Mizzou Volleyball Falls in Sweet 16 to Familiar Foe Kentucky

After securing wins in the first two rounds of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Mizzou volleyball’s postseason run came to an end with a 3-1 loss to the No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats (20-25, 20-25, 25-16, 13-25). This marked the third meeting between the Tigers and Wildcats this season, with Kentucky winning all three matchups and Mizzou claiming just two sets across the series.

Mizzou jumped ahead 7-5 early, fueled by three kills from grad transfer Mychael Vernon, but Kentucky responded with a 9-2 run to take control. After narrowing the deficit to 20-19, the Tigers couldn’t hold off the Wildcats, who closed the set on a 5-1 run to win 25-20 and take a 1-0 lead.

Kentucky dominated offensively in the first set, posting a .457 hitting percentage with 18 kills and just two errors. Missouri hit .303 with four errors but couldn’t keep pace with the Wildcats.

The second set started evenly, with a kill from grad transfer Colleen Finney pulling Mizzou within one at 9-8. However, a 5-0 run by Kentucky extended the Wildcats' lead to 14-8, followed by another three-point burst to make it 19-11. Mizzou responded with a 6-2 run, sparked by three Kentucky errors and capped by a kill from First-Team All-SEC honoree Jordan Iliff, narrowing the gap to four. The Tigers stayed within four late, but a Kentucky kill sealed the set at 25-20, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead and leaving Mizzou one set away from elimination.

Mizzou’s defense improved in the second set, holding Kentucky to a .273 hitting percentage, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their own struggles. The Tigers hit just .194 with five errors in the set.

Mizzou came out strong in the third set, taking a 5-4 lead before a Wildcat service error sparked a 10-0 run, putting the Tigers up 15-4. The run included three service aces from defensive specialist Kiaraliz Perez Catala and points from Mychael Vernon kills and Kentucky errors. The teams traded points from there, but an Iliff kill sealed the set 25-16, keeping Mizzou alive.

Mizzou dominated both offensively and defensively in the third set, hitting an impressive .520 while holding Kentucky to 12 kills on under .300 hitting. Iliff and Vernon led the charge, with Iliff recording eight of her 20 kills in the set and Vernon adding six of her 11 for the match.

The fourth set unraveled quickly for Mizzou. Two straight service aces from Kentucky gave the Wildcats a lead they never relinquished. Back-to-back attack errors from Vernon fueled an 8-2 Kentucky run, followed by a 6-1 surge that extended their lead to 21-10. The Tigers attempted to rally but fell short, as consecutive attack errors from Iliff sealed the set 25-13, giving Kentucky a 3-1 victory. The win sent the Wildcats to the Elite Eight and ended Mizzou’s season.

Despite the loss, the Tigers put up a solid effort. Jordan Iliff led the way with 20 kills, followed by Mychael Vernon with 11. Colleen Finney and junior Janet deMarrais each contributed six kills. Transfer Marina Crownover paced the team with 37 assists, while libero Maya Sands led in digs with 13, closely followed by Iliff with nine.

Mizzou entered the season with modest expectations but exceeded them, putting the program on the map. With head coach Dawn Sullivan at the helm and a strong core and culture in place, Mizzou volleyball is poised for continued success in the years ahead.