Mizzou libero Maya Sands celebrates with teammate Mychaela Vernon during the Tigers’ win over Drake on Friday. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Athletics)
The University of Missouri women’s volleyball team kicked off its new season by participating in the Bluejay Invitational at Creighton’s Sokol Arena in Omaha over the weekend. And the Tigers came hame fairly pleased with how things went.
Missouri won two of its three matches in Omaha, defeating Drake on Friday and North Carolina State on Sunday, with a loss to No. 12 Creighton sandwiched in between on Saturday.
In the match against Drake, which Mizzou won in straight sets, senior hitters Mychaela Vernon and Jordan Oliff both posted double-doubles to lead the Tigers to the win.
Vernon, a transfer from Oregon State who was making her first start for Missouri, had 18 kills and 13 digs, while Oliff, Mizzou’s top returning offensive threat from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, had 12 kills and 10 digs.
Another transfer, Marina Crownover, who came to Missouri from Texas, had 22 assists, while standout defensive player Maya Sands had 25 digs, to go along with five assists and an ace.
Mizzou’s Marina Crownover (22) leads a celebration after the Tigers defeated Drake in their 2024 season opener last Friday in Omaha. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Athletics)
Against 12th-ranked Creighton, Mizzou lost in straight sets. Vernon had another fine outing, with 14 kills, eight digs, three blocks, and two aces, and Iliff contributed 12 kills, but the Tigers just couldn’t keep pace with the high-powered Bluejays offense.
Mizzou’s Colleen Finney (1) tells the crowd to be silent, after her play gave the Tigers an early lead in Saturday’s match against No. 12 Creighton. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Athletics)
In the final match of the weekend, Mizzou played N.C. State for second place and beat the Wolfpack in straight sets.
Vernon and Iliff once again led the team in kills. Vernon had 12 and Iliff added 11, while junior Regan Haith, who is from nearby Lincoln, Neb., had 10 kills, four blocks, and three digs.
Sands had 17 digs and sophomore setter Sierra Dudley had 42 assists.
The Missouri Tigers celebrate winning Sunday’s match against North Carolina State. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Athletics)
Following the match, Iliff and Sands were named to the Bluejay Invitational All-Tournament Team.
2024 Bluejay Invitational All-Tournament Team
Kendra Wait, Creighton (MVP)
Elise Goetzinger, Creighton
Norah Sis, Creighton
Maya Sands, Missouri
Jordan Iliff, Missouri
Amanda Rice, NC State
Jada Wills, Drake
Mizzou will be back in action this weekend, when it competes in the NKU Invitational in Highland Heights, Ky. The Tigers will face the host school, Northern Kentucky, on Friday, then play No. 6-ranked Louisville on Saturday, before taking on South Dakota on Sunday.
All three matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Mizzou’s first home matches will come the following weekend, September 13-15, when the Tigers will host the Mizzou Invitational against Kansas City, Tennessee-Martin, and Lindenwood.
2024 MISSOURI TIGERS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2024 (Friday) | 5 p.m. | Away | Northern Kentucky | Highland Heights, Ky. |  | NKU Invitational |
| September 7, 2024 (Saturday) | 1 p.m. | Neutral | #6 Louisville | Highland Heights, Ky. | | NKU Invitational |
| September 8, 2024 (Sunday) | 10 a.m. | Neutral | South Dakota | Highland Heights, Ky. | | NKU Invitational |
| September 13, 2024 (Friday) | 11:30 a.m. | Home | Kansas City | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center |  | Mizzou Invitational |
| September 13, 2024 (Friday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | UT Martin | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | Mizzou Invitational |
| September 15, 2024 (Sunday) | 4 p.m. | Home | Lindenwood | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | Mizzou Invitational |
| September 19, 2024 (Thursday) | 6 p.m. | Away | Lipscomb | Nashville, Tenn. | Lipscomb Tournament | |
| September 20, 2024 (Friday) | 4 p.m. | Neutral | Illinois | Nashville, Tenn. | Lipscomb Tournament | |
| September 27, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Away | LSU | Baton Rouge, La. | | |
| September 29, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Away | Texas A&M | College Station, Texas | | |
| October 6, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Away | #9 Kentucky | Lexington, Ky. |  | |
| October 9, 2024 (Wednesday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Southeast Missouri | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | |
| October 11, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Home | Alabama | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | |
| October 13, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Home | #15 Tennessee | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | |
| October 20, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Home | Mississippi State | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | |
| October 25, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Away | #19 Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | | |
| October 27, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Away | Oklahoma | Norman, Okla. | | |
| November 1, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Away | #1 Texas | Austin, Texas | | |
| November 6, 2024 (Wednesday) | TBA | Home | #25 Georgia | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | |
| November 10, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Home | South Carolina | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | |
| November 15, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Home | #11 Florida | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | |
| November 22, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Away | Ole Miss | Oxford, Miss. | | |
| November 24, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | | |
| November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) | TBA | Home | #9 Kentucky | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | | |
| November 30, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Auburn | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | |