Missouri volleyball (6-3) went 2-1 this weekend at the Idaho State Invitational, with wins over Idaho State and Boise State and a loss to a top-10 team.
The Tigers started off strong in the tournament with a win over the host team, Idaho State (4-6). After losing the first set 25-19, Mizzou rebounded to take the next three sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-21) and win the match.
Juniors Melanie Crow, Kira Larson and Sydney Deeken led the way for the frontline. All three players had kills in the double digits to help Mizzou’s power on offense.
Crow shined in all areas for the Tigers, leading the team in single-match kills for the fifth time in a row. She also contributed four blocks, two assists and two aces.
In the first two sets, Deeken powered through with 11 kills to help the Tigers with their comeback. In the final two sets, Larson boasted 11 kills and ended with a total of 13 on .385 hitting, a season-high for the Tigers.
Setter Courtney Eckenrode helped the Tigers with 28 assists, and Alexa Ethridge led the team on defense with 15 total digs.
On Saturday, Mizzou concluded the tournament by playing No. 10 Brigham Young (9-0) and unranked Boise State (5-4). The Tigers fell in three straight sets (24-26, 24-26, 17-25) to BYU. The Tigers rebounded against Boise State, finishing their weekend with a 3-1 win (25-20, 25-17, 18-25, 25-23).
In the loss to BYU, Carly Kan and Crow both had nine kills to lead the Tigers offensively. Emily Thater and Deeken contributed with seven and eight kills, respectively. Alyssa Munlyn led the team in blocks with a total of seven.
In the final match of the weekend, the Mizzou offense exploded against Boise State. The Tigers had 16 kills from six different players in the first set. Missouri also scored points off of three aces and three blocks.
Mizzou continued to dominate in the second set. The team had several players contribute blocks and kills, rattling the Broncos defense.
Boise State performed well in the third set, tallying 15 kills and challenging the Missouri defense. This did not stop Mizzou from coming back to take the fourth set and the match victory. Eckenrode once again led the Tigers on offense with 31 assists against Boise State, making the match her fourth of the year with more than 30.
Melanie Crow and Carly Kan were awarded all-tournament team honors for their performances. Crow dominated with 48 kills and 58 points on the weekend, earning all-tournament honors in her third straight tournament for the Tigers. Kan led the team with five aces and was second in digs per set and points.
The Tigers will travel to Newark, Delaware, on Sept. 16 for their last nonconference regular-season tournament. The Tigers will play Duquesne, Miami and Delaware in the two-day Delaware Invitational.
_Edited by Peter Baugh | pbaugh@themaneater.com_
