In the final game of the Mizzou Classic, the hosts went out with a bang. 

Despite a valiant effort from reigning Patriot League champion Colgate, Missouri emerged victorious in five sets. 

The Raiders soared out of the gates, going up 7-1 early. However, four of those points came from self-inflicted errors by the Tigers, as mis-hits and miscommunication defined the first few minutes of action for Missouri. Despite the slow start, the home team cleaned up their act, as three consecutive kills by junior outside hitter Jordan Iliff made it 11-9 Raiders. 

The theme of the first set was Colgate pulling away whenever Missouri caught up. After Iliff’s third kill, the Raiders took seven of the next ten points. Another Iliff kill and a pair of service aces from graduate outside hitter Dilara Gedikoglu brought Missouri back within three, only for Colgate to take six of the next nine points en route to a 25-21 first set victory.

The second set went a lot better for the Tigers. They were able to find Gedikoglu and Iliff for golden kill opportunities, and they converted often. Gedikoglu ended the set with six kills, Iliff finished with five, and the Tigers took the second set in relatively dominant fashion, 25-19. 

Despite Missouri retaking momentum in the second set, Colgate took it right back in the third. The Raiders took five of the first six points and never saw their lead dwindle below three, and the road team romped to a 25-15 third set win. 

The beginning of the fourth set looked like a repeat of the first. Colgate went up 5-1 behind four kills from freshman outside hitter Frances Torres, but that’s when Missouri found a rhythm. With the contributions from a handful of different Tigers, Missouri took a 16-12 lead. The Raiders then found a rhythm of their own, keeping the score close throughout the rest of the set, with senior middle blocker Sophie Thompson and senior opposite hitter Gillian Hauschild doing the heavy lifting. However, a handful of errors sunk the Raiders late, and the Tigers ultimately forced a fifth set.

The fifth set was tight throughout, but behind Gedikoglu, the Tigers prevailed, 15-12. Colgate’s toothpaste-clean play faltered in the second half, and it ultimately led to their demise. The victory puts Missouri at 3-0 for the first time since 2019. 

Gedikoglu and Iliff combined for 38 kills. Freshman setter Sierra Dudley racked up 52 assists, as she was once again instrumental in the successes of the outside hitters. 

Missouri’s next contest will be next Friday at 6 p.m., when they open the Tiger invitational against Northern Kentucky. Colgate will head to Happy Valley for the Penn State Invitational next weekend; they’ll battle Western Kentucky in the tournament-opener on Friday at 11 a.m.