The Missouri Tigers celebrate a three sets to none victory over South Carolina on Sunday. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
| NCAA Women’s Volleyball | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (13-9, 4-7) | 23 | 13 | 18 | (0) |
| Missouri (18-5, 9-2) | 25 | 25 | 25 | (3) |
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri women’s volleyball extended its winning streak to nine matches in a row on Sunday, when it defeated South Carolina three sets to none (25-23, 25-13, 25-18) in a match at the Hearnes Center.
Missouri is now 18-5 on the season and 9-2 in Southeastern Conference play, which puts the Tigers 1/2 game behind first place Kentucky in the SEC standings.
The Mizzou offense was dynamite from start to finish against the Gamecocks.
Senior outside hitter Mychael Vernon had a match-high 14 kills, along with eight digs and two blocks. Vernon has now registered 14 kills or more in eight straight matches.
Junior Janet deMarrais had 12 kills and four blocks. Sophomore Marina Crownover, who leads the SEC in assist percentage, had 37 assists, while grad student middle blocker Colleen Finney had one of her best games of the season with six kills and a career-best seven locks.
Junior Maya Sands led the defense with 16 digs, increasing her season total to 399.
Mizzou’s Mychael Vernon had 14 kills in the Tigers’ win over South Carolina on Sunday. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Mizzou led by four on two different occasions in the first set before South Carolina eventually pulled to within a point twice at 21-20 and 23-22. But the Tigers won two of the last three points to claim the opening stanza, 25-23.
The second set was all Mizzou, as Vernon, deMarrais, Finney, and senior Jordan Iliff each had multiple kills to lead the Tigers to a 25-13 win.
The third set began the same way the second set did, with Missouri jumping out to a quick and solid lead. But this time South Carolina rallied back and got within 21-18, before Mizzou closed the match with four straight points to send everyone in the season-best black and gold crowd of 3,841 home with a smile and a win.
Middle blocker Colleen Finney (1) had seven blocks in Mizzou’s win over South Carolina. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Mizzou will enjoy several days off before returning to the Hearnes Center court on Friday, November 15, for a matchup against No. 22 Florida. First serve for that contest is set for 7 p.m., and the match will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
2024 MISSOURI TIGERS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 15, 2024 (Friday) | 7 pm | Home | #22 Florida | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center |  |
| November 22, 2024 (Friday) | 6:30 pm | Away | Ole Miss | Oxford, Miss. | |
| November 24, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 pm | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | |
| November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | #12 Kentucky | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | |
| November 30, 2024 (Saturday) | 7:30 pm | Home | Auburn | Columbia, Mo. / Hearnes Center | |