and manufactured for quality and performance, and we’re eager for everybody associated with the Tigers’ program – from campers to scholarship players – to experience the difference.”

Baden’s Perfection® VX5E and VX5EC volleyballs are the company’s flagship leather game balls, constructed with full-grain, pre-sorted leather for optimum touch and feel. They feature Baden’s Stealth Soft-Valve System™ for maximum consistency and playability, a blended cotton wrap to ensure shape retention, and a specially formulated adhesive to prevent panels from peeling.

“Baden Sports makes some of the best volleyballs in the game today,” said Missouri volleyball head coach Wayne Kreklow. “Their attention to detail, commitment to quality and focus on the player sets them apart, and makes Baden a partner we look forward to working with for years to come.”

In addition to volleyballs, the Tigers will use Baden’s latest volleyball cart, the Perfection® Hammock Cart, which was newly designed this year for quality and durability. Featuring a tempered alloy frame, nylon bag with reinforced seams and clear, non-marking rollerblade wheels, the cart can hold more than 30 volleyballs and comes with an unprecedented three-year guarantee.

Baden also provides the official court volleyball of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and is the official volleyball of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA).

All of Baden’s volleyball products, including accessories, can be purchased through team dealers, online or at major retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.shopbaden.com or www.badensports.com.

About Missouri Volleyball

The University of Missouri volleyball program, under the guidance of Wayne and Susan Kreklow since 2000, has grown into one of the nation’s premier college programs. The Tigers of Columbia, Mo., compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and have made 11 trips to the NCAA tournament in the past 15 seasons, twice advancing to the Sweet 16, once to the Elite Eight, and averaged 20 wins a year. Missouri posted its best season in program history in 2013, finishing the regular season with a perfect 34-0 record and winning the school’s first-ever SEC championship. For the latest on Missouri volleyball, visitwww.mutigers.com or follow the team on Twitter@MizzouVB.

About Baden Sports

Baden Sports, Inc., an independent, family-owned company based in Renton, Wash., is a designer and producer of the highest-quality athletic balls. Baden also manufactures the new Axe™ line of high-performance baseball and softball bats. For 35 years, Baden’s product innovation and leadership have led conferences, programs and coaches at all levels to choose Baden as their official ball. For more information, visit Baden’s website and Facebook page.

¹ http://www.collegefactual.com/rankings/sports/volleyball-women/