Mizzou completes comeback, wins five-set thriller over Tennessee

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Volleyball put a relentless, no-quit spirit on display on Sunday afternoon at the Hearnes Center. The Tigers battled back from a 2-1 deficit to defend their home court against Tennessee, claiming a five-set win over a program that received votes in the latest AVCA Division I Women's Top 25 Poll.

After claiming a tight victory in the opening set, Mizzou was faced with a momentum shift in the second frame. The Volunteers escaped two set point situations to outlast the Tigers to tie the match. From there, Tennessee took control, winning the third set by seven points and starting the fourth frame on a 7-1 scoring run.

However, head coach Dawn Sullivan's squad responded to the adversity. Mizzou quickly answered with a 9-2 scoring run to swing the momentum back in its favor midway through the fourth set. MU and Tennessee went back-and-forth the rest of the way, but Jordan Iliff forced a decisive fifth set with a kill on set point.

Then, the Tigers made a statement in a winner-take-all situation. Mizzou ended the contest on a 12-3 scoring run, sending the Volunteers back to Knoxville empty-handed.

Mizzou won the first, fourth and fifth sets by final scores of 25-22, 25-23 and 15-7 but lost sets two and three 27-25 and 25-18.

Defensively, Iliff and Maya Sands were the catalysts for the comeback, posting 21 and 22 digs respectively. The St. Louis native also teamed up with Mychael Vernon to record two remarkable offensive performances. Iliff and Vernon each ended the game with a match-high 21 kills.

Collectively, Mizzou's total number of kills and digs were a difference-maker in this contest. The Tigers finished with 64 kills, tallying 11 more than the Volunteers, and 71 digs, which was also 15 more than Tennessee's total.

Up next - MU closes out its four-game homestand with a date with Mississippi State on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. where the Tigers will aim to claim their fourth consecutive win.