The Missouri volleyball team took the court Saturday at the Tiger Invitational after losing its first match of the season Friday. The Tigers played two matches, losing to Miami of Ohio and beating Rice.

In Missouri’s opening match, Miami started the first set strong, taking down the Tigers 25-17. Mizzou fought back and won the second set 25-22, but Miami regained momentum in the third set, winning by 25-23.

Mizzou took set four 27-25, forcing a tie-breaking fifth set. Unfortunately for the Tigers, it was Miami that won the fifth set 15-9.

Mizzou started the first set of the second match strong and energized. Rice kept things interesting at the beginning, going back and forth with the Tigers. Mizzou pulled away toward the end of the set, however, winning 25-15. The Tigers featured a powerful front line, as senior Emily Thater, junior Sydney Deeken and sophomore Alyssa Munlyn each tallied four kills. The Tigers also shined defensively as Thater and senior Alexa Ethridge had three digs each.

The second set went to Rice by a score of 25-20, as Owls right side hitter Chelsey Harris hammered away with three sharp kills, causing problems for the Tigers defensively.

Mizzou started to pick up momentum in the third set with blocks that shut down the Owls. Deeken had a block and block assist. Thater and junior Melanie Crow also contributed block assists to help the Tigers’ defense. Rice would not be able to catch up, and Missouri won 25-21.

The fourth set was crucial for the Tigers – they were one set away from winning their first home game.

Rice started off with great blocking, putting stress on the Mizzou hitters. The Tigers bounced back, however, and gained points with eight kills from Carly Kan, two from Kira Larson and five each from Crow and Munlyn. Showing great defense and offense, the Tigers took the game, winning the fourth set 25-20.

In the first two Missouri losses, the players discovered what they needed to focus on to make themselves better.

“You go out there and put expectations on yourself,” Larson said. “I just had to think, ‘I’m going to go out there, play loose and play relaxed, no high expectations.’”

Coach Wayne Kreklow feels that it’s better that the team’s growing pains happen sooner rather than later.

“It is better to have our weaknesses exposed now, rather than in October,” he said. “We can look at this as a negative and say we lost two games, or we can take this as a positive and see what it is we need to work on for the season.”

_Edited by Peter Baugh | pbaugh@themaneater.com_