Mizzou volleyball extends winning streak to eight, defeating Georgia at home

After a road trip where they defeated the defending national champions, the Texas Longhorns, Mizzou volleyball returned home and continued their winning streak by beating Georgia 3-1 (25-18, 25-12, 26-28, 25-17) on Wednesday.

“We don’t want anyone to come into our home and outwork us,” said graduate transfer Mychael Vernon. “We make sure no team comes in and thinks they can roll over us.”

The win extends the Tigers' winning streak to eight, their longest since 2019, and ties them for first place in the SEC with the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Tigers started the first set with a 5-1 run, but the Bulldogs responded with four straight points to tie it. The Tigers then took control with a 10-2 run, highlighted by two kills from Mychael Vernon, who led the match with 20, and three from senior Jordan Iliff, who had 18.

Georgia scored some points of their own but couldn’t counter the Tigers’ offense, which proved dominant throughout the game. Mizzou closed the set with a 3-0 run, ending with another kill by Iliff.

In the first set, Georgia revealed what would become their downfall for the entire match. Of Mizzou’s 25 points in the set, 19 came from either Iliff, Vernon, or Georgia's errors. The Bulldogs finished the match with 21 team errors.

“They are in a rhythm,” head coach Dawn Sullivan said. “They know what they’re doing and are working together.”

The Tigers carried their momentum into the second set. Tied at 2, a Vernon kill sparked a 16-4 rally. Though Mizzou faltered slightly after reaching 18 points, allowing Georgia to score a few more, it wasn't enough to change the outcome.

A kill from junior Janet deMarrais, followed by an attack error by Georgia, secured the second set for the Tigers with one of their largest margins of the season, winning 25-12 and taking a 2-0 lead.

The teams traded points early in set three, with Georgia taking its first lead at 2-1 before going on a 4-0 run to go up 10-8. The back-and-forth battle continued, and an attack error by the Tigers followed by a Bulldogs ace put Georgia a point away from winning the set.

A kill from deMarrais and an ace by Rock Bridge graduate Kaylen Rush put the Tigers ahead 25-24, but Georgia’s Erykah Lovett, who led her team with 17 kills, responded with one of her own to tie it at 25. Georgia followed this with another kill, a Mizzou error, and a service ace from Bailey Cox to close the set, securing a 28-26 win and narrowing the match to 2-1.

Georgia carried its momentum into the fourth set, taking an early 4-2 lead. However, the Tigers quickly responded and locked in with a 6-1 run to go up 8-5, a lead they maintained for the rest of the match.

The Tigers maintained their momentum until the end, with Georgia staying close behind. A Georgia error sparked a 9-2 run, ending with an Iliff kill that secured the set at 25-17 and gave Mizzou the 3-1 match victory.

Offensively, the Tigers performed well across the board. DeMarrais, graduate Colleen Finney, Iliff, and Vernon each recorded over 10 kills. Crownover once again led the team in assists, finishing with 57.

Defensively, the Tigers were at their best. Head coach Dawn Sullivan has emphasized team involvement all season, and it continues to show. Five players finished with over five digs, with junior Maya Sands leading with 18. This strong defensive effort held Georgia to a .163 hitting percentage.

The Tigers aim to carry this momentum into the weekend, seeking one more win to achieve their longest winning streak since 2016. They'll be back in action against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Hearnes.