
The All-A10 middle blocker moves two hours west from SLU
Entering Sunday, Mizzou Volleyball had one clear and obvious need left this offseason: a starting middle blocker. The Tigers filled that role with one of the top middles in the transfer portal, multi year starter Trinity Luckett.
Luckett was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10 this year after recording 239 kills on a .303 hitting percentage and 138 total blocks. Her 1.16 blocks per set ranked second in the conference, and she was ninth in the A-10 in hitting percentage.
Luckett will join Mizzou after starting her first two collegiate seasons at SLU. She started 28 of 32 matches her freshman year in 2023, totaling 98 blocks and hitting .222 on 150 kills to be named to the A-10’s All-Rookie Team.
She’ll make the trip west on I-70 to play for the Tigers with two years of eligibility remaining.
Let’s Meet Trinity Luckett
- From: Bentonville, Arkansas
- Prior University: St. Louis University
- High School: Bentonville West High School
- Position: Middle Blocker
- Height: 6-2
Luckett was arguably the top mid major transfer available at the middle blocker position and one of the top middles in the portal regardless of conference. Her location as an Arkansas native and player at SLU made her a logical fit for the Tigers, the reason I listed her as an impact player the team could target in my portal check in article one day before her commitment.
Luckett provides efficiency on offense with her .303 hitting percentage, a key consideration for the staff considering their style of play and who she’ll be replacing. Mizzou’s offense was one of the best in the country this year because they often had five reliable and effective options to choose from on the attack, and the team’s starting middles were especially efficient.
This allowed Marina Crownover to spread out the ball, the coaching staff to gameplan and target specific matchups, and the team to ride the hot hand and avoid a player or two if they got cold. Even when one or two of the Tigers’ outside hitters were having a rare off night, they could usually rely on Regan Haith and Colleen Finney to provide five to eight kills per match at over a .300 hitting percentage.
Speaking of Finney, the header image for this article says it all – Luckett is the heir to the throne. Unlike the early 2000’s Oakland A’s, this staff doesn’t need to recreate a key player in the aggregate; Luckett should be ready to step into Finney’s now-vacated starting role from day one.
Her blocking ability will also be a massive addition for Mizzou, which ranked dead last in the SEC in blocks this season. Luckett’s height is also a major positive at 6-2, as the Tigers have struggled at times against some of the taller teams in the conference and the NCAA Tournament over the past two years.
Luckett may not quite have the incredible offensive efficiency of Colleen Finney, but neither did Finney until this season. This coaching staff’s hallmark has been development, and they’ll have two seasons to further develop a player who already brings plenty of talent and accolades to Columbia.
Something to watch for in the coming weeks: Mizzou is now at 20 players for the 2025 season, two over the new roster limit of 18. There will be at least two Tigers transferring out in order to get under the limit.
Less than two weeks into the offseason, the team’s 2025 starting lineup is coming into focus. Marina Crownover and Maya Sands return after All-SEC seasons at setter and libero, while Regan Haith and Janet deMarrais will also come back as starters at middle blocker and outside hitter.
Former five star recruit Claire Morrissey seems prepared to step into a starting role at outside hitter after seeing more playing time late in the season, and Big West Player of the Year Caylen Alexander was brought in after being Hawai’i’s right side hitter this year.
Mizzou’s lineup looks complete with the addition of Luckett at middle blocker. The Tigers’ momentum from this season has carried over into a strong offseason, and the team again looks ready to compete at the top of the SEC.
What they’re saying:
Congratulations Trinity Luckett!!! #Mizzou #volleyball #sec pic.twitter.com/xdYYyuwlT5
— Tyrone Luckett (@TyroneLuckett) December 22, 2024
✏️: Trinity Luckett
: MB
: Junior
⬅️: Saint Louis
➡️: @MizzouVB #CollegeVBTransfers | #NCAAWVB pic.twitter.com/g0NkKqGbGg— College VBall Transfers (@CVBTransfers) December 22, 2024
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