University of Missouri
Kansas State
Tigers Stumble in Sweep by No. 18 Kansas State
9/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 26, 2007
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Mizzou volleyball team (7-6, 0-4 Big 12) had trouble matching the offensive intensity of No. 18 Kansas State (12-3, 4-1 Big 12) Wednesday night as the Tigers fell in a 30-21, 30-20, 30-20 sweep. Tiger senior Na Yang (Shan Dong, China) scored a Mizzou-high 11 kills on errorless .611 hitting.
Although Yang played well offensively, K-State serving and a .371 hitting-percentage strike prevented Mizzou from putting together their complete offensive game.
Kansas State was led by Rita Liliom's 15 kills.
Lei Wang and Megan Wilson would score seven kills apiece to be second on the scoring list for the Tigers.
Mizzou's 29-point loss ties a school record for total margin of defeat since the rally era began in 2001.
Kansas State won its first meeting with the Tigers in five tries with the win.
The Tigers captured sideouts early in game one off kills by Na Yang and Lei Wang, but three-consecutive service errors diminished any momentum. Mizzou's stumbles continued as K-State jumped to a 11-5 lead before Mizzou made a 5-3 run to close within three. That's the closest the Tigers would get until a `Cats 6-1 run put the score to 19-11. Despite hitting .387 (15-3-31) in the frame, the Tigers fell 30-21 as K-State would hit .421 (18-2-38). Lei Wang scored five kills, leading Mizzou in the stanza (.400, 5-1-10) with three coming within the Tigers' first four points.
Mizzou's offensive miscues in the second game gave K-State all the points needed for a sizeable 30-20 victory in the frame. Mizzou hit .029 (10-9-35) in the stanza to the Wildcats' .314 (17-6-35). The Tigers avoided the worst rally-scoring game two loss in school history as with the score 29-17, a service run by Tatum Ailes, which included an ace and two Mizzou blocks gave MU some momentum heading into the break. Megan Wilson had four kills in the set as Mizzou's leading scorer.
K-State runs produced a 7-2 Tiger deficit quickly as a service run by Angie Lastra gave Mizzou little chance on offense. Another ace by Lastra later in the game gave the Wildcats a 16-9 lead and Mizzou a small chance to catch. Mizzou would statistically produce better numbers in the final set with a .259 hitting strike (10-3-27).
Mizzou will host No. 25 Oklahoma Saturday in the Hearnes Center with a 6:30 p.m., first serve. The first 150 students admitted into the match will receive free pizza.
