The Missouri volleyball team took on the Kansas City Roos in an early morning matchup for the Tigers’ home opener. The match was the opening leg of the Mizzou Invitational, in which Missouri will also take on UT-Martin and Lindenwood at the Hearnes Center. The Tigers came into the game with a 3-3 record, coming off of a 1-2 performance at the NKU Invitational.
Missouri was able to control the pace of the game from early in the first set, rolling to a 10-3 lead which forced Kansas City head coach Christi Posey to call a timeout. Outside hitter Kaia Dunford was a threat every time she went up for an attack, but her two kills weren’t enough to save the Roos in the first set. Colleen Finney, Jordan Iliff and Mychael Vernon logged three kills apiece en route to a 25-13 victory in the first set.
Despite opening the second set with a 6-3 lead, Missouri gave up five straight points, forcing the Tigers to adjust. Vernon flipped a switch after the run, recording three kills in five points along with a high-powered block at the net. The best efforts of Dunford and fellow outside hitter Nyle Mathis tried to stop Missouri’s run, but the Tigers could not be stopped. From the moment that the game was tied 8-8, Missouri scored 17 of the next 24 points to take the second set 25-15.
Posey’s timeouts were effective, restructuring Kansas City’s approach and allowing them to gain some momentum after a run from Missouri. In particular, the Roos seemed to emphasize getting the ball to Dunford for another kill attempt. As the game continued, however, the Tigers were able to effectively mitigate their opponent’s attack.
The third set ended with a 25-18 score, and for the third time in the young season the Tigers swept their opponent.
Missouri was able to control the pace of the game from early in the first set, rolling to a 10-3 lead which forced Kansas City head coach Christi Posey to call a timeout. Outside hitter Kaia Dunford was a threat every time she went up for an attack, but her two kills weren’t enough to save the Roos in the first set. Colleen Finney, Jordan Iliff and Mychael Vernon logged three kills apiece en route to a 25-13 victory in the first set.
Despite opening the second set with a 6-3 lead, Missouri gave up five straight points, forcing the Tigers to adjust. Vernon flipped a switch after the run, recording three kills in five points along with a high-powered block at the net. The best efforts of Dunford and fellow outside hitter Nyle Mathis tried to stop Missouri’s run, but the Tigers could not be stopped. From the moment that the game was tied 8-8, Missouri scored 17 of the next 24 points to take the second set 25-15.
Posey’s timeouts were effective, restructuring Kansas City’s approach and allowing them to gain some momentum after a run from Missouri. In particular, the Roos seemed to emphasize getting the ball to Dunford for another kill attempt. As the game continued, however, the Tigers were able to effectively mitigate their opponent’s attack.
The third set ended with a 25-18 score, and for the third time in the young season the Tigers swept their opponent.
Story continues below advertisement