The Missouri Tigers defeated Arkansas in three sets on Friday. (Photo: Ellie Parker)
| NCAA Volleyball | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (5-9, 1-2) | 11 | 20 | 17 | (0) |
| Mizzou (9-5, 1-2) | 25 | 25 | 25 | (3) |
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri women’s volleyball team bounced back from a pair of road losses against ranked opponents last week with a dominant, three sets to none victory over Arkansas, Friday evening at Hearnes Center.
The Tigers took the match 25-11, 25-20, 25-17 to earn its first SEC win of the season and improve its overall record to 9-5. Last week, Missouri was swept twice in road matches against No. 13 Texas A&M and No. 2 Texas.
On Friday, Mizzou, which is ranked 21st in the country, jumped on Arkansas immediately and never let up. The Tigers won nine of the first 10 points, and 16 of the first 18, to lead 16-2 in the first set. After an Arkansas timeout, Missouri continued to cruise to win the first set.
The second set was more competitive. Arkansas even held leads at 5-2 and 11-8. But midway through, Mizzou went on a 7-3 run to take the lead at 15-14. The Tigers then won 10 of the final 16 points to win the set 25-20.
Mizzou senior Janet deMarrais had 11 kills and four blocks in the Tigers’ win over Arkansas on Friday. (Photo: Ellie Parker)
The third set began with Arkansas’ best play of the night, as the Razorbacks jumped out to a 5-1 lead. But Mizzou quickly rallied again and went on an 8-1 run to go ahead 9-6.
The Tigers never trailed again and went on several short spurts to win the final set and close out the match, 25-17.
The Mizzou were led at the net by senior hitters Caylen Alexander, Janet deMarrais, and Tyrah Ariail. Alexander had a match-high 16 kills and a .500 hitting percentage, deMarrais had 11 kills and four blocks, and Ariail posted nine kills and seven blocks.
Junior setter Marina Crownover posted 32 assists, while senior Maya Sands dominated the back row with 17 digs, eight assists, and a momentum starting seven-point serving run in the first set.
Overall, the Tigers outhit the Razorbacks 45 kills to 34 and outdefended the visitors 14 blocks to just three.
Mizzou setter Marina Crownover had 32 assists in the Tigers’ win over Arkansas on Friday. (Photo: Ellie Parker)
Mizzou is now 9-5 on the season and 1-2 in the SEC, while Arkansas fell to 5-9 and 1-2.
The Tigers will be back on the court on Sunday, when they’ll host Oklahoma in another SEC match at Hearnes Center. First serve is set for 2 p.m., and the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
2025 MIZZOU TIGERS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 29, 2025 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Neutral | James Madison | Fort Myers, Fla. | W, 3-0 (1-0) | ||
| August 30, 2025 (Saturday) | 12:00 p.m. | Away | Florida Gulf Coast | Fort Myers, Fla. |  | W, 3-0 (2-0) | |
| September 4, 2025 (Thursday) | 7 p.m. | Away | Arkansas State | Jonesboro, Ark. | L, 3-2 (2-1) | ||
| September 5, 2025 (Friday) | 6 p.m. | Away | Arkansas State | Jonesboro, Ark. | W, 3-2 (3-1) | ||
| September 9, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8:30 p.m. | Home | #5 Stanford | Hearnes Center |  | L, 3-1 (3-2) | |
| September 11, 2025 (Thursday) | 11 a.m. | Neutral | Wyoming | Fort Worth, Texas | Fight in the Fort | W, 3-1 (4-2) | |
| September 11, 2025 (Thursday) | 4 p.m. | Neutral | Rhode Island | Fort Worth, Texas | Fight in the Fort | W, 3-0 (5-2) | |
| September 12, 2025 (Friday) | 6:30 p.m. | Away | #15 TCU | Fort Worth, Texas | Fight in the Fort | L, 3-1 (5-3) | |
| September 19, 2025 (Friday) | 11 a.m. | Neutral | Valparaiso | Macomb, Ill. | Leatherneck Classic | W, 3-1 (6-3) | |
| September 19, 2025 (Friday) | 4 p.m. | Neutral | Chicago State | Macomb, Ill. | Leatherneck Classic | W, 3-0 (7-3) | |
| September 20, 2025 (Saturday) | 4 p.m. | Away | Western Illinois | Macomb, Ill. | Leatherneck Classic | W, 3-0 (8-3) | |
| September 24, 2025 (Wednesday) | 6 p.m. | Away | #13 Texas A&M | College Station, Texas |  | L, 3-1 (8-4) | |
| September 26, 2025 (Friday) | 8 p.m. | Away | #2 Texas | Austin, Texas |  | L, 3-0 (8-5) | |
| October 3, 2025 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Home | Arkansas | Hearnes Center | | W, 3-0 (9-5) | |
| October 5, 2025 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Home | Oklahoma | Hearnes Center | | ||
| October 10, 2025 (Friday) | 6 p.m. | Away | Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | | ||
| October 12, 2025 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Away | Auburn | Auburn, Ala. | | ||
| October 17, 2025 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Home | Ole Miss | Hearnes Center | | ||
| October 19, 2025 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Home | LSU | Hearnes Center |  | ||
| October 22, 2025 (Wednesday) | 6 p.m. | Away | SEMO | Cape Girardeau, Mo. | |||
| October 24, 2025 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Home | South Carolina | Hearnes Center | | ||
| October 26, 2025 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Home | Georgia | Hearnes Center | | ||
| October 31, 2025 (Friday) | 6:30 p.m. | Away | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | | ||
| November 2, 2025 (Sunday) | 1 p.m. | Away | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. | | ||
| November 6, 2025 (Thursday) | 6 p.m. | Home | Kentucky | Hearnes Center | | ||
| November 14, 2025 (Friday) | 6 p.m. | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | | ||
| November 16, 2025 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Away | Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | | ||
| November 21, 2025 (Friday) | TBA | Neutral | SEC Tournament | Savannah, Ga. | SEC Tournament |