Let’s start off this column by saying that this is not a hate post. In fact, it’s kind of the opposite. Eight members of the 2022 Missouri Tigers volleyball team transferred over the spring and summer and have gone on to thrive elsewhere. As the 2023 Tigers boast a winning record and are on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, this is a time to take stock of the seasons wasted under HC Joshua Taylor. In that sense, I guess this is a hate post; more specifically, a Joshua Taylor hate post. I’m okay with that.
Let’s check in on how those eight departures are doing. They are listed by when they announced their transfer.
Kaylee Cox: Western Kentucky- 23rd AVCA, 24th RPI
Mizzou’s 2022 kill leader found herself a nice home with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Conference USA isn’t exactly a powerhouse in Division I Volleyball, but WKU certainly is, and the program has been consistently ranked in the 20s in the AVCA poll over the past few seasons. Cox and Paige Briggs have combined for a lethal pairing of 6-rotation OHs, getting it done on hitting and digging. The duo have combined for over 500 kills and 400 digs.
What stands out about Cox is her hitting percentage. In her two years at Missouri, she posted a career percentage of .194, a fairly middling rate for an outside hitter. At Western Kentucky, she’s hitting over .300, an elite level for an elite OH. Kaylee Cox’s talent was obvious at Missouri with a headlining 34-kill game against Ole Miss, but WKU has really unlocked the next level of her game. Best of luck to her as the Hilltoppers look for a deep tournament run.
Riley Buckley: TCU- 49th RPI
As far as I know, Riley Buckley was the highest ranked recruit in program history (31st in 2022). After one season, she transferred to Texas Christian to become a Horned Frog. TCU hasn’t had the best year in the Big 12, but they do have a winning record and some gritty five-set matches. Early returns from TCU fans say that she hasn’t found the best connection with lead OH Melanie Parra even though she’s leading the conference in kills and kills per set, so how deadly are the two once the connection is found?
Buckley has missed the last couple of games after an early exit against West Virginia this month. Freshman setter Lily Nicholson has played pretty well in her absence, but the expectation is that Buckley retakes her 5-1 starting role when she’s ready. People have pointed towards Buckley’s blocking as an unexpected strength as a setter, though it’s also worth noting that TCU has some of the best blocking middles in volleyball.
Anna Dixon: Florida – 19th AVCA, 10th RPI
The last All-SEC honoree for Missouri stayed in the SEC to join a strong Florida team that has also really struggled with the injury bug. After looking like the conference favorites to start the year, they lost setter Alexis Stuckey to a torn ACL and MCL. The Gators haven’t fallen too far in the rankings, but they were ranked as a Top 5 team earlier with championship dreams.
It was expected that Dixon would slide into the OPP role that Merritt Beason left behind, but the Gators moved her to MB where she found good success. She was on pace to post her lowest season total in kills, but she was leading all Florida hitters in hitting percentage with a .350+ clip. You might’ve noticed this was in past tense. It was recently revealed that Anna Dixon suffered season-ending injuries to her elbow and wrist.
Trista Strasser: Grand Canyon – 100th RPI
When you think of GCU volleyball, you’re probably thinking of their nationally ranked men’s program. Don’t sleep on the women’s team though, who’s near the top of the WAC standings with a fantastic overall record. In my opinion, Strasser is better than the WAC. Her hitting percentage was below expectations for a MB (.201), but her blocking numbers were fantastic, leading the Tigers in 2022 with 112.
She’s currently leading the Lopes in blocking while boasting a hitting percentage of .300+, so she’s found a groove offensively. She’s far from the main weapon for GCU, but I’d wager the wins are more important to her. I’d like to see the Lopes let her serve. I thought Missouri got some good returns out of her hard float in 2021 and 2022.
Leandra Mangual-Duran: Virginia Tech – 101st RPI
Leandra Mangual-Duran has had an interesting run in her collegiate career. After playing OH in high school, Missouri seemed really intent on making her their libero with major stints at the position in 2019 and 2022. She missed most of her sophomore campaign with injury and never really got the chance to play the front row. She made it obvious in the transfer portal that she wanted a shot to play outside, and Virginia Tech gave her that chance in the ACC.
The ACC is a tough place to play, and the Hokies find themselves near the bottom of the conference standings. Mangual-Duran had been a good part of an overall balanced VT attack, but she’s been sidelined as of late as the Hokies search for answers.
Addison Lyon: Saint Louis – 179th RPI
Lyon was in street clothes for the entirety of her sophomore year with rumors that there was a development in her heart condition. Nevertheless, she’s competing this year with the Billikens as 6-2 setter opposite of Kate Aupperle.
Of the teams on this list, SLU is the only one with a losing record and are struggling in conference play. As a team, the Billikens are hitting below .200, which actually isn’t too far behind their opponents. Lyon is second on the team in assists and has had limited time in the front row.
Jasmine Dulan: Drake – 43rd RPI
Jasmine Dulan joined a Drake team that looks to get back into the NIVC Championship. They’re off to a great start near the top of the Missouri Valley Conference, but Dulan hasn’t cracked into a prominent role with the Bulldogs.
I wouldn’t say that’s unexpected. Dulan transferred pretty late in the offseason. She spent most of her spring with Missouri before landing at Drake. I’m not sure they had the time to get her into the game plan. I imagine she doesn’t want to fall into a similar situation as Leandra Mangual-Duran as an OH being downsized into a DS.
Estella Zatechka: Arizona State – 21st AVCA, 20th RPI
Zatechka was another late transfer, taking her talents to the Pac-12 (soon to be the Big 12). Arizona State has been one of the biggest surprises in volleyball. After departing with longtime HC Sanja Tomašević, the Sun Devils have exploded onto the scene, going undefeated in noncon and a signature win with a sweep of no. 5 Oregon.
Zatechka has gotten into a handful of sets for ASU, putting up solid numbers in digs and receive. She logged most of her games in the non-con portion of the schedule, but has the occasional appearance as a serving sub for the Sun Devils’ miracle run. Look for her in a tight situation in ASU’s tourney run.