The Mizzou women’s volleyball team won all three of its matches at the Mizzou Invitational over the weekend. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
COLUMBIA, MO — Playing in its first home matches of the season, the University of Missouri women’s volleyball team enjoyed a whole lot of winning at the Hearnes Center over the weekend.
The Tigers were hosting the Mizzou Invitational and played three matches — one each against Kansas City, UT-Martin, and Lindenwood — winning them all in front of large crowds at Hearnes.
Missouri swept both its matches on Friday against UMKC and UT-Martin, then won three sets to one over Lindenwood on Sunday.
Mizzou is now 6-3 on the season as it nears SEC league play, which will begin in two weeks.
Mizzou hitters Mychaela Vernon (left) and Megan Haith celebrate winning a point during the Tigers’ win over UMKC last Friday. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Mizzou 3, Kansas City 0
In the opener, the Tigers won by scores of 25-13, 25-15, 25-18.
Grad student outside hitter Mychael Vernon led the way with 11 kills. Teammate Janet deMarrais had eight kills and Colleen Finney had seven.
Maya Sands had 16 digs and Marina Crownover and Sierra Dudley combined for 32 assists.
Mizzou 3, UT-Martin 0
In Friday’s nightcap, the Tigers won 25-12, 25-9, 25-13.
Jordan Iliff had a match-high 16 kills, followed by Vernon, who had 11 again, and Finney, who had seven. Iliff also had three aces and 11 digs.
Sands led the defense with 12 digs and Crownover played most of the match at setter and had 33 assists.
Mizzou 3, Lindenwood 1
In the final match of the weekend, the Tigers faced a stiffer test and lost their only set of the weekend.
The final score was 25-17, 25-16, 22-25, 25-13.
Crownover posted her first ever double-double with 37 assists and 11 digs. The 37 assists was also a career high.
Vernon and Iliff finished off their weekends with strong performances as well. Vernon had 13 kills, two aces, and a block, and Iliff had 12 kills, two aces, two blocks, and an assist.
Finney had a season-high 11 kilss and three blocks.
Mizzou senior Jordan Iliff (4) was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
After their performances over the weekend, Iliff and Crownover were awarded Player of the Week honors by the SEC league office.
Iliff was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Crownover was picked as SEC Setter of the Week.
Iliff, a St. Louis native who played at Mehlville High, had 35 kills and a .443 hitting percentage in the three matches. Crownover, who is from Austin, Texas, had 87 total assists.
The Tigers will take a three-match winning streak into an event in Nashville this weekend. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Mizzou will be playing in another invitational event this weekend. The team will be in Nashville to play in the Lippy Invite hosted by Lipscomb University.
The Tigers will Lipscomb on Thursday in a 6 p.m. match. Then, they’ll play longtime foe and rival Illinois in a match on Friday at 4 p.m. Both of those matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Mizzou’s next home match will be on October 9, when the Tigers will host Southeast Missouri State. First serve that night at Hearnes Center will be at 7 p.m.
2024 MISSOURI TIGERS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | #16 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 | |