Playing in the NCAA tournament just means more. The Missouri Tigers brought this idea to their first NCAA tournament in three years. The team that fought like a family meshed perfectly and swept the Delaware Blue Hens in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Missouri used their chemistry to prevail and win the first set 25-17 against a talented Delaware team. The Blue Hens roared back in the second set, but the Tigers halted their runs and won 25-22. In the second set, the Clemson transfer Colleen Finney went down with an apparent calf injury that sidelined her for the rest of the game.
Coach Sullivan spoke on her injury, saying, “Colleen is good. She will be playing tomorrow.”
The third set was the closest of the night. Madilyn Sell played for the injured Finney. She slowed down the Tigers, but they prevailed, winning 25–23.
Big time players come up in big time moments. “The Fantastic Four,” Jordan Iliff, was asked about her leadership shining through in a 3-0 win against a 24-4 Delaware team.
“This team is a family, and we plan on working together to win no matter what,” Illiff said. Iliff led the Tigers with three aces, two of them coming up in crucial moments in the third set.
The Tigers’ two headed monster came alive headed by the sophomore sensation Janet Demarrais who led the game with 13 kills. When asked about her preparation and how it felt to lead the game in kills in her first NCAA tournament game, Demarrais smiled.
“It was awesome,” she said. “As for tomorrow, we don’t want to overlook anyone, and we don’t want to be the team overlooked.” A chip on her shoulder for the player who battled all season long.
After a dominating win, and the task of playing the number one team in the nation looming, the Tigers celebrated the 3-0 win versus Delaware. Their postseason started off 1-0 in the Dawn Sullivan era. Sullivan excitedly talked about the game and her first tournament win with this team.
“This team is special and is family, I absolutely love them. This team right here is a family and has a chemistry that is electric,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan harnessed lightning in a bottle, and after a quality win her team is excited to go up against the juggernaut Nebraska Cornhuskers tomorrow night.