The Tigers take down Texas, extending their winning streak to seven matches
Missouri volleyball pulled out a 3-2 win against the national champion-winning Texas Longhorns on Nov. 1.
Texas sustained a lead in the first set, winning 25-21 to open the match. The first set was close as Missouri went on a 4-0 run to give them a point lead. Texas quickly responded with a 5-0, giving them a 14-10 lead. Texas held the lead, winning the Longhorns the first match.
The Tigers’ offense responded with several runs in set two, evening the match with a 25-19 win. Missouri started fast with an 8-1 run. The Longhorns bounced back with a 10-2 run to tie the set up at 13.
A 4-0 run at the end of the set capped off by a kill from Janet deMarrais clinched the 25-19 second set win.
The second set was a defensive battle as the Tigers hit .194, but they held Texas to a .065 hitting percentage. This was also the first set the Tigers have won against a ranked opponent in the 2024 campaign so far.
Texas retook the lead in the match, winning 25-17 in set three. Neither team had a lead of more than two points for most of the set. However, multiple late 4-0 runs for the Longhorns gave them a boost to pull away and put the Tigers in a tough 2-1 deficit.
Missouri chipped away at an early Texas lead, coming back to win the set 26-24. Texas began the fourth set on fire as a 5-0 run put the Tigers behind early. The Tigers responded with a kill from Jordan Iliff and Missouri won the fourth set, sending the match to a winner-take-all fifth set.
Missouri sealed the upset win 15-10 in the final set. A crucial 3-0 run for Missouri to give them a 9-7 lead. After a kill from Texas, Missouri went on a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 14-9. An attack error from Marianna Singletary gave the Tigers the final point they needed to win the match in five sets.
After this win, the Tigers are expected to move up in both the RPI and the AVCA rankings.
The next match takes place at home, Wednesday Nov. 6 against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com