University of Missouri
Colorado
No. 21 Tigers Round-Up Buffs in Four Gamer
11/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 4, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo.--The Missouri Tiger volleyball squad (15-9, 9-6) defeated Colorado (13-9, 9-6) on Saturday in the Hearnes Center, 30-23, 30-17, 28-30, 30-28, redeeming themselves from their five-game loss suffered against the Buffs on September 13 in Boulder and ending their three-match losing streak. Senior Jessica Vander Kooi (Hinton, Iowa) was impressive in leading the Tigers in scoring with 21 kills on a .432 hitting clip, adding 15 digs. Vander Kooi already has six matches this season with 20-or-more kills.
Na Yang (Shan Dong, China) finished the game with a career-high six serving aces, scoring five in games one and two alone. Yang also added 14 kills and three blocks to the Tiger cause.
Nicole Wilson (Lincoln, Neb.) tallied 17 kills, adding six blocks and a ace. Freshman Amanda Hantouli garnered her second match consecutive with a double-digit kill total, grabbing 10 on a .474 clip, committing only one error.
Freshman Lei Wang (Shanghai, China ) came away with 64 assists, adding another double-double to her resume with 10 digs. Wang also had three blocks along with leading the team to a .281 hitting percentage in the match.
Nicole Wilson felt it was a great win for the team saying, "After such a rough last couple of weeks it was a real confidence booster, and I think everyone is feeling relaxed a little bit."
Amber Sutherland led Colorado had a double-double with 20 kills and 18 digs. Ashley Nu'u lead the team with a .375 hitting percentage and 47 assists. Lauren Schaefer had five blocks with Austin Zimmerman and Lara Bossow following closely with four each. Kristen Karlik came in behind Sutherland with 15 digs.
In the first game, Mizzou's arsenal consisted of Na Yang's five serving aces and the Tiger duo of Julianna Klein and Jessica Vander Kooi who led with four kills each in the frame. Coupled with a fantastic .484 team hitting percentage and a total 17 kills, the Tigers started off strong gaining a six-point lead. As the game progressed Colorado took two timeouts to re-organize as the Tigers continued their onslaught. Much to Colorado's dismay Mizzou was unwavering and sealed the win for the first game.
Much like the first game the Tigers came out clawing with Jessica Vander Kooi leading with nine kills in game two. Winning by 13 points, 30-17, the Tigers played impressively, holding Colorado to only one non-sideout point, embellishing a 93%-sideout percentage.
Mizzou started off slow in game three and were not able to play consistently, falling behind early. The Buffs came out in the third game with newfound energy keeping the Tigers on their toes as they battled back-and-forth, point for point only allowing Mizzou a four point lead, shown by the Tigers .170 match-low in hitting percentage. The Buffs took the lead at 29-26 but Mizzou persisted in making it 29-28 with Hantouli and Yang scoring big kills. Colorado began kept things rolling and won game three, 30-28, with CU's Mallori Gibson scoring the game-winner.
Mizzou was up as much as 24-19 in the fourth frame, before Colorado mounted a strong comeback, placing the game within one at 29-28, teasing the Tigers with three match points. Wilson scored the final kill for the Tigers to win the set 30-28.
Mizzou will have Wednesday off as the next scheduling period gives the Tigers a bye. The Tigers next travel to Texas Saturday.
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