For just the third time this season, the Mizzou volleyball team completed a three-set sweep against an SEC opponent, this time taking three straight (25-23, 25-13, 25-18) from South Carolina. The win extends the team's streak to nine games, the longest since the 2016 season.
With a season-high crowd in attendance, the Tigers (18-5, 9-2) put together their best defensive performance of the year, registering a season-high 11.5 blocks, their first time surpassing the 10-block mark this season. As a result, the Gamecocks managed to hit just .123, the third-lowest hitting percentage of any opponent this year.
“We have been emphasizing team defense and blocks all season,” head coach Dawn Sullivan said about the team's performance. “We knew that would not be one of our strengths, so it’s something we touch on every single practice.”
The teams traded points to start the first set before the Tigers went on a 5-1 run, including three kills from graduate Colleen Finney, to lead 12-8. The Gamecocks stayed close, but a service error by setter Marina Crownover cut their deficit to one. The Tigers responded with three more kills, capped by senior Jordan Iliff, to take the set 25-23. Mizzou's defense at the net was strong, ending the set with four blocks.
Kill #4 for Colleen Finney😤😤#MIZ 🐯🏐 pic.twitter.com/PDbNO5LuKL
— Mizzou Volleyball (@MizzouVB) November 10, 2024
The Tigers carried their momentum into the second set, quickly jumping to a 10-3 lead, partly due to five errors by the Gamecocks. The sloppiness continued, with Mizzou scoring 12 of their 25 points off Gamecock errors. The Tigers finished the set on a 5-0 run, including two kills from grad-transfer Mychael Vernon, who ended the set with six kills, and one of senior Kiaraliz Perez Catala's two aces.
The Tigers entered the third set confident after their previous performance, and they quickly took control, jumping to a 10-4 lead after a 6-0 run. They maintained the lead throughout the set, but the Gamecocks made a late push, cutting the deficit to three after a 5-1 run. However, the Tigers held strong, with two more kills from Vernon and a finishing kill from Crownover, securing a 25-18 win in the set and a 3-0 victory in the match.
“Defense will help with offensive opportunities,” junior Janet deMarrais said about the importance of team defense. “But it’s all about, ‘Can we pursue balls? Can we pick up stuff? Doing really well in service leads to being able to get those offensive opportunities.’”
AMAZING DIGS by Maya Sands and Jordan Iliff followed by a Marina Crownover KILL to secure the dub!!🔒🔥#MIZ🐯🏐 pic.twitter.com/7f80DhiXKP
— Mizzou Volleyball (@MizzouVB) November 11, 2024
Hitting a combined .351, this marks the second consecutive game the team has hit above .350, following a .378 performance against Georgia, and the eighth time this season.
“The key is us being consistent,” Sullivan said. “We’re not trying to do more than that.”
Crownover led the team in assists with 37, bringing her total to over 800 for the year and keeping her in the top 10 in the SEC.
This is only the fifth match all season where Iliff registered fewer than 10 kills, finishing the match with just five, her second-lowest mark of the season.
The Tigers remain tied with the Kentucky Wildcats for first in the SEC, and the win gives them a strong chance of cracking the top 25 for the first time this year. In the previous rankings, the Tigers were ranked 26th in votes, and they are hoping to break into the top 25 this week.
The Tigers have arguably their biggest matchup of the season next, facing off against No. 22 Florida on Friday at 7 p.m. at Hearnes. The game will also be streamed on SEC+.