University of Missouri
Arkansas
Missouri Takes Tiger Invitational Championship
8/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 30, 2003
The University of Missouri volleyball team won the championship of the Quality Inn Tiger Invitational after defeating Arkansas 3-1 (30-15, 30-18, 26-30, 30-16) in the final game of the weekend. Mizzou, who defeated Toledo earlier in the day, finished 3-0 in the tournament.
Lindsey Hunter, who had 57 assists against the Razorbacks, was named the tournament MVP after averaging 13 kills a game in three matches. Shen Danru led MU with a career-high 24 kills and had a hitting percentage of .500 against Arkansas. She added 17 digs, which is one short of her career high in that category. Mary Lauren Smith added 19 kills and a .424 hitting percentage. Smith and Danru joined Hunter on the All-Tournament.
Missouri continued its strong service game compiling 12 service aces. Smith and Lindsey Noll each had three, while Hunter, and Danru had two a piece.
Besides game three, in which Arkansas outhit MU .357 to .278, Mizzou dominated the Razorback in the hitting percentage comparison. The Tigers hit .440 in game one, .421 in game two and .485 in game three and had a .402 mark for the match. Arkansas had a .000 mark in the first game, followed by a .100 percentage in game two and closed by hitting .182 in the final game.
The Tigers now hit the road for the first time in 2003 as they travel to Salt Lake City next weekend for the Utah Classic. Mizzou opens up play in the tournament against Utah Valley State at 6 p.m. on Friday.
