University of Missouri
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Kansas
Balanced Tigers KO KU
10/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 1, 2001
Lawrence, Kan. - Balance and resiliency proved to be the key for the Tigers on Monday night as they defeated the Kansas Jayhawks, 3-1 (30-21, 21-30, 30-25 and 30-17) in the Horejsi Family Athletic Center on the campus of KU. Four Tigers had 14 or more kills and two Tigers recorded double-doubles (Lisa Morris, 20 kills-12 digs and Christi Myers, 15 kills and 12 digs) as the Tigers improved to 11-2 on the year and 3-2 in the Big 12 while Kansas falls to 11-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12.
Head coach Susan Kreklow said that she was extremely please with the way several different Tigers stepped in and provided quality performances for Mizzou.
"It was great to see several of our players to come out and give a quality effort for us tonight," Kreklow said. "We need to carry that intensity and enthusiasm with us as we continue Big 12 play."
Mizzou would come out on fire in the opening stanza leading 7-2. The Jayhawks would cut that lead to as close as one point at 11-10 but Mizzou would hold KU off and go on a 19-12 lead to take Game 1, 30-22. Myers had a huge game putting down nine kills, three less than KU's team total for the game, on 11 attacks, good enough for a .727 hitting percentage. Senior Naaron Branson had a very good game from the service line recording two service winners while also picking up three digs.
The Tigers and Jayhawks would battle to a 19-19 tie to open Game 2. However, KU would go on an 11-2 run to end the game and take the Game 30-21. The Tigers gave up 11 points on 11 attack errors in the Game 2 and KU would record four total team blocks in the game.
The archrivals would play to a 22-22 tie in Game 3 before MU's outside hitters would absolutely take the game over. Sophomore Mary Lauren Smith would put down three kills and a block assist and Morris would record two kills from that point in the game on as the Tigers would go on an 8-3 run and take the game, 30-25.
Game 4 ended the same way it started, with a kill by senior Kristen Johnson. Johnson recorded seven other kills during Game 4 for a total of nine as the Tigers took the Game, 30-17 and took the match, 3-1. Mary Lauren Smith continued her streak of good play putting down 16 kills while senior Katie Sowers paced the Tigers in digs with 14.
The Tigers continue life on the road on Wednesday as they visit No. 1 Nebraska. Mizzou then returns home on Saturday to take on Baylor. For ticket information on Saturday's match with the Bears, call 1-800-CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.
