Missouri volleyball still has a ways to go if they want to compete with the nation’s best. The Tigers dropped their first true test of the season against No. 5 Stanford in 4 sets.
In 2024, the Tigers knocked off No. 9 Texas in the final month of the regular season. A win against a top-ranked opponent can do wonders for a team’s confidence and belief for how far they can go. Later in the year, Missouri beat the two-seeded and No. 10 overall SMU to advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.
Despite the improbable win against Texas last season, Missouri struggled against top-ranked opponents, finishing 2-6 against them. A win against the No. 5 team in the country would have given the Tigers a great burst of momentum and could have been a huge resume builder for the NCAA tournament. Instead, Missouri recorded its second loss in the past three games, in four tightly contested sets.
Missouri struggled to finish off sets against Stanford, as they had leads in all of the sets they lost. It was similar to the loss against Arkansas State, where they lost the final two sets after taking a 2-1 advantage.
Against Stanford, Missouri led for most of set one, as they went on a 5-1 run early, but a late run by Stanford clinched the first set. Similarly, in the second set, the Tigers had multiple attempts to clinch the set, but they eventually fell 33-31.
Stanford’s standout outside hitter Elia Rubin controlled the Tigers’ defense, recording 20 kills on the day. Missouri struggled to contain Stanford’s offensive attack all night, only recording two blocks to Stanford’s nine. Going into a difficult Southeastern Conference schedule in the coming weeks, the Tigers will have to find a way to improve that.
Playing an elite team like Stanford so early in the season could also prove to be beneficial to the team as the season progresses. Despite the loss, Missouri only trailed by four points or less in all three of the sets they lost.
The Tigers’ standout players, however, proved that they can compete with whoever lines up against them. Seniors Caylen Alexander and Maya Sands showed up in a big way for Missouri. Alexander has led r this season on offense and continued to do so against Stanford with 15 kills. Sands recorded 16 digs, leading the team as a bright spot for the defense.
If Missouri wants to make a deep run this year, seasoned veterans like Alexander and Sands must lead the way.
Edited by Colin Simmons l [email protected]
Copy edited by Avery Copeland | [email protected]
Edited by Alex Gribb | [email protected]
