No. 22 Mizzou volleyball exited the Fight in the Fort tournament with a 2-1 record, signaling the end of the Tigers’ non-conference slate. Dawn Sullivan’s squad boasts an 8-3 record. The Sept. 4 loss to Arkansas
State looms as the overarching failure of the season’s start, but there are plenty of positives.
Here are three of the major takeaways from Mizzou’s non-conference schedule.
Losing Close Battles to Ranked Foes
The Tigers have faced two ranked opponents this season, losing both matches 3-1. All eight sets against Stanford and TCU were within four points, but the majority did not go in Mizzou’s favor. Three sets went to extra points, all of which went their opponents’ way.
In the first set against the then-no. 5 Stanford Cardinal, Tyrah Ariail responded to back-to-back kills from Stanford with a kill of her own to knot it at 23-23. Erika Sayer then proceeded to take over for the Cardinal with consecutive kills to take the opening set 25-23.
Losing initial sets shifts momentum drastically, something that was seen against the Horned Frogs as well. The first set of that match ended 32-30 TCU, but the Tigers had two set-point opportunities and lacked capitalization to claim an early lead.
Veteran Passers set up for All-SEC Campaigns
Mizzou lost its attacking duo of Jordan Iliff and Mychael Vernon to graduation, but mainstay connectors Maya Sands and Marina Crownover remained. Sands has claimed SEC Libero of the Year in back-to-back years, and Crownover was named to the All-SEC Second Team in 2024.
The duo has been particularly exceptional on defense. They combined for 6.61 digs per set in 2024 and have improved on that average this season with 7.46 digs per set.
Sands and Crownover played pivotal roles in the 3-1 victory over Wyoming on Sept. 11, combining for 45 assists and 43 digs. Specifically, in the clinching set, the pairing contributed a match-high 26 digs en route to the 30-28 win.
While the attackers are still figuring things out, worries about the players setting them up for success are silent. Having veterans in their positions can make up for new faces adjusting to the perimeter.
Dips in Efficiency
Accurate attacking performances were a trademark of Mizzou volleyball last season. Sullivan’s talented group of experienced hitters ended the season with a .286 hitting percentage, good for second in the SEC. This season has been a different story, and that’s without seeing some of the iron-clad defenses of the conference.
It’s worth noting that the Tigers’ end-of-season hitting percentage would only be good for fifth in the conference as it stands in 2025, showcasing an improved field in the SEC.
The Tigers’ hitting percentage through the first half of the regular season is .264, currently ninth in the conference. There have been two matches where Mizzou went under .200, and the season-high hitting percentage was against FGCU with a .392 finish. During the 2024 non-conference slate, the Tigers went over .400 efficiency three times.
Success up the middle with Regan Haith and Ariail has been found, but the outside hitters are still working through accuracy issues. All-American Honorable Mention transfer Caylen Alexander has led the attack with 3.54 kills per set, but her only downfall has been a .187 hitting percentage. Decreasing her attacking errors going into SEC play is vital to winning close contests down the line.
If you couldn’t tell from this story, conference play is here. The SEC schedule begins with a two-game road trip against Texas A&M and Texas, beginning with the Aggies at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, on ESPN2.
