Mizzou volleyball found its rhythm early and never let it go Saturday, sweeping Wichita State 25-19, 25-13, 25-18 to close out another dominant performance at the Mizzou Tournament.
The Tigers controlled the match with a balanced offensive attack and stingy defense, finishing with a .347 hitting percentage while holding Wichita State to .177. Mizzou used contributions throughout its lineup, with Grace O’Reilly, Kimani Johnson and the Tigers’ middle blockers helping fuel the three-set victory.
“Always
great to play at Hearnes,” Mizzou coach Dawn Sullivan said. “I thought it was a team kind of game tonight, and it was really fun to, one, just kind of see them find their rhythm out there.”
Johnson set the tone in the opening set, recording five kills on six attempts as Mizzou pulled away for a 25-19 win. After Wichita State cut the Tigers’ lead to 12-11, Mizzou responded with a block from Ceylin Kuyan and Lauren Larkin before gradually rebuilding its advantage.
Paige Felder sealed the first set with a kill, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 match lead.
Mizzou took complete control in the second set.
The Tigers opened with a 5-0 run and never looked back, building a 9-4 advantage before extending their lead behind blocks from Larkin, Eva Smith and O’Reilly. Ainoah Cruz added two service aces late in the set as Mizzou cruised to a 25-13 victory.
Sullivan said the Tigers’ ability to serve aggressively and force Wichita State out of system played a major role in their defensive success.
“I thought today we took a really good step in the right direction,” Sullivan said. “We served tough enough, and then once you get a team under pressure, how do we now just keep that ball in where they’re going to continue to feel that pressure?”
The Tigers continued their efficient play in the third set, leading 15-9 at the media timeout and eventually closing out the sweep. Mizzou limited Wichita State to a .150 hitting percentage through the first portion of the match before finishing with a strong overall defensive performance.
O’Reilly continued to embrace her increased role, saying her confidence comes from the trust she has in the players around her.
“I just have a lot of confidence in this team,” O’Reilly said. “I know that I can take big rips, and then they’re going to cover me.”
Johnson said her mindset entering the match was simple.
“Honestly, my mindset is just I want to win,” Johnson said. “We know who we are. We’re the Tigers. We’re going to dominate.”
Saturday, Mizzou did exactly that, using a complete team effort to send Wichita State home in straight sets.
Mizzou plays their final game of the Mizzou Tournament against FGCU Sunday at noon.
