Missouri volleyball moves onto the Sweet 16, defeating Texas State and SMU

Missouri volleyball took on the Texas State Bobcats and the SMU Mustangs in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament in the Dallas regional.

Texas State

In the first round of the NCAA tournament, Missouri volleyball swept Texas State, 3-0. The Tigers hit .270 in the match compared to the Bobcats’ .080 hitting percentage.

Missouri came out firing in the first set, capitalizing on the early errors from the Bobcats. A 9-2 run extended Missouri’s lead to 10 in the middle of the set. Texas State fought hard towards the end with a 5-1 run but an attack error by Mary Jane McCurdy clinched a 25-16 set one win for Missouri. 

“They came out, they were locked in and ready to compete, and played a really clean game that first set,” head coach Dawn Sullivan said. 

The majority of the second set was close, as seven early errors by the Tigers kept the Bobcats in the set. However, a 6-1 run for the Tigers gave them a lead  to win set two, 25-22. 

After being down by two sets, the Bobcats responded well, going on a 7-1 stint early. Then, Missouri went on a 7-1 point run of their own. However, Missouri got the points to win 25-22 in set three and clinch the sweep.

This will be the second consecutive season the Tigers make it to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

“I think we still have so much more to prove, so much potential,” Colleen Finney said.

SMU

In the second round of the NCAA tournament, Missouri volleyball defeated host team SMU 3-1 to move onto the Sweet 16. The last time the Tigers made it to the Sweet 16 was 2017.

Both teams exchanged service errors to begin the match. After that, most of the set was with both teams exchanging leads in the set. However, a late 3-1 run was all that the Tigers needed to get a 25-22 win in set one. 

The Tigers carried the momentum into the second set, as they maintained a comfortable lead up to eleven points. A 7-2 late run for Missouri capped off by a kill by Vernon clinched a 25-14 set two victory. 

The Tigers brought the energy into the third set early with a 4-0 stint. However, a 5-0 run for SMU gave them the lead for the first time in set three. However, SMU finally cashed in on one of their set points due to a service ace from Ellie Bolton. winning the third for the Mustangs, 33-31.

“I feel like when people watch us, they think of us as a really high energy, super passionate team,” Finney said. “For us to keep our composure during that match and be able to turn it around, that was really awesome to see.”

SMU held the lead for the first half of the fourth set. However, after a 5-1 run from Missouri, they maintained the lead for the rest of the set. Missouri ended up cashing in late with a kill by Jordan Iliff, winning the fourth set 25-22 and the match 3-1.

“Everyone saw that tonight, like no matter what the score is, how down we are, how up we are, we just put on the gas always, and the drive that we have, we play for each other,” Vernon said. 

Missouri plays at Pittsburgh against the Kentucky Wildcats for the third time this season at noon on Thursday Dec. 12. 

“I think the Zou is a really special place, and it’s a place that can win championships,” Sullivan said. 

Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com

Copyedited by Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com 

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com