After MU started off the season with a win against Illinois State, new head coach Dawn Sullivan and the Missouri Tigers women’s volleyball team showed hiccups, but rallied and defeated the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears 3-2.

The first set was back and forth, with MU falling behind at first but then coming back. However, after multiple defensive and hitting errors by the Tigers, Central Arkansas won the first set 26-24.Senior Charlie Tidwell had seven kills in the first set for Central Arkansas, while graduate student Colleen Finnley had four for Missouri. 

The beginning of the second set was all about Missouri. As they started off hot, scoring unanswered points and taking a comfortable lead. However, Central Arkansas had a seven point rally, putting them ahead 19-14 on the Tigers. Missouri seemed to be stressed and unorganized as the Sugar Bears had two aces, while Mizzou had many ball handling flaws. Central Arkansas ended up winning the set 25-19, taking a two set lead. 

Missouri started off the third set hot, getting three unanswered points, but then Central Arkansas came right back and tied it up. Senior Lexie Gregory recorded her third ace of the game for the Sugar Bears, but despite her efforts, Missouri was not going to let Arkansas back into the game. After a few more plays, Missouri took the set 25-17.

Missouri started off strong in the fourth set, with a 6-0 scoring run. Even after Central Arkansas made a rally to come back, the Tigers dominated and kept a gap of around six points through most of the set. After a slight run from Central Arkansas, Missouri took the set 25-20 to tie things up and bring it all up to the fifth set.

Central Arkansas scored the first point of the fifth and final set. Missouri then had a great run and led by three points, but the Sugar Bears came right back and tied the game. However, the Tigers rallied again. The Tigers had a streak of five unanswered points, and while Central Arkansas rallied to make the game close again, MU made the comeback and won the fifth set 15-13 off an attack error by junior Mackenzie Vernon and remained undefeated.

For Missouri, the highlighted player was junior Jordan Iliff, who had fifteen kills, seven digs and was around the court whenever the team needed her. Tidwell had an amazing start for UCA, but the defense only let her have seven more kills throughout the rest of the game. 

Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Sterling Sewell