After loosing to Eastern Illinois on the first day of a double-header, Missouri volleyball bounced back to secure a 3-1 win on Friday.
Missouri women’s volleyball went 1-1 in Charleston, Illinois, snapping Eastern Illinois undefeated streak. The Tigers struggled in Thursday’s sets, getting dominated on offense.
Missouri couldn’t stop Eastern Illinois senior Giovana Larregui Lopez, who had six kills in the first set. The Panthers took an early 7-2 lead, but the Tigers bounced back. Junior middle blocker Morgan Isenberg and junior right side Jordan Iliff led the early comeback, with help from a few EIU errors. Despite the strong effort, the Panthers captured the first set 25-22.
The Tigers kept it close the entirety of the second set. Again, the efforts of Iliff kept the set close the entire time. Iliff had 2 of her 8 kills during the second set. The second set ended 21-25. The final set was not close, as the Panthers took control of the court, resulting in Missouri losing 13-25. The Tigers would leave Thursday without a win, facing the Panthers again the next day.
The Tigers and the Panthers went back and forth to start the first set with multiple attack errors. Kills from Isenberg, Iliff and senior outside hitter Dilara Gedikoglu led the Tigers on a 9-4 scoring run, closing out the first set 25-18. The Panthers went up 9-2 early in the second set, led by freshman Julia Stanev and taking advantage of a few Tiger errors. The Tiger’s freshman setter Sierra Dudley got in on the action to lead the team back, recording 48 assists through four sets for the second go-around against the Panthers. The Panthers would eventually close out the second set 25-20.
The Panthers kept it close during the third set, but Gedikoglu and Isenberg carried them to a 25-22 win. In the fourth set, Eastern Illinois again kept it close. However, it wasn’t enough. The Tigers ,led by Isenberg, went on to win the fourth set, defeating Eastern Illinois 3-1.
Sophomore outside hitter Janet deMarrais led the team with 19 kills through both games, while Iliff finished with 18 and Isenberg with 14. The win was a combined effort from all three players.
Missouri women’s volleyball now moves to 8-3 on the season, as they roll into the SEC conference play. They travel to Knoxville for a game against the Tennessee Volunteers on Sept. 20. Following Tennessee, they will match up against South Carolina, Louisiana State and Texas A&M.
Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.com
Copy Edited by Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com
