After two excellent seasons at the helm of Missouri’s volleyball program, Dawn Sullivan led her new look Tigers to a resounding year three start, routing James Madison and Florida Gulf Coast in straight-sets at the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational. The Eagles managed to put up a fight, but it was the combined effort of the fresh transfers and returning stars that proved to be the difference maker for Missouri.

Set One: Missouri 25 | Florida Gulf Coast: 19

After Jordan Iliff and Mychael Vernon, two AVCA All-Americans, graduated last season, many were curious if Missouri could remain as potent on offense heading into 2025. After Saturday, those questions have been put to rest.

Retooling in the transfer portal, Missouri managed to add experienced talent to its roster, including the NCAA’s leader in kills in 2024, Caylen Alexander from Hawai’i. It was Alexander who led the Tigers in the first set, despite a strong start by FGCU early.

Helped by error-prone play from Missouri, the Eagles managed to stay one step ahead until midway through the set. After settling in though, the Tigers rebounded from the shaky start, going on an 8-2 run that tipped the scales in their favor. Catching the Eagles in transition thanks to the familiar set-ups by Marina Crownover and Maya Sands, Missouri closed out the first set well in front of its tournament hosts.

 Set Two: Missouri: 25 | Florida Gulf Coast: 17

After the rocky start to begin the match, Missouri came out with a fire to open the second set.

In the set, Missouri’s back-to-back SEC Libero of the Year, Maya Sands tallied three service aces on a day where she also recorded 16 digs to lead the team.

Otherwise, Kimani Johnson and Regan Haith led a kill-heavy set from the opening point, and despite Barbara Koehler and the rest of FGCU’s roster hanging tough, it proved to not be enough to hold off the strong offensive play by Missouri.

Set Three: Missouri: 25 | Florida Gulf Coast: 15

Looking to extend the match further, FGCU attempted to keep pace with Missouri early in the third set.

Kills by Koehler and Hanna Borer allowed the Eagles to hang in, but the Tigers once again had the advantage talent-wise on the floor. After Alexander, Haith, Johnson and Paige Felder tallied kills of their own, Missouri took the lead, at one point by as much as nine points enroute to their largest set victory of the day.

Final Thoughts

Despite the many fresh faces on Missouri’s roster, it is clear through two matches that Dawn Sullivan has put together yet another squad that can go on the road and win impressively. It remains to be seen if their success will continue as the matchups get tougher, but for now, Missouri still stands as a team to watch moving forward.

Missouri will travel to Jonesboro, Ark. to take on Arkansas State in a two-game series Sept. 4 and 5.