Following a loss against the Kentucky Wildcats, Missouri volleyball responded with a 3-0 homestand, including conference wins against Alabama and Tennessee. Here are three takeaways from the Tigers’ three game stretch.

“Heart of Hearnes”

Missouri volleyball Head Coach Dawn Sullivan very often refers to the fans attending games at the Hearnes Center as the “Heart of Hearnes”. So far, the Tigers are undefeated in their home matchups. Their large attendance has been a huge factor for their success with 3,345 fans at the match against Tennessee.

“I thought it was awesome. I thought it was really hype,” Marina Crownover said. “It’s one of the first times that I’ve played in the Hearnes Center for real, especially at SEC play and I was just really excited. I can’t wait for the rest of the season here at home.”

The student section during the match on Friday against Alabama was full of Missouri athletic teams including men’s basketball, gymnastics and women’s soccer. Out of all of them, men’s swimming and diving showed the most energy. 

“Whenever the swimmers come here and they take off all 25 layers of clothes, how do you not win that game?” Jordan Iliff said. “You have to win that game and that’s exactly what we did. They fire us up, not just them, all the other teams. And so that was really exciting.”

The Tigers finish up their homestand on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. against Mississippi State. 

Iliff makes history

Iliff is continuing her standout season, accomplishing multiple feats during the Tigers’ match against Alabama. Iliff has now accumulated over 1,000 career kills and 100 career service aces throughout her four years with the Tigers.

“It’s just so deserving,” Sullivan said. “I think she’s such a big piece of who this program is, and just very thankful.”

To break into the top ten in Missouri volleyball history in both statistics and pass Nicole Wilson, she’ll need 120 service aces and 1,156 kills. 

“I was so excited and I was excited to be here in the Hearnes Center with so many fans and my family and all my friends watching,” Iliff said.

Crownover ‘assists’ success

A big role in Missouri volleyball’s recent success is due to setter Crownover’s great play.  In her last two games, the redshirt-sophomore transfer from Texas recorded 495 assists in the 2024 season.

“She’s been great for us,” Sullivan said. “She runs a really nice offense and I think she’s learning how to do it well with the team that we have.”

In the previous loss Missouri had against Kentucky, Crownover only totaled 17 assists. Missouri will need Crownover to continue her success in order for the team to continue to thrive against future SEC competition.

Edited by Michael Stamps | [email protected]

Copyedited by Alana Sheba and Hannah Taylor | [email protected]

Edited by Emily Skidmore | [email protected]