With over 1,200 kills so far, a consistent season of strong hitting has paid off for Missouri’s volleyball team.
Missouri is currently the second-ranked team in the Southeastern Conference, complemented by the league’s third-highest hitting percentage at .274.
Their success can be traced back to the number of options the team has when it comes to hitting. With nine out of the 15 players on the roster at an offensive position, there’s always someone strong at the net.
“We have so many weapons,” junior Carly Kan said. “You can’t just dial in on one because someone else is gonna come in after you. If we have a good pass it’s hard to stop us because we have three options every time and anyone can put the ball away pretty handily.”
Kan, an outside hitter, has made a heavy contribution to the team’s offensive success. She currently leads the Tigers in kills with 375 on .267 hitting. Along with senior Regan Peltier and sophomore Sydney Deeken, the three outside hitters have amassed more than 500 kills.
The Tigers have been working on earning points each play rather than letting their opponent give them points through errors, making them tougher to stop at the net.
“All of our hitters are very offensive-minded,” sophomore Kira Larson said. “You’re not gonna get a nice easy shot from us. We go up every time and have the mindset of ‘I wanna hit the ball,’ and I think that’s something that a lot of teams have noticed.”
Larson and freshman Alyssa Munlyn, a transfer student from Nebraska, have been strong additions to the offense this year. Munlyn, a middle blocker, currently holds a .354 hitting percentage and has tallied 172 kills so far in the season. Larson holds a .330 with 210 kills as a right side hitter.
“They’ve both contributed tons,” coach Wayne Kreklow said. “They have a physical presence at the net. They’re both great athletes and are both really competitive.”
Versatility between the middle blockers and right side hitters adds to Mizzou’s success. Junior Julia Towler currently has 129 kills on a .299 hitting percentage and has played both positions throughout the season. Junior Emily Thater has 120 kills as a middle blocker on .332 hitting, one of the highest for the team.
The combination of strong players and many play options allows Mizzou some leeway in case a member of the team isn’t on top of their game every night.
“At the end of the day, what’s really critical for a team is you gotta have options,” Kreklow said. “Somebody’s gonna have a great night one night and the next someone is going to be off. That’s the nature of sports.”