Volley Sweeps Alabama to Run Win Streak to Three MatchesVolley Sweeps Alabama to Run Win Streak to Three Matches
Volleyball

Volley Sweeps Alabama to Run Win Streak to Three Matches

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou volleyball swept its second-consecutive match and earned its third-straight win, defeating Alabama on Sunday afternoon at Hearnes Center. The win improves MU’s record to 11-8 (4-3 SEC). 

KEY PLAYERS

  • Sophomore Paige Felder (Parowan, Utah) led the offense with 15 kills and had a .448 hit percentage. 
  • Junior Nina Mandovic (Subotica, Serbia) led the Tigers in digs, totaling nine digs and chipping in three aces.
  • Fifth year Kimani Johnson (Southfield, Mich.) ended the match with eight kills.

SET ONE (Mizzou wins 25-13, Mizzou leads 1-0)

The Tigers got out to the early lead with a five-point rally to give Mizzou the edge 8-2, highlighted by kills from Felder and Grace O’Reilly (Springfield, Mo.).

Mizzou continued to set the pace heading into the media timeout, elevating the score to 15-9. The Black & Gold would extend the lead thanks to kills from Felder and Johnson, forcing the Crimson Tide into a timeout (19-12).

The Tigers ended the first set with a 5-0 run, highlighted by two kills from O’Reilly. Freshman Lydia Stahley (Springfield, Mo.) threw up a solo block and notched a kill to clinch the set.

SET TWO (Mizzou wins 25-21, Mizzou leads 2-0)

The Tigers and Tide traded points early to keep the set close. Felder and Stahley lead the charge with four and three kills, respectively. Lauren Larkin (St. George, Utah) also kept the match tied with a kill and ace.

Mizzou slowly pulled away with a pair of kills from Felder and ace from Ainoah Cruz (Arecibo, P.R.), giving the Tigers the edge going into the media timeout 15-13.

Mandovic scored back-to-back aces distancing themselves from Alabama and making the Tide call a time out with Mizzou leading 18-13. Felder again tallied a pair of kills, totaling seven kills in the second set. Larkin put the Tigers up 2-0 with a kill as Mizzou took the victory in the second set 25-21.

SET THREE (Mizzou wins 25-11, Mizzou wins 3-0)

Mizzou started off the third set strong, with a five-point rally, Zoey Matias (Miami, Fla.) breaking through with a service ace. Eva Smith (Durham, N.C.) added a pair of kills, putting the Tigers up 11-6 before an Alabama timeout.

The Black & Gold continued their momentum coming out of the timeout with five unanswered points. Mizzou then finished off the match with a 4-0 run to clinch the set and the sweep.

GAME NOTES

  • Mizzou improved to 11-8 on the season and 4-3 in SEC play.
  • Head coach Dawn Sullivan improved to 177-79 all-time and 68-41 at MU. 
  • Paige Felder led Mizzou with 15 kills. This is her third consecutive game with double digit kills. 
  • Mizzou is now 16-6 all time vs. the Crimson Tide.
  • The Tigers have swept back-to-back SEC opponents, the first time since March 24-25, 2021 vs. Mississippi State.

NEXT UP
The Tigers travel to Columbia, South Carolina, to take on South Carolina on Friday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+.

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