With the match on the line at 14-13, sophomore libero Maya Sands digs a tough serve leading to freshman setter Sierra Dudley setting up a kill from junior right side Jordan Iliff. Down the ball goes and the line judge calls it out, Georgia ties it up. 

Head coach Dawn Sullivan pulls the challenge card. 

The replay is shown on the video board and Missouri fans explode with excitement as they see the ball clearly touch the court. The down referee turns back and signals toward Missouri. The Tiger team rushes on the court, winning the game 15-13. 

The match was far from a cakewalk for the Tigers on Sunday. The five-set battle forced both teams to kick into high gear and fight for each and every point. 

Georgia took command of the first set, making the Tigers trail early. However, powerful kills from Iliff and graduate middle Colleen Finney shortened the lead to just 8-7. Georgia wouldn’t have it, knocking down kills in empty spots in the court and forcing hitting errors from the Tigers, going on a 7-3 run. After five points – only answered by two from the Tigers – both teams earned service errors, providing some hope for the Tigers. However, Georgia hitters such as senior middle Sophie Fischer proved too powerful, as Georgia dominated the set, 25-16. 

Missouri played relentlessly in order to not fall behind in the second set. Georgia grabbed the first 2-point lead of the set after Missouri fell out-of-system. The Bulldog’s lead was shortly halted by a block from junior middle Morgan Isenberg and the Bulldog’s subsequent scramble. The neck-and-neck battle continued with Missouri’s defensive blocks and digs matching Georgia’s strong kills. Missouri proceeded to go on a 5-1 run, taking the lead from Georgia and bringing some much needed momentum to the Tiger unit. 

After a serving error from the Bulldogs, Missouri retained and extended its two-point lead for the rest of the set. Strong blocks by Finney met with multiple Georgia hitting errors led to Missouri taking the set, 25-23. 

Despite Georgia getting the first kill of the third set, Missouri went on a 7-1 run led by the blocks of Isenberg and serves of Iliff. Georgia answered with steady blocks and kills, led by Fischer bringing the score to a 9-9 tie. The teams traded points, but the Tiger’s offensive unit prevented the Bulldogs from taking the lead. Graduate outside hitter Dilara Gedikoglu shined in both units, earning kills and digs when it mattered most. A Georgia kill and hitting error by Gedikolu finally gave Georgia a 17-16 lead, only for Missouri to take it back three points later with a huge save from Sands. 

With set point looming 24-23, Georgia nailed the ball right into the hands of the Missouri block. At 24-24, the game moved to extra points for a while. The teams continued to trade victories and errors, with Georgia having three errors in extra points alone. At 29-29, a hard serve made Sands overpass and a swift kill brought yet another Georgia set point. An ace from sophomore outside hitter Estelle Haugen sealed the long set 31-29, Bulldogs. 

After the hard-fought loss in the third set, Dudley came out with a huge swing to give Missouri the first point. An ace from junior libero Lauren Forbes gave Missouri its 6-3 lead early on, only to be met by strong kills and blocks from Georgia. Georgia maintained its lead for a couple more points by forcing Missouri blockers to tip kills out of bounds. Dudley, shining again, made a monster block that allowed Missouri to regain its lead 12-11. Missouri never lost the lead, relying on Isenberg and Iliff’s blocks as well as Georgia’s serving and hitting errors. 

After another strong kill from Iliff the Tigers were brought to a 24-21 set point, Georgia didn’t give up hope, knocking in a kill and a huge block that forced Missouri into a timeout. When the whistle blew, a kill from Isenberg sealed the set, 25-23.  

In the fifth set, each team gave everything they had with each point. Neither team earned more than a 2-point lead the entire set once again. The close scoring of the set was in part a result of each team’s successes and failures. Six service errors split between the two teams gave away easy points. Georgia put kills through Missouri blocks while Missouri’s serves knocked Georgia out-of-system often. After a hitting error allowed Missouri to regain a 1-point, 13-12 lead and when sophomore outside hitter Janet deMarrais’ kill hit the ground, the match was Missouri’s. 

Despite Missouri’s win, Georgia edged out Missouri in kills 72-64. Iliff led the Tigers with a career-high 22 kills and two aces. Sands led the pack in digs with 16, which is her twenty-fourth double-digit game. Isenberg set a career-high 10 blocks in the game, these blocks were out of the Tigers’ 12 total. This win brings the team’s record to 15-9, just one win shy of matching its 2020 season. Defeating Georgia likely felt even sweeter for the Tigers because the Bulldogs had just bested the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks. 

As of Nov. 1, the Missouri Tigers are predicted to play in the NCAA volleyball tournament in Tampa. As of Nov. 5, the Tigers are ranked No. 32 in the nation. 

Missouri has its third game in its final homestand of the season on Friday, Nov. 10 against Texas A&M at 6 p.m. 

Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.comCopy edited by Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com