Mizzou volleyball handles business in opening exhibition

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Tigers swept their first taste of intercollegiate action, taking down Drake, 4-0.

Head coach Dawn Sullivans new unit dominated in its first competition of the new athletic year. The exhibition against the Bulldogs saw the team take all four sets that were played, while playing from the front for much of the game.

Mizzou came out firing in the first set, thanks to some quick points by setter Nina Mandovic, and outside hitters Grace O'Riley and Ceylin Kuyan, leading them to a 25-21 win. The second and third sets were much more dominant for the Tigers, winning both by more than eight points: 25-15, and 25-17.

The Libero pairing of senior transfer Ainoah Cruz and returning sophomore Zoey Matias Lopez were defensive powers for Mizzou. The two split sets wearing the black jersey, each of them already performing at a mid-season level.

With this match being an exhibition, the two schools desided ahead of time to play at least four sets, meaning after Mizzou swept the first three, they were heading to a fourth regardless if they needed one or not. Either way, the Tigers continued to flex their muscles once again, completing the four-set sweep of the visitors and easily taking down the Bulldogs in their first match of the season.

"It was exciting back in Hearnes, and to have these fans and playing in front of a home crowd. I thought our team did a really nice job just on the service line and getting the other team out of system," Head coach Dawn Sullivan said. "I thought they just did a really nice job controlling that phase of the game, and then when we weren't controlling those balls and if we have a shot, we went for it."

Up Next - Mizzou will travel to Springfield, Mo. to take on Tulsa in a neutral site contest against Tulsa. Tip off for the game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20.