Mizzou volleyball advances to Sweet 16 after massive upset over SMU

Mizzou volleyball pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, defeating host team No. 10 SMU in four sets (25-22, 25-14, 33-31, 25-22) on Friday to advance to its first Sweet 16 since the 2017 season.

Mizzou took an early 6-3 lead in the first set before a Vernon service error sparked a 6-1 run for the Mustangs, which included three attack errors by the Tigers, giving SMU an 8-6 advantage. The teams traded points from there until back-to-back kills from Vernon and Iliff tied the match at 11. After more back-and-forth play, the score stood at 16 when Iliff served two straight aces, putting the Tigers ahead by two. SMU responded with a run of its own, keeping the set close, but a 3-1 run by Mizzou closed out the set, 25-22, and gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Tigers carried their momentum into the second set, dominating the Ponies. After kills from Vernon and junior Regan Haith, along with a service ace, put Mizzou up 3-1, they never looked back. The teams traded points for a while, with Mizzou maintaining the lead, before an Iliff kill and two SMU errors stretched the Tigers' lead to six. Mizzou added to that advantage with a 5-0 run, bringing their lead to 22-12. The Ponies scored a few more points, but a Vernon kill ended the set, giving Mizzou a 25-14 win and a 2-0 lead heading into the third set.

In the second set, SMU posted a .063 hitting percentage, one of their lowest of the season, and committed nine errors, helping Mizzou build its lead. In contrast, the Tigers hit .429 and committed just two errors in the set.

The Tigers looked poised to send SMU packing and advance to the Sweet 16 right from the start of the third set, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead. They maintained this advantage for most of the set, but the Ponies weren't going down without a fight. Iliff and junior Janet deMarrrais each recorded a kill, and a Mustang error gave Mizzou a 12-7 lead, putting them in control. However, an Iliff service error sparked a 7-1 run for SMU, putting them ahead 13-12. The teams traded points from there all the way to the end of the set. A late error from senior Naomi Franco gave SMU a 24-21 lead, putting them one point away from forcing a fifth set. But Maya Sands came through, serving two consecutive aces after a Mustang service error, tying the score at 24 and setting up a win-by-two scenario.

The teams continued to trade points, tying seven different times. With Mizzou up 31-30, two SMU kills and a service ace closed out the set, giving the Ponies a 33-31 win and sending the match to a fifth set. The Tigers still led 2-1 in the match.

The Mustangs' momentum seemed like it might spell the Tigers' demise after SMU jumped ahead at the start of the fourth set. However, more errors from the Mustangs and two kills from Mizzou brought the Tigers back within one. The teams traded points until Mizzou pulled ahead with a 3-0 run, capped off by a service ace from one of the best servers in the country, Jordan Iliff, to take a 17-15 lead. The Tigers fell behind again after SMU's 3-1 run, but Mizzou quickly responded with three straight kills from Vernon and an ace from setter Marina Crownover to go up 23-20. SMU scored once more, but an Iliff kill set up match point, and a few plays later, an Iliff kill ended the match 25-22, sending Mizzou to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017.

In addition to her 23 kills, Vernon also recorded three blocks, four digs, and a service ace. Iliff wasn't far behind, finishing the match with a double-double (16 kills and 10 digs) and four aces, bringing her season total to 66 aces—setting a new Mizzou single-season record.

Senior Colleen Finney had a strong defensive performance, leading the team with seven blocks to go along with four kills. Haith was right behind her, contributing four kills and four blocks of her own.

Mizzou's next goal is to reach the Elite Eight, a feat accomplished only once in program history. Standing in their way is No. 12 Kentucky, the only team to beat the Tigers twice this season.

This matchup will take place on either the 12th or 13th, with the location yet to be determined, and will be streamed on ESPN+.