By: Alex Neumeier

 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri volleyball goes to 3-2 on the year after losing their first of two matches today. The RedHawks from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio came out strong in the first set beating the Tigers 25-17. However, the big loss seemed to spark the Tigers to life as the eight-point differential would be the largest in the match. The next three sets were hard fought battles with Missouri taking the second set 25-22, losing the third set 25-23, and then scrambling to win the fourth set 27-25. That final set seemed to really take it out of the Tigers as they lost 15-9.

Senior Carley Kan and redshirt junior Melanie Crow continued their great starts to the year, finishing at the top of the leaderboards in both kills and points. Kan finished the match with 17 kills, 20 digs, 1 block, and 19 points. Kan showed great energy and focus throughout the match making a lot of great plays in key moments.

Crow also played fantastic with 22 kills, 20 digs, 2 blocks, and 24 points overall. However, errors seemed to be the Tigers downfall in this match and Crow was responsible for 9 of 27 errors committed by Missouri. After coming out of the gate a little off of her game in the first set, the 6’1 redshirt junior really hit her stride in the second and continued to play well throughout the remainder of the match.

Junior Courtney Eckenrode continued her string of great play with 34 assists. Eckenrode picked up a season-high 36 assists in the game Friday against Utah, so it is nice to see her continue her high level of play despite the loss.

Sophomore Alyssa Munlyn was the top blocker for Missouri as she has been in every game this season. Munlyn tallied 5 blocks as well as 7 kills. It is nice to see the sophomore is capable getting involved and doing some damage on offense when she is called needed to.

The Tigers will face off against Rice in their final game of the Tiger Invitational at 6:30 p.m. (CT).