University of Missouri
Texas A&M
Mizzou Downs No. 19 Texas A&M!
9/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2000
Columbia, Mo. - In what was undoubtedly the University of Missouri Volleyball team's most exciting match of the season, the Tigers knocked off the No. 19 Texas A&M Aggies, 15-12, 15-8, and 15-8. The Tigers once again used a solid team effort and great team passing to pick up the victory. The win moves the MU to 10-0 on the year and sets up a match up with undefeated and top-ranked Nebraska on Saturday.
In front of 537 Tiger fans, the Aggies came out on fire stepping out to a 2-7 lead in the first game. The Tigers then went on to score six unanswered points, but then fell behind once again, 8-12. After a Mizzou time out, the whole complexion of the match seemed to change as the Tigers rattled off seven straight points to win the game, gain the momentum, and eventually win the match.
Leading the way for the Tigers once again were the usual suspects of sophomore Lisa Morris and junior Kristen Johnson. Both outside hitters registered 13 kills on the night to lead the Tigers while Morris also added two service aces. Junior Naaron Branson and Christi Myers both had solid nights knocking down nine kills a piece.
Senior Heather Gerber continued her outstanding play picking up right where she left off, an MVP performance at the Lathrop & Gage Tiger Invitational last weekend, and handed out 41 assists. Gerber now has 4,019 career assists, the top mark by any setter in Tiger history. While senior Annette Luyten didn't add to her career block assists total of 217, which puts her at fourth place on the all-time block/assists list, she did pitch in with eight digs.
Defensively, the Tigers proved to be outstanding registering 55 digs. Myers led MU with 11 digs while defensive specialist and junior Rachael Taylor chipped in with 10. MU also put down 7.5 blocks on the match. Branson led the way with two block solo's and a block assist.
The win moves the Tigers to 10-0 on the year and the second best start in MU history continues. The Tigers have won 30 games this season and have remarkably dropped only one, an 11-15 setback at the hands of Oral Roberts on Sept. 2. The Tigers are 1-0 in the Big 12 and will travel to Lincoln, NE on Saturday to take on the top-ranked team in the nation according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association, the 8-0 Nebraska Cornhuskers. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
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