Sept. 9, 2001
Carbondale, Ill.-It was Cats (Tigers) vs. Dogs (Salukis), 2-0 vs. 2-0 in the Best Inns Invitational, home (SIU) vs. well... away (MU) in the Championship match of the Best Inns Invitational in Carbondale, Ill on Saturday. The Cats and away team would be the victors on the night as Mizzou improved to 7-0 on the season and took home its second regular season tournament trophy. Junior Lisa Morris took home MVP honors of the Best Inns Invitational tournament while junior Christi Myers and senior Krista Johnson would be named to the all-tournament team. Morris would pace the Tigers in the match putting down match-high 20 kills and seven digs. Morris averaged 4.27 kills per game throughout the tournament and put down a tourney-high 26 kills against IUPUI on Friday.
In what SIU head coach Sonya Locke called the "match of the century" for her squad in SIU's Daily Egyptian, on Saturday, Mizzou's business-like approach paid dividends in the early going as the Tigers ran out to an 11-7 lead. Mizzou would run that lead to 21-10. SIU was able to cut the lead to 27-20, but the Tigers would put the Salukis away, 30-21. Senior Kristen Johnson continued her good play from earlier in the day putting down five kills in Game 1 to lead Mizzou.
Game 2 would begin as a dead heat with score tied at 13-13. SIU would then go on a run 7-1 run and take a 20-14 lead. The Tigers would pull to within one at 29-28, but the Salukis would not relinquish that lead winning Game 2, 30-28.
The Tigers and Salukis would continue to exchange points, opening Game 3 in 16-16 and 26-26 ties. However, senior defensive specialist Rachael Taylor would close out SIU with four straight strong serves as Mizzou took the game, 30-26.
Game 4 would open once again in a tie at 15. Taylor and fellow defensive specialist Katie Sowers would each register service aces during the ensuing 9-4 Tiger run making the score 24-19 prompting an SIU time-out. SIU would rebound, however, and take a 26-25 lead. Sophomore Mary Lauren Smith would change all that registering two kills in the last five Mizzou points as the Tigers took the game, 30-26 and the match 3-1.
Tiger head coach Susan Kreklow said the match was a good test for Mizzou and that the Tigers need to continue to improve as they head into Big 12 play.
"We are happy to get three wins this weekend and head into Big 12 play with some momentum," Kreklow said. "We need to continue to improve every day and concentrate on bettering our ball control."
The Tigers are now 7-0 on the year and kick off the Big 12 portion of their schedule this Wednesday when they travel to Lawrence, Kansas to take on the Jayhawks with first serve set for 7:00 p.m. Mizzou then welcomes the Cyclones of Iowa State to Columbia next Saturday in the Tigers first home action of the season. For ticket information, call 1-800 CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.