University of Missouri
Nebraska
Tigers Fall to Huskers in Big 12 Opener
9/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 15, 2004
LINCOLN, Neb.-- - In a match that was closer than the 3-0 win would indicate, Mizzou fell to No. 8 Nebraska 30-27, 30-24, 31-29 in Lincoln, Neb. on Wednesday in the Big 12 Conference opener.
Nebraska scored the first four points of game one and held the lead the entire game, but was unable to take complete control of the game. The Cornhuskers held a 28-23 lead late in the game when Mizzou scored five straight points to cut the NU lead to one. However, Nebraska was able to score the final two points of the game to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Missouri (4-3, 0-1 Big 12) used four service aces to hold the lead for most of the early portion of game two. The Tigers led by as much as three before Nebraska rallied to take the lead at 22-21. The Huskers would go on to take the 30-24 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Just as it did in the second game, MU held the lead for much of the early part of game three, until Nebraska took the lead at 17-16 held the lead at 23-19 when Mizzou scored three straight points to cut the lead to one at 23-22. After a Husker time out, Nebraska would go on a 9-2 run to hold match point at 29-25. However, the Tigers held off NU, scoring the next four points to tie it at 29 before the Huskers could score the final two points and take the game and match victory.
Missouri had eight aces on the night, led by sophomore Nicole Wilson and junior Lindsey Hunter who each had three. Sophomore Jessica Vander Kooi led MU with 14 kills and added 11 digs. Freshman Tatum Ailes had a team-high 12 digs. Wilson and junior Shen Danru led the Tigers with four blocks on the night.
The Tigers will return home to face Baylor in the conference home opener at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Hearnes Center.
