Missouri’s only win came in the third set
No. 7 seed Missouri ended the season with a 3-1 loss to No. 3 seed Kentucky in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. This was the Tigers’ third loss to the Wildcats of this season.
This ended the Tigers’ deepest run in the NCAA tournament since 2017, and the longest run under second-year head coach Dawn Sullivan.
The first set of play was competitive before Kentucky pulled away, winning the set 25-20. The Wildcats’ 6-2 run to seal the opening set helped build momentum for the remainder of the match.
Missouri accumulated five attacking errors to Kentucky’s three while allowing a .457 hitting percentage to the Wildcats.
The second set ended the same as the first, with Kentucky winning 25-20. Missouri trailed 20-12, but fought back with a 5-1 run before the Wildcats regained control to take a 2-0 lead.
The third set gave Missouri hope as the Tigers went on a 10-0 run to win the set 25-16. Missouri posted a match-high .520 hitting percentage in the team’s lone set win. Graduate student Mychael Vernon had six of her 11 kills come in the third set.
Vernon struggled outside of the third set, finishing the match hitting -.029. This came after she was named a member of the All-SEC first team.
Kentucky bounced back with an impressive defensive showing in the fourth, holding the Tigers to a -.037 hitting percentage. The Wildcats did not have any runs longer than four points in the set, and didn’t let Missouri win consecutive points during the set.
Senior Jordan Iliff put up a valiant effort in her final match sporting the black and gold with 20 kills and nine digs. She finished her career at Missouri with 1,237 kills and 585 digs, making all-SEC first team this year.
Missouri will lose seven seniors and graduate students, but look to retain high-impact players like Janet deMarrais, Marina Crownover, Maya Sands and Regan Haith.
Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Emma Short | eshort@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com