Mizzou volleyball is ready for the prime time slot. After a Sweet 16 run last season, the No. 23 ranked Tigers earned themselves a marquee matchup against No. 5 Stanford in the “Showdown at the Net” at the Hearnes Center. The match will be on primetime television, broadcast on the flagship ESPN network.
Here’s everything you need to know heading into tonight’s crucial matchup:
Tiger Struggles
I wish I could come here and say that Mizzou looks as sharp as ever and is ready to pull off the upset. However, this is far
from the truth.
The Tigers are coming off a series split against unranked Arkansas State, where both matches went to five sets. The team struggled offensively, hitting a .209 in both matches. Transfer Caylen Alexander took a step back from her opening weekend performance, leading the team with 29 kills on just a .138 hitting percentage.
Arkansas State led the weekend in kills 127-110. Mizzou often looked out of system throughout the weekend, unable to connect setter Marina Crownover with her various hitters.
“I think our passing still isn’t exactly where it needs to be,” head coach Dawn Sullivan said during an open practice Monday. “We’re out of system a little bit more than I’d like to be…We need to continue to control the ball well enough that we can find our hitters in good situations, not out of system.”
A well-oiled offense will be an important tool when matching up an elite Stanford team that averages over two blocks a set and holds opponents to a .231 hitting percentage.
Getting Healthy
Perhaps the most positive takeaway from the weekend was the return of senior outside hitter Janet deMarrais. After making a brief appearance during the first matchup against Arkansas State, deMarrais returned in full by starting in the second game.
She made a big impact, finishing second on the team in kills with 13. However that volume came with inconsistencies, finishing with seven errors and a .150 hitting percentage. That trend continued to her serving, finishing with three aces and two errors. Despite these struggles, deMarrais’ impacts and gravity on the team can’t be understated.
“It’s nice that Janet’s back,” Sullivan said. “She just plays with a different type of energy. She’s experienced. She knows what it takes. I’m excited to see what happens as she continues to play, and the team just continues to gel.”
deMarrais is a fourth year Tiger, learning a ton from each passing season in Columbia. In her Tiger career she has racked up 719 kills in the black and gold. Her efficiency has only increased with each year, hitting a career-best .211 in her junior season. If Mizzou wants any hope of matching with Stanford, they will need a big-time, efficient performance from Janet; likely hitting above .250.
Player Spotlight: Zoey Matias-Lopez
One player who has been a total surprise to me through four matches was true freshman Zoey Matias-Lopez, who I have affectionately dubbed ZML. Originally a libero, ZML has taken a role as a defensive specialist alongside senior libero Maya Sands. She has helped cover up plenty of space on the back line with 39 digs through four games. This includes double-digit kills in each of her last three matches.
ZML has displayed her talents behind the service line, with four aces in the last four matches. This included the match-winning ace during the most recent game against Arkansas State. While the adjustment to collegiate volleyball can be a struggle for many players, ZML seems to be facing no issues in the transition.
“She has a way to just kind of let things roll off her back a little bit, which has helped her a ton,” Sullivan said. “Most freshmen they come in, they overthink things…she embraces it really fast and learns really fast. And so I think that’s what allows it to happen so quickly, and to be allow her to be poised.”
ZML will be a major part of the team’s defense this year, and is no doubt seen as the likely successor for Sands’ spot at libero following this season.
ZML, Sands and the rest of the Tiger defense are ready to compete with Stanford’s explosive offensive in this high-stakes home matchup at 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Hearnes Center or available to watch on ESPN.
