Oct. 8, 2001
Columbia, Mo.-The University of Missouri volleyball team emphatically ended its first two-match losing streak of the season Monday night sweeping the Iowa State University Cyclones, 3-0 (30-11, 30-22, 30-21). The Tigers improve to 12-4 on the year and 4-4 in the Big 12 while the Cyclones fall to 3-9 overall and 0-7 in the Big 12. Head coach Susan Kreklow said that the Tigers needed to play well tonight and regain their confidence as the season progresses
"We needed to come out and take care of business tonight and play with some fight and intensity," Kreklow said. "Overall, we were pleased with the effort the team put forward and the win gets us back on track as we enter the second half of the season."
The Tigers roared out to a great start in Game 1, recording a .581 hitting percentage while holding ISU to a .130 mark and taking the game, 30-11. Iowa State would battle with the Tigers to open Game 2 with the Iowa State taking a 13-12 lead. However, Mizzou would go on a 17-10 run the rest of the way and take the game, 30-22. Sophomore Ashlee Johns provided a spark off of the bench for Mizzou in Game 2 recording three kills while junior Lisa Morris had six. The two squads would again play each other close and were tied 6-6 to open Game 3. Mizzou would then use a 13-5 run to take a 19-11 lead and would not look back taking the game, 30-21 and the match, 3-0.
Mizzou used a very efficient and balanced effort to take the match, recording a .433 hitting percentage (the second highest single- match mark of the season) and committed only eight attack errors. Morris led the Tigers once again recording 17 kills, five digs and two service aces. Morris is averaging 18.66 kills per match and 5.10 kills per game over the past three matches. Morris also recorded a career-best .516 hitting percentage on the evening.
Junior Christi Myers also reached double figures in kills for the tenth time in 11 matches putting down 10 terminations while also picking up six digs and stuffing a match-high three total blocks. Senior Naaron Branson also continued her solid play in the back row picking up 16 digs and provided tough serving for Mizzou registering a service ace.
Mizzou has now taken nine straight matches from the Cyclones dating back to 1997. The sweep of the Cyclones was the first 3-0 win for Mizzou since Sept. 8 at the Best Inns Invitational over Western Kentucky. The Tigers return to action on Wednesday evening as they welcome in-state rival UMKC to the Hearnes with first serve set for 7:00 p.m. The Tigers will then travel to Austin, Texas on Saturday to face the Texas Longhorns. For ticket information on Wednesday nights match, call 1-800 CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.