
The Tigers have their longest winning streak since 2016
In front of a season-high 3,841 fans, Mizzou Volleyball put on an impressive defensive display Sunday in a sweep (25-23, 25-13, 25-18) of South Carolina. The Tigers finished the night with another new season high of 11 blocks, the first time Dawn Sullivan’s squad has passed double digits this season, and limited the Gamecocks to a .123 hitting percentage.
“This [was] kind of one of the first games where we actually talked to each other about, ‘Let’s put up a wall,’” outside hitter Janet deMarrais said.
Mizzou gained its first solid lead of the night, 12-8, with a 3-0 run featuring an ace by Kiaraliz Perez Catala. The Tigers held maintained a two to four point cushion until a South Carolina timeout at 19-15, after which the visitors went on a 5-2 run with the help of three Alayna Johnson kills to cut their deficit to one.
Libero Kiaraliz Perez Catala (15) prepares to receive a serve during Missouri volleyball’s SEC matchup against South Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (MICHAEL BANIEWICZ/ROCK M NATION)
After a Dawn Sullivan timeout, Mizzou sided out (scoring when served to) in each of its final four opportunities to hold on for the narrow set one win, clinching the 25-23 opening frame victory on a kill by Jordan Iliff. The Tigers’ front row was key to their success in the first set, recording four blocks, and the team’s middle blocker pairing of Colleen Finney and Regan Haith combined for six kills as the offense hit .353.
After a nailbiter in set one, Mizzou put its foot on the pedal from the very start of set two. The Tigers went on an 8-1 run with a kill, block assist and ace from Mychael Vernon to move ahead 10-3.
The Gamecocks kept pace with the Tigers in the middle portion of the set, trailing 20-13, before Mizzou scored the final five points of set two to win 25-13 on another ace by Perez Catala.
Setter Marina Crownover (22) celebrates a point during the first set of Missouri volleyball’s matchup against SEC opponent South Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (MICHAEL BANIEWICZ/ROCK M NATION)
Dawn Sullivan’s squad put together a complete performance in the second frame, hitting .435 with only one attack error and holding South Carolina to a .121 hitting percentage while adding three more total blocks to their tally.
Mizzou continued to maintain control early in set three, jumping out to a 10-4 lead with a 6-0 run. The Tigers kept their opponents at arm’s length, leading by at least four points, and crept closer to the victory with a 20-13 lead after a Janet deMarrais kill.
That’s when the Gamecocks made a last-minute push, going on a 5-1 run with two service aces to cut their deficit to three and force a Tigers timeout, 21-18. But Sullivan’s squad again had the last word, closing out the match with four straight points and clinching the sweep with a kill by Marina Crownover after a long rally to win set three 25-18.
Setter Marina Crownover (22) serves during the first set of Missouri volleyball’s game against SEC opponent South Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (MICHAEL BANIEWICZ/ROCK M NATION)
Mizzou saved its best for last on the defensive end, limiting the visitors to a .000 hitting percentage in the final frame while hitting .300 despite five attack errors. The Tigers also tamped down on their mistakes from the service line in set three, not recording any service errors after combining for nine between the first two sets.
The team hit .351 for the match with only eight total attack errors, their second consecutive match with a hitting percentage above .350 and third such performance in SEC play. Mychael Vernon led the team with 14 kills, hitting .324, while adding two blocks and eight digs.
Janet deMarrais, meanwhile, continues to look better and better this season, recording 12 kills on a .346 hitting percentage.
“She’s just really been mindful about where she’s putting that ball,” head coach Dawn Sullivan said, “and she understood that deep corner [was] going to work for us.”
But Colleen Finney put together the team’s best all-around performance, finishing with six kills on a .545 hitting percentage and adding seven total blocks to tie her previous career record.
Setter Marina Crownover (22) sets the ball for middle blocker Colleen Finney (1) to hit during Missouri volleyball’s matchup against SEC opponent South Carolinaon Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. (MICHAEL BANIEWICZ/ROCK M NATION)
“She’s relentless and passionate,” said Sullivan, “and she definitely leads this team with the way she plays.”
Her slide attack was nearly automatic today, something the team prepared for entering the match.
“When we’re in a two hitter rotation, they had the middles step towards the outside,” Finney said, “So I knew I was going to have a one on one behind and we kind of figured this might be a really good day to run that slide.”
Regan Haith added four kills while hitting .571 with four blocks, and Jordan Iliff hit .231 with five kills and eight digs.
Marina Crownover tallied 37 assists with five digs and a kill, the match-winner, while Maya Sands paced the squad with 16 digs.
Mizzou is again tied for first in the SEC with Kentucky, further strengthening the team’s case for a spot in the top 25. Notably, tonight was the team’s first sweep since facing Alabama on October 11, avoiding the third set slump.
“This team’s on a mission, and they’ve been on a mission since last year,” Sullivan said, “So I have nothing that would make me doubt where this team is going to go.”
This team continues to look stronger with every match, and the Tigers seem ready for a marquee matchup Friday with top 25 Florida at Hearnes. The match will start at 7 p.m., and the match will be streamed on SEC Network +.
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