By Harrison Vapnek

In their final match at the Hearnes Center until next spring, the 9th-ranked Missouri Tigers (4-2) swept the Arkansas Razorbacks (4-2) 3-0, for their second win in as many nights to secure their 12th-straight against the Razorbacks in the two’s rivalry. 

Kylie Deberg recorded a double-double with 20 kills and 13 digs. Anna Dixon tallied 17 kills, and Dariana Santana-Hollingsworth had nine of her own after having just 18 kills on the season entering the night.

The Tigers trailed by as many as seven points in the opening set before rallying back, led by Deberg and Dixon who both recorded seven kills. Missouri won the first set, 28-26. 

“We came out a bit rusty tonight, but did a heck of a job battling at the end of set one to force extra points,” Tigers head coach Joshua Taylor said. “I was really happy with how our team kept battling adversity at the end of that opening set.”

Mizzou controlled the second set, winning 25-19, before a thrilling back-and-forth third and final set that saw Arkansas rally back from down five points, led by sophomore Jillian Gillen’s double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs and freshman Taylor Head’s 11 kills. Both teams had the opportunity to take the third set, but it was Santana-Hollingsworth who made the final kill to sweep the match and the series against Arkansas. 

The Tigers are off until November 20 and 21, when they will travel to Oxford, Mississippi to take on the Ole Miss Rebels (0-4) who are coming of consecutive losses to Arkansas earlier this week. 

“It’s hard to believe that we’re down to our last two matches of the fall season, but we have to take advantage of some down time and recoup ahead of two big matches at Ole Miss,” Taylor said.

Edited by Emma Moloney