The Missouri Tigers’ conference record fell to 1-4 after a tightly fought loss to the Florida Gators in four sets. Another day of strong performances from the Tigers’ senior leaders Caylen Alexander and Maya Sands, was not enough for the Tigers to pull out a win.
Alexander recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 24 kills and 15 digs. Sands also tallied another solid outing with 19 digs on the day.
Mizzou went down 4-1 early in the first set, but back-to-back kills by Alexander evened the score at four apiece. The set went back and forth, but a service error by Alexander gave the Gators a 15-14 lead at the halfway mark. The score was tied at 20 apiece, but two consecutive kills from Florida was too much for the Tigers to overcome, as Florida took set one 25-23.
Missouri got off to a much stronger start to begin the second with back-to-back kills by senior Janet deMarrais and an ace by Sands giving the Tigers an early 4-0 lead. Missouri’s early lead grew to as big as 9 as they took a 13-4 lead after a poor set attempt from the Gators. The back half of the second set was a much different story. Six straight points from the Gators got them within one point. However, the Tigers were able to fight off Florida’s comeback attempt and took the set 25-22.
The final two sets were tightly fought and went back and forth with neither team growing a lead larger than three points. The score was tied 23-23 in the third set when the Gators converted on a challenge –– flipping the score 24-22 in their favor. The next two points were split and Florida took the set 25-23.
Missouri went on to lose the fourth set by a score of 28-26 in extra points. Similar to the third set, the back-and-fourth style of play continued. Florida finished off the Tigers with back-to-back kills, handing them their fourth conference loss of the season.
