Missouri senior right side hitter Jordan Iliff performs a jump serve on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. Iliff was named to the Women’s Collegiate National Team for a second summer this year.
Finney shines as the Tigers start their season with a 3-0 sweep
In a 3-0 sweep against Omaha, middle blocker Colleen Finney was on fire in the preseason exhibition match.
Finney finished the game with eight total blocks and 17 assists. Oregon State transfer Mychael Vernon had a team-high of 11 kills, propelling the Tigers to comebacks in the first two sets.
Omaha started the match on a 6-0 run. The Tigers responded with a 5-0 run of their own to cut down Omaha’s lead to a single point. Both teams had responses for one another’s attacks, until the Tigers went on an 8-0 run, solidifying a comfortable lead for the first time in the set. Up 24-23 and the set point on the line, Finney secured a kill to clinch the first set for Missouri.
Missouri volleyball players walk to huddle together, celebrating a point scoredon Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. The team sweptOmaha, winning all 3 sets in the exhibition game ahead of the regular season.
“I think this team has always been pretty gritty, and I think they showed that today,” MU Head Coach Dawn Sullivan said. “No matter what the score is, they have the ability to just believe in themselves and come back.”
The second set started with an even score between both parties exchanging points early. The set consisted of 10 ties and neither team had more than a three-point lead. Missouri was on fire at the end of the set, and won 25-23 due to an attack error by Omaha’s McKenna Ruch.
Missouri cruised into the third set thanks to a 5-0 early run to solidify a lead from the start. The lead stayed stagnant throughout the set due to blocks from Finney. Omaha fought to cut Missouri’s lead to three, but couldn’t keep up as the Tigers won the set 25-20 and completed the 3-0 sweep.
Missouri defeated Omaha, a team who has made the NCAA Tournament in recent years. However, the Tigers are still far from hitting their full potential.
“I think we have work to do…I don’t think I’m probably all that satisfied,” Sullivan said.
The Tigers will officially start their season at the Bluejay Invitational in Omaha, Nebraska from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1. Their first game is against Drake on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m.
Missouri sophomore setter Sierra Dudley jump serves to opponent Omaha, onSunday, Aug. 25, 2024 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. Dudley made the SECAll-Freshman Team in 2023 and started in every match last year.
Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com