Missouri volleyball (6-3) showed how sweet home court advantage can be, defeating Lindenwood (4-5) in four sets 25-17, 25-16, 22-25, 25-14.
The Tigers won the first set of the match after some early struggles. Lindenwood led the set early 10-6 before the Tigers closed it on a 19-7 run. Senior outside hitter Jordan Iliff led the offensive attack with seven kills working on 13 total attacks.
Marina Crownover started the game as the primary setter for Missouri. Crownover has played in nearly every set this season, primarily coming in relief of Sierra Dudley. Crownover is in her first year at Missouri, transferring from Texas after winning two consecutive national championships at Texas. So far, Crownover has provided a different look and much needed depth for head coach Dawn Sullivan.
“I thought she did a good job really all weekend, just being consistent and the ball she puts up, but also providing some energy and understanding,” Sullivan said after the match. “When do you want to find some players one-on-one, and I thought she did that at a very high level tonight.”
The Tigers steamrolled through the second set, including a 7-0 run to put Missouri up 9-2. Middle blocker Colleen Finished finished a big set with four kills plus 0.5 blocks. Finney ended the game with 11 kills on 15 attempts plus one single error, good enough for a .700 attack percentage. This game marked three consecutive games where Finney finished the game with seven-plus kills.
“To be honest with you Wendel [Camargo] he always tells me, ‘Colleen, be on time, do your job’,” Finney said. “As long as I’m up and available with our zero tempo offense, I really feel like it’s money.”
Lindenwood made a big push in set three, winning after outdoing the Tigers in kills, 16-12. The highlight of the set for the Lions came from a 5-0 Lions run to take a 12-7 lead during a crucial part of the set.
Missouri responded with their biggest set win. The Tigers put on a clinic with three blocks in the set, adding to a total of seven throughout the game.
“In the fourth set Dawn [Sullivan] came in our circle and she was like, ‘We need to be the drivers,’” Finney said. “Lindenwood is a great team, they are very scrappy and we can’t just sleep on a team like that.”
After this first set of home games Missouri volleyball will hit the road for five straight games, starting with the Lipscomb Invitational in Nashville from Sep. 19-20