Missouri lost to Nebraska in 3 sets on Dec. 2.
After a win in the first round against the Delaware Blue Hens, Missouri volleyball took on national powerhouse the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Cornhuskers were a big task, coming in as the top-ranked team in the country, according to RPI.
Nebraska jumped out with a hot start, getting to a 7-0 run led by three service aces from freshman setter Bergen Reilly. The Tigers got on the scoreboard after a Cornhusker error, but a Tiger didn’t officially score until a kill by junior right side Jordan Iliff. Iliff’s kill then set the score 7-2 in favor of Nebraska. The Tigers closed the lead to two points after multiple Nebrasks errors and an ace from senior left side Lauren Forbes, making the score 10-8.
That comeback turned out to mean little in the end, as the Cornhuskers went on a tear. The Tigers only scored six more points during the set and didn’t have any answers for the Cornhusker defense. Nebraska won the first set 24-15. Sophomore outside Janet deMarrais did her best to keep the beginning of the second set close, but there wasn’t any stopping the Cornhuskers.
Missouri again made Nebraska’s lead tighter after back-to-back kills from graduate outside hitter Dilara Gedikoglu. One error from both teams put the score at 10-8, which was followed by a three-point Cornhusker run. Gedikoglu and deMarrais did their best to keep the second set competitive, but they couldn’t stop the Cornhuskers. The opponent got the lead to 20-13, and there was nothing that could be done. Iliff, Gedikoglu and graduate middle blocker Colleen Finney made the score of the set closer, but Nebraska dominated once again. The final was 25-19.
The Tigers started strong in the third set, going up 9-8 after a kill by Finney. That was short-lived as Nebraska went on a 4-0 run, mainly coming from Tiger errors.
Missouri then bounced back, retaking the lead coming from a deMarrais kill. The score was 15-14, and the Tigers were still alive in the match. They had a lead down the stretch of the set as well, with a mill from freshman setter Sierra Dudley, making the score 20-19.
Missouri couldn’t close it out, and Nebraska went on to win the final set sweeping the Tigers 3-0. This put an end to the season for Missouri volleyball, finishing with a record of 18-13 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Grace Knight | gknight@themaneater.com