Volleyball Opens Campaign with 2023 Mizzou Classic

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri volleyball team will host the Mizzou Classic this weekend to commence its 2023 season. Mizzou will take on Illinois State in its home opener Friday. First service is set for 6 p.m., CT at the Hearnes Center. The Tigers will also face Central Arkansas (Saturday at 7 p.m., CT) and Colgate (Sunday at 12 p.m., CT) over the three-day Mizzou Classic.

All three matches will be broadcasted on SEC Network+ with Nate Gatter and former Missouri Volleyball player Riley Rohler on the call.

$3 All Weekend Passes are currently on sale online for the three-day Mizzou Classic. Select Mizzou Classic – ALL MATCH PASS to purchase. 

PROMOTIONS

• Fans in attendance for Friday’s Home Opener will receive Mizzou Volleyball Souvenir Cups and Bumper Stickers, while supplies last.

• Students in attendance Friday will receive pizza, while supplies last.

• Fans in attendance Saturday night, will receive Mizzou Wall Flags, while supplies last.

• Saturday is also Columbia Public Schools Night.

• Fans can grab post-match autographs from the team following all three matches.

SERIES HISTORY

• Illinois State leads the all-time series with Mizzou, 6-1.

•The two sides most recently met in 2021, with the Redbirds edging the Tigers, 3-1, in Normal, Illinois, on Sept. 18, 2021.

• Mizzou has a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series with Central Arkansas with the Tigers earning wins in 2010 and 2011 (Columbia, Mo.).

• Missouri also is 1-0 against Colgate, last meeting the Raiders in 2013 (Sept. 7, 3-0 Win, New Haven, Conn.).

ILLINOIS STATE CONNECTION

• Head coach Dawn Sullivan began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Illinois State in 2002.

• She helped the Redbirds boost their win total from 14 to 19 to 22 before leaving for Iowa State.

• Illinois State is Sullivan’s second former school that Mizzou will face in 2023 as the Tigers hosted Iowa State in exhibition play on Aug. 19.

• Mizzou Director of Volleyball Operations Emily (Siefken) Garrett previously had the same role at Illinois State. Garrett graduated from Illinois State in 2018 with a master’s in sport management.

ABOUT THE TIGERS

• Head coach Dawn Sullivan enters her first season at the helm of the program in 2023.

• Sullivan amassed a 109-38 (.741) mark over five seasons at…