Dive into the Heart of Mizzou Athletics

RMN’s photo editor shares some pictures from this week’s volleyball & softball contests.

1. All of the Lights

Missouri players watch a highlight reel before a game against Alabama on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (Cal Tobias/Rock M Nation)

Mizzou Athletics never fails to bring the theatrics before all games— look at this great lighting before the Alabama game! Maybe it even helped them take down the Tide.

2. Iliff Illumination

Missouri’s Jordan Iliff (4) prepares for the serve during a game against Alabama on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (Cal Tobias/Rock M Nation)

Mizzou’s star, Jordan Iliff, never backs down from any opponent. Here, she eagerly awaits the Alabama serve.

3. Chaos at the Hearnes

The Missouri swim & dive team celebrates the volleyball team winning their first set during a game against Alabama on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (Cal Tobias/Rock M Nation)

Friday’s game was “Athletes’ Night” at the Hearnes, and every team, from soccer to basketball, turned out. (Football was missing, I’m still trying to figure out why that was.) But the star of the show was the swim & dive team, who took off an article of clothing each time Mizzou got ahead of Alabama in a set. By the time Missouri won the set (they only needed three) the swimmers were wearing nothing but Speedos and going bonkers over the team.

4. I got it!

Missouri’s Maya Sands (3) and Missouri’s Kiaraliz Perez Catala (15) can’t decide who’ll hit the ball during a game against Alabama on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (Cal Tobias/Rock M Nation)

Maya Sands and Kiaraliz Perez Catala apparently couldn’t decide who would hit the ball in the third set, so they both went for it! Redundancy, it’s important.

5. SEC! SEC! SEC!

Missouri head coach Dawn Sullivan watches her players during a game against Alabama on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (Cal Tobias/Rock M Nation)

Friday’s game was the volleyball SEC opener for Missouri. The Southeastern Conference has been no challenge for Dawn Sullivan, who won SEC Coach of the Year in 2023, and went .500 in the tough conference last year. This year, she is batting .600, with wins over LSU, Alabama, and Tennessee.

6. To the Diamond

Missouri third baseman Saniya Hill throws down an Illinois runner in a fall-ball game against Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.

Missouri fans got a small look at the MU softball team on Saturday’s “Braggin’ Rights” rivalry scrimmage, with new faces like freshman third baseman Saniya Hill in action. The Tigers ultimately took ownership of said rights, winning 9-3.

7. Old & New

Missouri’s Kara Daly throws down an Illinois runner in a fall-ball game on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at the Mizzou Softball Stadium. (Cal Tobias/Rock M Nation)

Tiger fans also got to see some favorites from last year’s team on the diamond once again; though several beloved seniors graduated, some stars are still here, like Kara Daly, who showed out with her impressive infield defense from both third base and shortstop.

8. Back to the Hearnes

Tennessee’s Hayden Kubik (33) blocks a shot by Missouri’s Marina Crownover (22) during a game on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M NATION)

Back to volleyball, the Tigers faced unranked but receiving votes Tennessee team on Sunday, and it was a hard-fought battle, going to five sets. Here, Tennessee’s Hayden Kubik (33) blocks Marina Crownover’s (22) shot right back at her.

9. The Dagger

Missouri’s Mychael Vernon (19) and Regan Haith (11) deliver the game-winning block of Tennessee’s Hayden Kubik (33) to win the fifth set on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M NATION)

The game ended in spectacular fashion, as Mychael Vernon and Regan Haith blocked a Volunteer shot to win the fifth set and the game. Here’s the shot of that crucial play, captured from behind the Missouri side.

10. Victor of the Vols

Missouri’s Regan Haith (11) celebrates her game-winning block to win the fifth set of a game against Tennessee on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M NATION)

Who loves a nice celebration shot! Here’s Haith celebrating her game-winning block with the rest of the team. Tigers will next face Miss. State next Sunday and then go on a stretch of road games, hopefully carrying with them this same energy.

Honorable Mention (Karen’s Pick)

Missouri’s Colleen Finney (1) celebrates making a kill during a game against Alabama on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (Cal Tobias/Rock M Nation)

We’d be remiss not to include a reaction shot from Colleen Finney, who gives some of best facial expressions around.