No. 21 Missouri volleyball fought hard but ultimately fell in a tightly contested battle against No. 2 Texas Friday night at Gregory Gym, dropping its fourth consecutive match against a ranked opponent, but this time in straight sets: 25-19, 26-24 and 27-25.
The Tigers, now 8-5 overall and 3-4 on the road, showed grit despite the loss. Senior outside hitter Caylen Alexander led with 17 kills on a .385 hitting percentage — adding four blocks and two service aces. Redshirt junior setter Marina Crownover tallied 28 assists, while redshirt freshman Maca Lobaglio posted five blocks. Senior libero Maya Sands anchored the defense with seven digs, showcasing hustle and skill throughout the match.
Missouri battled back fiercely from an early 11-5 deficit in the first set, clawing its way within two points at 19-17. In the end, the Longhorns pulled away in the final moments to close out the frame 25-19.
The second set featured 14 ties and multiple lead changes. Alexander sparked the Tigers to a brief 11-8 lead with a powerful kill, only for Texas to answer with a decisive 5-1 run. Missouri refused to back down, knotting the score at 24-24, but Texas ultimately edged out the final two points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set, Missouri grabbed another early 11-8 advantage. Again, the Longhorns rallied and pushed the match to a 24-24 deadlock. Despite the Tigers’ valiant effort, Texas closed the set 27-25, sealing the sweep and leaving Missouri just short of a comeback victory.
The Tigers now hold an 11-23 record against the Longhorns. Head coach Dawn Sullivan now stands at a 48-27 record with Missouri and 157-65 overall in her coaching career.
Missouri is set to host its third Southeastern Conference matchup of the season Thursday, Oct. 3, welcoming Arkansas to the Hearnes Center. With this fierce showing against one of the nation’s top teams, the Tigers will be hungry for a fight.
Edited by Colin Simmons l [email protected]
Copy edited by Ava Mohror | [email protected]
Edited by Chase Pray | [email protected]
