University of Missouri
Texas
Branson Leads Gritty Tiger Comeback
10/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2001
Austin, Texas.- Senior Naaron Branson put down a personal season best 21 kills and picked up a career-high 22 digs as the University of Missouri volleyball team battled back from a two-games to one deficit to defeat the University of Texas, 3-2 (25-30, 31-29, 24-30, 30-26, 17-15) in Austin on Saturday night. The win marks the Tigers third straight over the Longhorns over the past two seasons. The Tigers improve to 14-4 overall and 5-4 in the Big 12 while Texas falls to 9-5 overall and 4-4 in the Big 12. The Tigers also run their current winning streak to three matches and have won five of their last seven battles. Missouri head coach Susan Kreklow said the Tigers showed character and composure in the nail-biter that lasted two hours and 25 minutes.
"This was a very big win for the team and our program," Kreklow said. "We had struggled in five game matches this season and our kids stepped up and responded well to the atmosphere and the situation."
The Tigers had been 0-2 so far this season in five gamers, but would take a 10-4 Game 4 deficit and turn it into a five-game win. Mizzou also broke a trend that had been haunting them the past two seasons. The Tigers had dropped 10 straight matches when dropping Game 1 of a match, but were able to buck that trend tonight with the win.
The Tigers and Longhorns would play to a 6-6 tie to open Game 1 in Gregory Gymnasium. The Horns would then go on a 7-2 run to take a 13-8 lead. Two kills by junior Christi Myers would pull the Tigers to as close as 25-21 but Texas would hold Mizzou off and take the game, 30-25. Senior Naaron Branson would pace the Tigers in Game 1 putting down six kills while recording seven digs. The Tigers struggled overall offensively in Game 1 registering a .140 hitting percentage to the Longhorns .262 mark.
Mizzou would jump out to a 5-2 lead only to have the Longhorns reel them back in and take a 16-13 advantage. However, Mizzou would battle back and the two squads would find themselves knotted at 29. Senior defensive specialist Rachael Taylor, who had two service aces on the night, would check back in and serve Mizzou to the two straight points they needed and the Tigers would take Game 2, 31-29.
Besides taking a 1-0 lead to open Game 3, the Tigers would trail the Longhorns throughout Game 3 and drop the stanza, 30-25. Mizzou trailed by as many as eight points at 21-13. The Tigers would charge back though on the strength of good serving by sophomore Chrissy Elder down only one at 22-21. The Longhorns would go on a 8-3 run the rest of the way, however, and take the game.
The Tigers found themselves in a hole once again to open Game 4 as the Longhorns took a 10-4 lead. Sophomore Ashlee Johns would come in and provide a huge lift for Mizzou as it would claw back to within one at 10-9. Mizzou would use inspired play from Johns and go on a 21-16 to end Game 4 and even the match at two games apiece.
The Tigers and Longhorns would find themselves tied eight times during the final stanza of the match and for the last time at 15-15. Two straight kills by junior Lisa Morris gave the Tigers a 17-15 game win and a 3-2 match win.
The Tigers now return home for a mid-week match up with No. 23 Colorado in the Hearnes Center. MU split the season series with the Buffaloes last season winning at home and losing in Baylor. For ticket information, call 1800-CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.
