Missouri
Kansas City
Tiger Volleyball Bounces Kangaroos
10/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2001
Columbia, Mo.-The University of Missouri volleyball team registered a hitting percentage of over .400 for the second straight match (.403, 57 kills-12 errors-112 attempts) en route to a 3-0 (30-24, 30-19, 30-17) sweep of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos on Wednesday night. The Tigers have now swept two straight opponents and have won three of their last five matches. Missouri head coach Susan Kreklow said that she is pleased to see the Tiger continue to improve and prepare for the backstretch of the season.
"We were able to control the ball well tonight and were in system offensively a majority of the time," Kreklow said. "It was good to be able to try some different line ups and see how people reacted. Overall, it was a positive effort for us as we progress and continue to get better."
The Tigers used their characteristic balanced offensive attack to take out the Kangaroos. Seven Tigers would record hitting percentages of better than .348 and four would record seven or more kills. Sophomore Lindsey Zerr would lead UMKC with nine kills and seven digs on the evening.
Mizzou would play to a 14-14 tie with UMKC to open Game 1. However, junior Lisa Morris would go on to serve six straight and the Tigers would take a 20-14 lead. The Kangaroos would close within three at 22-19, but the Tigers would hold on taking Game 1, 30-24.
MU absolutely dominated Game 2 recording a .618 hitting percentage putting down 21 total kills with no errors on 34 attacks. Sophomore Mary Lauren Smith had a huge stanza putting down seven of her match-high 14 total kills on 10 attacks with no errors. Senior Naaron Branson also saw time in the front row and responded emphatically with six kills in the game. Branson would finish the night with seven total kills, three digs and three total blocks. The Tigers would open the game with a 10-5 run and would not look back, taking a 30-19 Game 2 victory.
Mizzou would come out and play well in Game 3 as well leading 16-10 to open the third act. Christi Myers would then step to the service line and the Tigers would go on a 9-0 taking a 25-10 advantage and would take the game, 30-17.
Smith was excellent for Mizzou recording the second best hitting percentage of her career (.500) while also slating three total blocks. Lisa Morris reached double figures in kills for the 15th time in the Tigers 17 total matches on Wednesday putting down 10 kills. Morris also hit for a .348 percentage, picked up eight digs and along with senior defensive specialist Rachael Taylor, recorded a match-high three service aces apiece. Junior Christi Myers also continue to impress quietly putting down 12 kills and stuffing four total blocks in the Tigers 72 minute win.
Mizzou improves to 13-4 overall and 4-4 in the Big 12 while UMKC falls to 13-3 overall. Mizzou now travels to Texas on Saturday for a match up with the 9-5 (4-3 in the Big 12) Longhorns. The Tigers then return home to face a very tough No. 23 Colorado team to wrap up Mizzou's first trip through the Big 12 gauntlet. For ticket information on Wednesday nights match against CU, call 1-800 CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.
