For one set, Missouri looked ready to make a statement.
The Tigers overwhelmed No. 25 Oregon with aggressive serving, efficient offense and a roaring Hearnes Center crowd, cruising to a 25-16 victory in the opening set Tuesday night.
Then Oregon adjusted.
The Ducks responded with three straight set victories, defeating Missouri 25-16, 25-20 and 25-19 to earn a 3-1 victory and hand the Tigers their first loss of the season.
Missouri entered the match 3-0 after sweeping its first three opponents in nine
consecutive sets. Against its first ranked opponent, the Tigers showed early why coach Dawn Sullivan believes her young group can compete with anyone.
“I thought our team played incredible out of the gate,” Sullivan said. “The first set, they showed who we could be.”
Missouri hit better than .500 in the opening set with just one hitting error. Lauren Larkin fueled the attack, finishing with 14 kills and another double-digit performance.
The Tigers turned a tight opening set into a runaway victory midway through. Larkin scored three consecutive points during a decisive run before Nina Mandovic added consecutive service aces to help Missouri build a 16-11 advantage.
The energy inside Hearnes Center matched the Tigers’ performance, particularly during former Missouri player Marina Crownover’s return with Oregon. Crownover was loudly booed throughout the night, while Missouri’s fans continued to push the home team during its early surge.
“I love the way our fans continue to show up,” Sullivan said. “Columbia, it’s the best.”
But Oregon’s physicality and powerful serving eventually changed the match.
The Ducks broke open the second set with a 6-0 scoring run and never looked back, evening the match with a 25-16 victory. Missouri made several lineup changes throughout the match, including bringing Sierra Dudley and Grace O’Reilly onto the floor together.
Sullivan said the adjustment was designed to give Missouri three attacking options in the front row and create more space for the Tigers’ middles and right-side hitters.
The third set became the night’s most competitive battle. After 21 ties and 11 lead changes through the match, Missouri fought back from several deficits and tied Oregon at 16. But the Ducks pulled away late, using a 3-0 run to build a 23-18 lead before winning 25-20.
Missouri opened the fourth set with renewed urgency, but Oregon again found separation late. The Ducks took control behind their physical front and closed the match with a 25-19 victory.
Sullivan said Missouri became more predictable offensively after the opening set and lost some of the serving pressure that helped create the dominant start.
“We became a little more predictable in our offense, and we let up on our serve,” Sullivan said. “We weren’t able to get them out of system as often as we did in that first set.”
Despite the loss, Larkin said Missouri remains confident as it prepares for an even bigger challenge.
The Tigers will face No. 1 Nebraska on Sunday at Wrigley Field.
“They are big names in volleyball,” Larkin said. “But at the end of the day, they are just regular college players like the rest of us.”
Missouri’s first ranked test ended in a loss, but its opening set provided a glimpse of what Sullivan believes her team can become. Now, the Tigers will try to find that level again on one of college volleyball’s biggest stages.
