University of Missouri
Xavier
Mizzou Holds Off Xavier in Thrilling Five-Setter
9/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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Mizzou celebrates the win.
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Mizzou Volleyball posted used a 12-0 run in the fifth set to come back and win 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 15-8) against Xavier Saturday night (Sept. 6) in the finale of the Tiger Invitational at the Hearnes Center. Sophomore Carly Kan (Honolulu, Hawaii) led the Tigers in kills for the seventh consecutive match with 16 and added 16 digs for her fifth consecutive double-double. Emily Thater (Springfield, Mo.) and Loxley Keala (Kaneohe, Hawaii) also recorded new career highs in kills with 13 and 9, respectively.
"Well I am proud of how the team never quit today," head coach Wayne Kreklow said. "To go down 4-0 in the fifth game and then run off 12 in a row shows that this team never quit. I thought we settled into a rhythm in game four, but it was an up-and-down match and I'm just glad we came out on the winning end."
In all, Mizzou had two players - Kan and senior Whitney Little (Keller, Texas) - named to the All-Tournament team as the Tigers earned the second-place finish. Mizzou has never finished lower than second in 11 Tiger Invitationals. Little was sensational on Saturday night, tallying 13 kills on .500 hitting and tallied two kills and a block down the stretch in set four to help push the match to a decisive set five. Keala finished just shy of a triple-double with nine kills, 27 assists and 12 digs. Freshman setter Ali Kreklow (Columbia, Mo.) finished with a team-high 30 assists. Senior libero Sarah Meister (San Diego, Calif.) and Kan were two of four Tigers with double-figure digs.
The first set was competitive as the Tigers and Musketeers traded points. Both teams were able to capitalize on the others' mistakes, but the Tigers were unable to fend off Xavier and lost 22-25. The Tigers fought back to win the second set 25-21. Mizzou came out swinging and posted 17 kills and a .342 hitting percentage, the highest of any set during the match. Defensively, Mizzou was able to slow down the Xavier's attackers to win the set.
During the third set Mizzou was down 12-19, but turned things around with back-to-back kills from Little and Keala and eventually tied the game at 22. However, the Tigers were unable to finish off the set and fell 22-25. Mizzou needed to win the fourth set to stay alive and did just that. The Tigers trailed early, but with the help of some tough defense from freshmen and five kills from Little, Mizzou forced a fifth set.
After trailing 4-0 at the beginning of the fifth set, Meister led the Tigers on a 12-0 run by converting 11 straight serves. During the final set, the Tiger defense held Xavier to a -.067 hitting percentage. Despite a last-minute effort from the Musketeers, a Kan kill sealed the deal for the Tigers' fourth win of the season. Freshman Alexa Aremendariz was outstanding in the back row recording a new career high in digs with 11. Little's 13 kills were enough for a new season high. Ali Kreklow recorded a new career high in assists with 30.
Mizzou Volleyball returns to action Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. versus Saint Louis University. For all the latest on Mizzou volleyball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouVB.
All-Tournament
MVP: Lauren Ford - Lipscomb
Brittany Estes - Lipscomb
Bri McCombs - Lipscomb
Carly Kan - Mizzou
Whitney Little - Mizzou
Alex Blair - Xavier
Ashley Rosch - Illinois State
Sammy Condon - Oakland
