Missouri volleyball falls to No. 18 Kentucky in four sets

However that one set loss — comparatively insignificant within the season that Kentucky may have — was essentially the most priceless set the Tigers performed to this point this season.

After the primary interchange, Missouri assistant coach Alyssa Munlyn introduced the staff in near rally the Tigers for the second set.

The Tigers responded to the early loss with their finest play of the season. Combining a resolute defensive efficiency with the hitting of Anna Dixon and Jordan Iliff, Missouri confirmed essentially the most vitality on the courtroom at any level this season.

Constructing on the improved play, head coach Joshua Taylor selected to tug out all of the stops to try to win the set. He referred to as up practically everybody on the Missouri bench, relying particularly on defensive specialists Jasmine Dulan and Estella Zatechka to bolster the staff’s efforts down the stretch.

As a complete, the Tigers relied upon libero Leandra Mangual-Duran to steer the receiving corps and center blockers Madilyn Promote and Trista Strasser to decelerate the Wildcats’ highly effective offense. Mangual-Duran totaled 23 digs and Riley Buckley added 9. In all, 5 Tigers had 5 digs or extra. Strasser led the blocking for Missouri with 5, whereas Promote added 4 and Buckley three.

Buckley had a stable recreation total, racking up 5 kills on 12 makes an attempt and dispensing 31 assists.

Although they solely managed to say one set, the Tigers’ huge swells of vitality that introduced them success virtually bought them extra. They opened the third set by buying and selling blows with the Wildcats, carrying over their momentum from the second set and sustaining their excessive degree of defensive depth.

For these 40 minutes, Missouri (7-5, 0-2 SEC) matched the vitality of its house crowd.

However the momentum began to wane by the tip of the third set as Kentucky (7-5, 2-1) claimed the rubber set. The lull continued as MU trailed 7-1 early within the fourth set. Although the Tigers managed to battle again and tie it up late within the set, it was too little, too late because the Wildcats surged down the stretch to finish the match.

Kentucky’s protection was its biggest energy within the match, stifling Missouri’s offensive output and giving its personal offense loads of alternatives. The Wildcats racked up 15 blocks and 52 digs as a staff. Bella Bell led the defensive effort with eight blocks to go together with 13 kills.

Reagan Rutherford led the Kentucky offense with 19 kills on 41 makes an attempt, serving to her staff to a .282 hitting share. She additionally added six block assists, a key facet to forestall Cox and Dixon from breaking out.

Cox managed to land seven kills but additionally tallied 10 errors. Dixon led the offense with 17 kills on .217 hitting. Missouri hit simply .104 within the match.

Missouri travels to Columbia, South Carolina, for its third and fourth matches of the Southeastern Convention slate in opposition to South Carolina on Saturday and Sunday.