OMAHA, Neb. – Mychael Vernon and Jordan Iliff each posted double-double outings as the University of Missouri Volleyball team (1-0) opened its 2024 season at the Bluejay Invitational with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 28-26) sweep of Drake (0-1) Friday afternoon at D.J. Sokol Arena.
Vernon, a graduate outside hitter, took charge in her first career start as a Tiger, posting 18 kills and 13 digs on a .472 hitting percentage. Iliff, Mizzou’s top offensive threat from 2023, added 12 kills and 10 digs.
Texas transfer setter Marina Crownover paced Missouri with a career-best 22 assists over the opening two sets. Sarah White added a personal-best outing of 14 assists and six digs in the final stanza Friday.
Junior libero Maya Sands held court in the back row, totaling 25 digs, five assists, and an ace.
FIRST SET (25-16 Mizzou, Mizzou leads 1-0)
In the opening set, the Tigers and the Bulldogs traded points early before a 4-0 run provided Mizzou an 8-6 edge.
The teams continued to exchange points in a tight battle, until a 3-0 run by MU brought the score to 17-13 and forced a Drake timeout.
Lincoln, Nebraska, native, Regan Haith added a kill out of the break to push the advantage to 18-13.
Vernon and Colleen Finney extended the lead with consecutive rally stoppers, taking the score to 20-14.
Drake would come as close as 21-16 before Mizzou secured the opening frame on a 4-0 rally.
Vernon and Iliff paced the Tigers with five kills each, hitting .333 and .273, respectively, to begin the season.
SECOND SET (25-14 Mizzou, Mizzou leads 2-0)
Mizzou then extended…
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