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Hearnes Center, regarded as one of the loudest and most raucous atmospheres in the nation as the home of Mizzou Men’s and Women’s Basketball from 1970s – early 2000’s, became the new full-time home of Mizzou Volleyball upon the opening of Mizzou Arena in 2004. Since that time, the Hearnes Center has developed into one of the most intimidating venues in college volleyball.
In 2023, Mizzou saw a 240 percent increase in attendance in Dawn Sullivan's first season. Sullivan, the 2023 SEC Coach of the Year, led Mizzou to its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023 and first since 2020.
The Tigers surpassed 3,000 fans in five of their nine SEC matches in 2023 including a season-best attendance of 5,452 on Senior Night against Florida on Nov. 17. The crowd marked the seventh highest attendance at the Hearnes Center in Mizzou Volleyball's program history.
Match days at the Hearnes Center have an excitement that is unmatched. Missouri finished 20th in home attendance in the NCAA in 2023, averaging 2,453 fans.
In 18 of the past 23 seasons, Mizzou has finished in the Top 25 national attendance rankings. In fact, the Tigers have 15, Top 20 national attendance numbers and six, Top 10 totals since the 2000 campaign.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Taraflex sport court was installed at the Hearnes Center prior to head coach Dawn Sullivan’s first season at Mizzou.
Mizzou Volleyball National Home Attendance Rankings
Year Rank Total Attendance Average Attendance
2024 20 37,466 3,122
2023 20 36,792 2,453
2022 137 5,496 458
2021 60 9,920 763
2020-21 5 8,054 805
2019 32 19,660 1,512
2018 26 20,965 1,747
2017 27 14,394 1,599
2016 8 35,692 2,547
2015 7 32,477 2,952
2014 22 26,505 1,893
2013 3 62,717 3,301
2012 20 26,767 1,784
2011 13 25,279 2,298
2010 16 26,632 2,049
2009 20 27,302 1,820
2008 16 17,875 1,625
2007 11 27,337 2,103
2006 7 28,216 2,565
2005 6 40,052 2,670
2004 19 21,894 1,460
2003 25 18,435 1,418
2002 16 19,567 1,398
2001 23 15,278 1,175
2000 27 11,152 858
In its second-ever season in the SEC, Mizzou put together one of the finest seasons in program history in 2013. The fans flocked to Mizzou in stunning numbers, finishing sixth nationally in average attendance (3,301) and third in total attendance (62,717). In fact, Mizzou welcomed more than 7,000 fans twice in 2013, resetting the attendance record as it lifted the SEC Championship trophy in front of 7,879 crazed black and gold fans.
Todd Henrichs of the Lincoln Journal-Star had this to say about the Hearnes Center when the Tigers and Nebraska competed as part of the Big 12 Conference, "One of the most energetic and best-organized student groups is the ‘VolleyZOU’ at Missouri. Their energy has drawn other fans to the Mizzou matches and their enthusiasm has helped turn Missouri's home court into as intimidating a venue as there is in the Big 12."
When the legendary coaching duo of Wayne Kreklow and Susan Kreklow took over the Mizzou Volleyball program in 2000, one of their first initiatives was to build a strong and passionate fan base. Spirit groups such as the student-only "VolleyZOU" and the senior citizen fan club "The Golden Tigers" are a big reason why Mizzou has continually ranked among the nation's elite fan bases. In 2005, Mizzou placed sixth nationally in average attendance (2,670), shattering the previous school record.
During the following 2006 campaign, the Tigers once again finished Top 10 nationally in average attendance (2,565). Two years after the aforementioned magical 2013 SEC Championship-winning campaign, Mizzou produced back to back Top 10 national average attendance rankings in 2015 and 2016. The Tigers placed seventh (2,952) and eighth (2,547) in the country those years, respectively.
Volleyball matches at Hearnes Center offer a little bit of everything for everyone and are very budget friendly. Families have benefited as their sons and daughters witness the hard-work and great-attitudes of the Mizzou Volleyball family and get to meet the student-athletes up close in a variety of ways, ranging from post-match autograph sessions to pre-season youth clinics.
Top 10 All-Time Mizzou Volleyball Single-Match Attendance
- 7,879 vs. Mississippi State (Nov. 20, 2013)
- 7,437 vs. Arkansas (Nov. 27, 2013)
- 7,298 vs. Nebraska (Oct. 5, 2005)
- 6,379 vs. Florida (Nov. 15, 2024)
- 6,294 vs. Missouri State (Dec. 2, 2005)
- 6,105 vs. Nebraska (Oct. 11, 2006)
- 6,059 vs. Nebraska (Oct. 17, 2007)
- 5,452 vs. Florida (Nov. 17, 2023)
- 4,581 vs. IUPUI (Dec. 6, 2013)
- 4,457 vs. Tennessee (Nov. 26, 2016)
- 4,402 vs. Florida (Oct. 20, 2013)
- 4,012 vs. Texas (Nov. 20, 2005)
