Mizzou hosts Black & Gold Scrimmage, moves closer to season opener
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou Volleyball is garnering national attention.
The Tigers, who were voted as the nation's No. 17-ranked team in the AVCA's preseason poll, hit another checkpoint in their preparation for the 2025 campaign, holding their annual Black & Gold Scrimmage at the Hearnes Center.
Saturday's scrimmage represented the first opportunity for fans to get a glimpse at this year's team ahead of a season with high expectations. In its first two years under head coach Dawn Sullivan, Mizzou has recorded 40 wins and two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a postseason run to the Sweet 16 last season. Now, Coach Sullivan's team is determined to keep raising the standard.
"We made the Sweet 16 last year, and now, we want to go to the Elite Eight," Sullivan said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. "A lot of it is just little plays here and there, whether that's the serve or the pass or keeping one more ball in bounds, and so, it's that consistency and that's what's really going to separate us."
Despite graduating several key contributors from last season, including right-side hitter Jordan Iliff, outside hitter Mychael Vernon and middle blocker Colleen Finney, MU returns a core of talented players this year: two-time SEC Libero of the Year Maya Sands, All-SEC setter Marina Crownover, outside hitter Janet deMarrais and middle blocker Regan Haith.
The Tigers also added four transfers to the roster, headlined by the NCAA's reigning kills leader Caylen Alexander. The former Hawaii outside hitter is joined by former Saint Louis middle blocker Trinity Luckett, former Long Beach State right-side hitter Grace O'Reilly and former USC middle blocker Tyrah Ariail. MU's roster additions also feature freshman outside hitter Asia Harvey, who was the top-ranked prospect from the state of Georgia.
Mizzou's mission to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005 begins in Fort Myers, Florida. The Tigers will open the season on Friday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. against James Madison.
