The Mizzou volleyball team has fallen into a pattern in October. As the month closes, the Tigers haven’t won a match on the road in regular season play.
At home, the team has won all but one match. Since a single loss on Sept. 28 to Kansas State, the Tigers haven’t faced defeat at the Hearnes Center. With a second round of conference matches starting Wednesday, the team sees the importance of home victories.
“Everyone just wants to protect their home, and we need to protect our house,” freshman middle blocker Whitney Little said.
After winning three straight home games against Kansas, Texas Tech and Central Arkansas, Missouri sought its first triumph on the road against No. 8 Texas on Saturday but suffered a 3-0 defeat.
Little, a Texas native, was the bright spot in the sweep, pounding out 10 kills on .444 hitting. Despite the final score, she said the team played fairly well against the Longhorns.
“We actually did pretty good,” Little said. “I mean, there were a couple little things here and there that didn’t go our way, but I feel like we came back fast. That was really good on our part.”
Sophomore outside hitter Lisa Henning, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, had nine kills but struggled with 11 attack errors. Senior middle blocker Brittany Brimmage contributed five kills as well. The offensive success was let down by the back row defense, which had trouble returning the Texas attack.
Little said struggles on the road could be contributed to mental factors rather than poor play.
“Honestly, I feel like it might just be a mindset thing,” Little said. “We’re really young, so most of us haven’t experienced this yet. We’re still trying to get used to new crowds, new atmospheres and all of that.”
Missouri is now preparing for a second round of conference play, heading into the match Wednesday at Kansas State with something to prove after the Wildcats swept the previous meeting at the Tigers’ home court last month.
“There is definitely some vengeance there,” Little said. “We want to get some payback and beat them at their place since they were the first ones to beat us at our home. I think that game will definitely be a good one and we’re ready to get them back and get our win.”
Despite the lack of success on the road, the young team is acclimating to the travel aspect of the game.
“I think we’re starting to get a little more used to it and it’s helping out a lot,“ Little said. “Hopefully we’ll get that win on the road soon.”
Although their play on the road is still in the process of improving, the Tigers are making sure they keep up the home success in order to hold onto their hopes for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
“This is our home, and you don’t want someone to come in and beat you on your home court,” Little said. “I think we’ve been playing every game at home with that mindset.”
