The numbers tell one story for No. 21 Missouri volleyball. As a team, the Tigers tallied three wins, a .289 hitting percentage and 15 service aces in the Leatherneck Classic this past weekend, but this tournament was about more than stats for Missouri. It was about confidence, depth and momentum as the Tigers gear up for their toughest stretch of the season.
Missouri opened the tournament with a hard-fought four-set victory over Valparaiso (9-4), going 25-18, 24-26, 25-23 and 25-16 on Friday, Sept. 19, at Western Hall in Macomb, Ill. From there, they swept both Chicago State and Western Illinois to leave the weekend with a perfect 3-0 record and an 8-3 mark on the season.
Multiple Tigers hit major milestones in the win over Valparaiso, including senior outside hitter Janet deMarrais, who posted a season-high 20 kills with a .295 hitting percentage, and senior middle blocker Regan Haith, who recorded a career-best 10 blocks. Redshirt junior setter Marina Crownover registered her sixth double-double of the season with 40 assists and 12 digs, and senior libero Maya Sands added 29 digs, just one shy of tying her career high.
Here are the biggest takeaways as Missouri heads into Southeastern Conference play.
Young Core is Stepping Up
The Tigers’ freshmen made a large impact during the weekend. Setter Nina Mandovic earned her first career start and delivered with 19 assists and four service aces against Western Illinois. Outside hitters Paige Felder and Asia Harvey had an impressive showing, with Felder posting a career-high eight kills and three aces in the Chicago State match, and Harvey putting up some clutch kills, including the match point against Western Illinois.
As head coach, Dawn Sullivan balances seasoned seniors with emerging freshmen; these performances hint at the kind of depth that could help Missouri withstand the grind of SEC play.
Service Pressure is Changing Matches
The Tigers’ serving game wasn’t just good throughout the tournament; it was a weapon. The Tigers racked up 15 aces against Chicago State, their highest single-match total since 2018.
Players like redshirt senior middle blocker Tyrah Ariail, who hit a career-high four aces, showed how aggressive serving can disrupt opponents and create scoring runs. That pressure will be critical against SEC opponents, where a few key points decide every set.
Finding Ways to Close Out Sets
The Valparaiso match showed Missouri’s resilience. After dropping a tight second set, the Tigers bounced back and took the fourth set 25-16 to clinch the win. Against Western Illinois, they turned a close match into a statement victory.
Closing out sets with authority, especially after adversity, is the kind of maturity the Tigers will need as competition ramps up.
The Bigger Picture
With a perfect weekend in the books, Missouri left Macomb 8-3, brimming with confidence heading into its most difficult test yet. The Tigers will go on to play two matches against ranked SEC opponents, No. 14 Texas A&M on Sept. 24 and No. 2 Texas on Sept. 26.
Sullivan is now 48-25 in her career with the Tigers, blending veteran leadership with a fearless freshman class and a rejuvenated serving game to give Missouri the tools to compete. The coming weeks will show if this momentum can translate into something bigger.
Edited by Colin Simmons l [email protected]
Copy edited by Ethan Palgon and Ava Mohror | [email protected]
Edited by Chase Pray | [email protected]
