Mizzou volleyball opens up conference play splitting its first two contests

In their first two SEC matchups of the year, Mizzou volleyball was on track for back-to-back sweeps before Texas A&M staged an improbable three-set comeback to win.

The team begins conference play 1-1, with a 3-0 sweep over LSU (25-22, 25-12, 25-19) and a 3-2 loss to Texas A&M (25-17, 25-20, 31-25, 21-25, 12-15).

Playing in Baton Rouge, the Tigers started their conference run with a strong performance. Mizzou led throughout the first set, but LSU kept the pressure on and stayed within reach.

Mizzou took an early 7-2 lead, but LSU fought back, winning four of the next six points. As the set progressed, both teams traded small runs. Mizzou led 23-19 but LSU responded with a 3-1 run before Mizzou closed it out, winning 25-22.

The second set was dominated by Mizzou. LSU kept it close early, trailing just 10-9, but Mizzou pulled away, winning 15 of the next 18 points to secure a 25-12 victory.

The final set was the closest of the three, with both teams battling back and forth. Mizzou maintained a slight edge throughout, but with the score at 16-14, they won four of the next five points to gain some breathing room. LSU quickly responded with a 3-0 run of their own.

Mizzou closed out strong however, winning four of the next five points to take the set 25-19 and secure a 3-0 sweep, starting SEC play with a 1-0 record.

Things looked a lot different when Mizzou squared off with Texas A&M just a couple days later.

The Aggies opened the first set by winning eight of the first 10 points, but the Tigers responded with an 11-point run, taking a 16-11 lead. From there, Mizzou pulled away, winning the set 25-17 to take a 1-0 lead.

Set two was more competitive, with Mizzou taking an early lead and holding onto it throughout. Late in the set, the Tigers led 20-18 before closing strong, winning five of the next seven points to secure a 25-20 victory, putting them one set away from a sweep.

Mizzou controlled much of the third set, jumping out early and extending the lead to 22-16. However, something shifted in the Aggies, and they transformed into a different team from that point on.

Texas A&M took nine of the next 10 points in dominant fashion, closing out the set with a 25-23 win to kickstart its comeback.

The Aggies carried their momentum into the fourth set, taking an early lead. While the Tigers fought back and stayed in the game, it wasn’t enough to slow down the surging Aggies. Multiple short runs were enough to put the Aggies ahead and keep them there, winning the set 25-21, tying the match at two, and forcing a decisive fifth set.

Texas A&M quickly jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fifth set, but the Tigers fought back to tie it at 10. However, they couldn’t prevent the Aggies from finishing what they started, as Texas A&M regained control to close out the match.

Mizzou managed only two more points before A&M reached 15, winning the set and the match. The Aggies completed a comeback from two sets down to win 3-2, handing the Tigers their fourth loss of the season.

Despite the loss, Mychael Vernon had her best weekend as a Tiger, finishing with 43 total kills and a .500 attack percentage. The team also delivered an impressive 20 service aces across the two matches.

will continue their conference run, hoping to return to the winning side against the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday, October 3.