Mizzou Volleyball Rides Hot Start To Win Over LSU
October 21, 2016 | Sports,
By: Matt Hosler
To describe how fast the Mizzou Volleyball team came out against LSU Wednesday night, one must only listen to one fan in the crowd, the man that yelled, “Boom!” after every point scored.
Junior Courtney Eckenrode started the game off serving and helped the Tigers get out to a strong 7-1 lead before an LSU timeout. That 7-1 stretch was emphasized by the Tigers strong blocking having three of their points come off of a block. After the first timeout, Mizzou kept their foot on the gas getting out to 10-2 before another LSU timeout, this time around was also led by two straight blocks before the timeout came. Along with their strong blocking and attack, the only reason LSU scored to get their second point of the match was due to a bad serve which landed out of bounds. Missouri kept up this strong play the entire first set, winning it easily 25-15.
Heading into the second set, Mizzou was feeling confident in everything they did. Kelly Quinn of LSU started the match off serving and the second set started pretty even at first. Eventually, Mizzou started to pick it up and went on a run to make it 11-5 before an LSU timeout stopped the game. Continuing after the timeout, Mizzou never stopped putting pressure on this LSU team, later on going up 20-9. LSU would go on a major run; however, as they eventually got it somewhat close only to lose the game 25-19.
On the last set of the day, Mizzou came out just as strong as before, going up 8-4 until LSU came back to tie the game 11-11. LSU would call a timeout about midway through the set after Mizzou went up 15-12. After that timeout, Mizzou never looked back going up 20-15 then winning the final set, earning a sweep of LSU, 25-19 off of an out of bounds serve to end the game.
The Tigers are now 8-0 in conferences matches this year sweeping every team except Alabama who they played on October 16, winning that match in five. Overall, the Tigers are now 17-3 overall for the season and have received votes to be ranked in the AVCA top 25. When breaking it down, the Missouri Tigers are now 10-1 in three set matches, 5-0 in four set matches and an even 2-2 in five set matches on the season.
In the match on Wednesday, Senior outside hitter Carly Kan led the team with 12 kills, ending with a .346 hitting percentage, Kan has a .237 percentage on the season. After her, sophomore middle Alyssa Munlyn followed up with 7 kills and senior middle Emily Thater added 5 more.
When looking at blocks for this game, Munlyn led with 9 herself followed by redshirt Junior Kira Larson (5) and Thater (4).
After this game, team kill leader redshirt Junior Melanie Crow leads the team with 246 kills and a 3.74 kills per set average. After her is Kan who has 218 kills and a 2.99 kill per set average. Crow leads the team overall in points with 327, followed by Kan who has 251.
The Tigers play #21 ranked Kentucky at home on Sunday, October 23 to try and keep their undefeated conference record for the season.