While a loss is a loss, Missouri sent off seniors, Caylen Alexander, Tyrah Ariail, Janet deMarrais, Regan Haith and Maya Sands with a loss they can be proud of.
“It’s weird, it’s a feeling of bittersweet, it’s a feeling of frustration, it’s a feeling of reminiscing on everything that’s ever happened and everything we’ve ever done here,” deMarrais said. “It all kind of clashes at once.”
Mizzou volleyball (16-9, 7-6 SEC) entered its final home match of the season against the No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats (19-2, 12-0 SEC) on Thursday evening. The Tigers were coming off an unlikely 3-2 loss to Vanderbilt on the road. Mizzou fought hard and earned the first set win over Kentucky in three matches, but ultimately lost 3-1.
After sustaining an injury early in the match against the Commodores, Alexander suited up for senior night and showed out. She totaled 22 kills on a .212 hitting percentage. Ariail served as Robin to Alexander’s Batman, totaling 10 kills on a .500 hitting percentage, along with two blocks.
The Wildcats came into the match holding opponents to a .164 hitting percentage on average, good for best in the SEC. While the Tigers struggled to start, they finished with a .237 hitting percentage.
Kentucky’s stout defenses were on display throughout the night, but particularly in the first set. Mizzou was held to a .081 hitting percentage to begin the match. It was a battle between each side’s middle blockers, and the Wildcats were winning.
The score stood 19-17 after the Tigers had eaten away at Kentucky’s early lead, but a 5-1 run set up the eventual first set defeat. The Wildcats claimed the 25-19 win, and while their defense was the highlight, they also boasted a .400 hitting percentage on offense.
Simply put, Alexander was the story of the second set. The senior totaled 10 kills in the set alone. It wasn’t just her offense, though, she also got up at the net to send back multiple Kentucky attacks.
Alexander’s early play fueled Mizzou to an 18-13 lead, and after a couple of responses by the Wildcats, it was Alexander again leading the charge. Coming off a wise timeout call by Sullivan as the lead was shrunk to 21-18, the Tigers scored four straight points to win 25-18, with four different players credited for points.
As the match dragged on into the third set, Alexander was still on her A-game, but Ariail made her presence felt with two kills and a block in the first 15 points. The set stood knotted at 16-16 after a 3-0 run spearheaded by fellow middle Regan Haith. Kentucky used that run as fuel for its answer.
The Wildcats proceeded to go on a 5-0 run, three kills coming courtesy of 2024 SEC Player of the Year, Brooklyn DeLeye. Mizzou made it uber-competitive by going on a 4-0 run and eventually tied the match at 22-22. Two kills by Kentucky’s outside hitter Eva Hudson willed it to a 25-23 victory.
In the fourth set, the Tigers got out to an early 10-6 lead, but a 7-1 run by the Wildcats gave them a 14-13 lead. Alexander was the representative for Mizzou yet again, securing three kills to tie the set at 19-19.
Hudson proved to be Kentucky’s closer in what eventually ended in a match-clinching 25-20 fourth set win. She recorded the Wildcats’ final three kills to seal a win against the upset-hopeful Tigers.
Mizzou will receive a long break of recovery before their final two regular-season matches – both of which will be in enemy territory. First will be a trip to Starksville to face a formidable Mississippi State squad. The matchup will be broadcast on SEC Network.
“I think this team has shown they can compete with anybody in the nation,” Sullivan said. “It’s just making sure we show up, serve-and-pass, and we play Mizzou volleyball.”
