In its fifth SEC game of the season, Missouri Volleyball traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama Wednesday to face the Crimson Tide, who entered the game on a six-game losing streak. The Tigers looked to earn a win and move back over .500 on the year, but could not stop the Tide, who tallied nearly 50 kills on the night and beat the Tigers 25-21, 29-27 and 25-10 to win the game in three sets.

Senior outside hitter Anna Dixon led the way for the Tigers in the first set, recording five kills — three more than freshman setter Riley Buckley and sophomore right side Jordan Iliff, who each tallied two. The Tigers kept the score close, coming within three late in the set. Two Alabama assists from senior opposite hitter Emily Janek extended the lead for the Tide and gave them the win 25-21.

The Tigers looked to turn the game around in set two. Fueled by the big three of Dixon, Buckley and Iliff, the team temporarily held off the Tide, as they took a seven point lead 23-16. Following a round of substitutions, Alabama scored seven of the next eight points to tie the game at 24. From there, the Tigers struggled, with two more attack errors costing them the set 29-27 — giving Alabama a 2-0 set lead.

To open the third set, the Tide took a 6-1 lead. A low hitting percentage of .129 kept the Tigers out of the game, who also committed more errors and less assists than their opponent. A team-high seven kills recorded by Alabama senior middle blocker Alyiah Wells helped the Tide, who later scored seven straight points and nine of the last ten, cruising to a lopsided victory in the third set, 25-10.

Though Dixon led Missouri in kills for the fourth time this season, the Tigers offense came up short on the road in a 3-0 victory for Alabama. The Tide improved to 7-12 on the season, earning its first Southeastern Conference win. Currently, Missouri sits in last place in the SEC and will continue searching for its first October win Saturday, Oct. 15, when the Tigers will host Auburn, which holds second place in the SEC at 1 p.m.

Edited by Riley Gearhart | rgearhart@themaneater.com