University of Missouri
Kansas State
Kansas State Avoids Mizzou's Upset Bid
11/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 12, 2003
After winning the first two games of its match against No. 5 Kansas State on Wednesday, the Missouri volleyball team was unable to close out the win as KSU rallied to win the next three games and hand MU its fifth straight loss of the season with a 3-2 (27-30, 19-30, 31-29, 30-20, 15-9)win.
The teams showed why they are near the top of the Big 12 Conference in aces on the year in game one. Mizzou, the league leader in aces per game, had seven aces led by Shen Danru. Danru who leads the conference individually, had four aces in the opening game including two in a row to give MU the lead at 27-25. The Danru aces came in midst of a Mizzou 7-2 run to close out the game. Kansas State had three aces of its own in the first game, two by Valeria Hejjas.
After the Wildcats won the first three points of game two, Missouri stormed back with a 4-0 run to take the lead. KSU retook the lead but was unable to hold on to it when MU used a 6-0 run to build a lead of five at 15-10. The Tigers then put the game away winning nine straight points and 11 of the last 13 points to easily take the game two win.
Danru's serve gave Mizzou the early lead in game three, as MU jumped out to a 3-0 lead with two of the points being aces by Danru. Missouri held the lead for much of the third game until the Wildcats took it away from the Tigers at 28-27 before going on to the 31-29 win to send the match to game four.
The Wildcats forced a fifth game by taking game four 30-20. Missouri had nine blocks in the game, but had a -.026 hitting percentage. Kansas State carried the momentum into game five where it took and held control of the game on its way to a 15-9 win to conclude the comeback victory.
Danru had another double-double, the 14th of the season for her, as she had 15 kills and a career-high 24 digs. She also finished with a career-high seven aces.
Lindsey Hunter and Jessica Vander Kooi added double-doubles and Sara Parks had 19 digs for the Tigers.
The Tigers who will be on the road on Saturday, traveling to take on Oklahoma at 5 p.m. before retuning to the Hearnes Center at 7 p.m. next Wednesday against Iowa State.
