Missouri (10-4, 2-2 SEC) took on its fourth Southeastern Conference opponent, Ole Miss (12-3, 4-0 SEC), in the Hearnes Center on Wednesday. Unlike last year’s matchup between the two teams, the Tigers did not come out victorious.
In the first set Missouri was bursting with energy, only committing one error compared to the Rebels’ three. It maintained the lead almost the entire set. As a team, the Tigers produced 18 kills in the first set and hit .459. The set ended with Missouri on top, 25-18.
At the start of the second set, Missouri’s foot let off the gas pedal and the Rebels made their way back into the match.
“We came out so strong in set one and our offense was really clicking,” interim head coach Joshua Taylor said. “The rest of the way however, we continued to shoot ourselves in the foot with some poor hitting choices.”
From sets two to four the Tigers fell flat, hitting under .300 in all sets. Ole Miss’ blocking efforts were strong all night against the Tigers’ attack, reeling in 14 total blocks.
Missouri played the match without starting middle blocker junior Tyanna Omazic, who sprained her ankle against Texas A&M. Freshman Claudia Dillon filled the spot and had her best match in SEC play. Dillon produced five kills, three digs and two total blocks.
“It’s definitely tough not having [Omazic] on the floor, but I think Claudia really stepped up today and did what she had to do,” junior Dariana Hollingsworth-Santana said. “Giving that our team has so much depth to it I think we were able to not necessarily replace, but someone can step in and do the work that needed to be done.”
Despite the loss, redshirt sophomore Kayla Caffey, junior Kylie Deberg and Hollingsworth-Santa finished with double-digit kills. Deberg produced a season and career-best 25 kills in this matchup. Caffey finished with five blocks and, for the second time this year, 10 kills. Hollingsworth-Santana added to the team’s total with 12 kills on .364 hitting and four total blocks.
With an upcoming bye week this weekend for the Tigers, they have four days before they’re back in action. Missouri faces off against another SEC matchup when they head on the road to Auburn University on Oct 18. The first serve of the match is set for 7 p.m. CDT.
_Edited by Emily Leiker | eleiker@themaneater.com_
