University of Missouri
Kansas State
Tigers Lose Second Five-Game Match In Five Days
9/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 26, 2001
Manhattan, Kan.- The University of Missouri volleyball team dropped its second five-game match in five days falling to the Kansas State Wildcats, 2-3 (22-30, 30-19, 25-30, 30-23, 13-15.) Mizzou head coach Susan Kreklow was pleased with the resiliency the Tigers displayed in the hostile environment of the Ahearn Feildhouse.
"We gave a good effort tonight and played well in a very tough environment," Kreklow said. "We need to learn from this match and move on with the remainder of our schedule starting with Oklahoma on Saturday."
In Game 1, Mizzou would jump out to a 6-3 lead. However, KSU would go on a 21-9 run and take a 24-15 advantage. The Tigers would pull within six at 27-21 on a kill by junior middle blocker Christi Myers, but the Wildcats would pull away and take the game, 30-22.
The two squads would start Game 2 in a 15-15 tie. The Tigers were determined not to go peacefully though and went on a 15-4 run to take the game, 30-19. Junior Lisa Morris led the Tiger charge putting down six kills on seven attacks, good enough for a .857 hitting percentage. The Tigers hit .545 in the game and recorded 21 kills and only three errors on 33 attacks. Kansas State managed only a .115 hitting percentage due in part to Mizzou's eight block assists in the game.
The Tiger would jump out to an 8-3 lead in Game 3. K-State would go on another run though and the tie the game at 16. The Cats would finish the game on with a 14 -9 run to end the game and take Game 3, 30-25. Kansas State outside hitter Liz Wagner would become K-State's all-time kills leader in Game 3.
Game 4 started in a dead heat at 16 once again. Senior middle blocker Krista Johnson would provide a huge spark putting down two straight kills on overpasses by the Wildcats and Mizzou would go on 14-6 run from there taking Game 4, 30-23.
Game 5 was a classic battle as the Tigers jumped out to a 9-5 lead. However, K-State would come back to tie the Tigers at 11. Mizzou would once again grab a lead at 13-12 lead but could not hold on as K-State scored three straight points to take the game 15-13, and the match, 3-2. The Tigers fall to 9-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12 Conference.
Morris paced the Tigers with 23 kills and 12 assists while Myers had 17 kills and eight digs. Freshman Chrissy Elder had 14 digs and handed out 59 assists in the loss.
The Tigers will have another busy week coming up as they welcome Oklahoma to the Hearnes Center on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Mizzou will then travel to vaunted rival Kansas on Monday and to Nebraska on Wednesday. For ticket information on Saturday's match, call 1-800-CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.
