University of Missouri
Texas
Mizzou Challenges No. 3 Texas, Falls in Four
11/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 26, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri volleyball team (13-16, 7-12 Big 12) came two points from forcing a fifth set with No. 3 Texas on Wednesday, pushing the Longhorns (24-3, 17-2 Big 12) to the brink at times in the 25-21, 16-25, 15-25, 23-25 match. Mizzou sophomore Julianna Klein (Keota, Iowa) led the Tigers with 13 kills on the night.
The Tigers and Longhorns battled through 13 ties and five lead changes in the opening set on the way to an 18-18 score. With Mizzou's Megan Wilson serving, the Tigers went on a 5-0 run to take a 23-18 lead and eventually the set, thanks to solo blocks by Lei Wang and Lauren Nuckolls and two additional kills by Nuckolls.
In the fourth set, after nine ties and two lead changes early on, Texas held a 24-19 advantage and match point. But, Mizzou fought back with five-straight points and pushed the score to 24-23. Texas would win the contest on a Tiger hitting error.
Megan Wilson would score 12 kills in the match, adding a block. Junior Amanda Hantouli notched 11 kills and four blocks on the night. Nuckolls tallied nine kills in the contest.
Junior Lei Wang set the team to a .412 average in the first frame and ended the match with 49 assists and a team-high five blocks.
Sophomore Caitlyn Vann notched a team high 23 digs and added two aces. Weiwen Wang also collected two service aces.
The Longhorns, who are still in line for a at least a share of the Big 12 title, was led by Ashley Engle's 16 kills.
Mizzou will next host Texas A&M (15-14, 10-9 Big 12) in the season finale, Friday, at 6:30 p.m.
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