From Austin to Columbia: Marina Crownover became an anchor for Mizzou volleyball

For many people, going to college marks the first time they leave home, leaving behind their house, parents, siblings, and everything familiar. However, for some, like Mizzou volleyball setter Marina Crownover, that wasn't the case.

Growing up in Austin, Texas, Crownover and her family were die-hard Texas Longhorn fans, like many in the city. After starting to play volleyball at a young age, she quickly fell in love with UT volleyball.

"Pretty much since I was eight or nine years old, you could clock me in a little UT cheerleading outfit," Crownover said about the team. "I know a lot of history with that place, and I would go to all those games."

She continued playing volleyball throughout middle and high school, and as time passed, she gradually began considering schools other than Texas. The idea of traveling to a new place intrigued her. So, when recruiting time came, she kept her options open, but at the end of the day, she knew where she wanted to be.

It wasn't just the idea of living out her childhood dream that attracted Crownover to Texas. While that certainly played a role, there was much more to her decision.

"It is the culture and the standard of excellence there, and being able to play the best volleyball I could," Crownover said about Texas. She added, "It’s also nice to have your parents in your corner. College is hard, so it was really nice to be able to just go home."

All of that, along with the advantage of having some of her high school friends going there too, made the decision easy for Crownover when it came time to make a commitment. As open as her mind was, she ultimately couldn’t resist ending up at her dream school, Texas.

Once Crownover arrived at Texas, things were more challenging than she had anticipated. While she managed everything on her plate and handled the obstacles thrown her way, it didn’t mean it wasn’t overwhelming at times.

Crownover learned and grew a lot during her two years at Texas. She met and played with many incredible people and witnessed her Longhorns win two national championships, an experience she says she will never take for granted.

On the volleyball side, though, those two years weren't what Crownover had hoped for. After redshirting her freshman year, she saw action in just 11 games for the Longhorns in 2023, and she wanted more. She craved a chance to showcase her skills and compete at a high level, so she made the decision to enter the transfer portal.

“I was looking to step into a new role,” Crownover said. “I loved my role at Texas, and I think I needed it to grow as a person. But I was ready to step on the court and be the setter who can go out there and show what I can do.”

This was going to be Crownover's first real time leaving Austin after living there for over 20 years. As a highly touted prospect, she received a lot of interest from schools once she entered the portal, but the one she chose was Mizzou.

That decision was largely influenced by the culture and the people at Mizzou. Before transferring, Crownover had the chance to visit the school and campus, meet with the coaches and players, and experience the atmosphere in Columbia. It was then that she knew it was the right choice for her.

The transition from a big city like Austin to somewhere like Columbia was difficult at first, but Crownover has been slowly getting more and more used to it. While not being able to lean on her parents has been challenging, she appreciates that it has pushed her to be more independent and responsible.

“I can’t just be like, ‘Hey, come help me do something I don’t know how to do’ anymore,” Crownover said, reflecting on her new independence. “It’s forced me to come into my own, not just on the court, but off the court too. Like, I just got my car registered.”

On the court, Crownover has been unstoppable for the Tigers. She immediately claimed the starting setter position from sophomore Sierra Dudley, who recorded nearly 1,200 sets during her freshman season in 2023. Dudley, now a sophomore with 222 sets so far this season, is second on the team but trails Crownover by a large margin.

Already named SEC Setter of the Week twice this season, Crownover leads the team with 550 assists, averaging 10.19 per set, which ranks seventh in the SEC. She has been a key piece of a team currently sitting at 13-5 as they navigate conference play.

Watch Crownover and the rest of the Missouri volleyball team as they look to stay hot on Friday, October 25, at 7 p.m. against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville.