Missouri volleyball finished the Mizzou Invitational the same way it started the weekend: in control.
The Tigers swept Idaho on Saturday night at Hearnes Center to cap a perfect 9-0 run through the event, and junior Lauren Larkin made an immediate statement in her first match for Missouri. She put down 10 kills on a .625 hitting clip, added three blocks and finished with 12 points in the sweep.
Missouri also got a strong defensive night from senior Ainoah Cruz, who collected 13 digs and finished with 10 or more digs in every match of the Mizzou Invitational. Senior Sierra Dudley made her debut for the weekend and handed out 23 assists in two sets, while senior Grace O’Reilly turned in the team’s best hitting efficiency at .636 with seven kills on 11 attempts.
The Tigers came out with energy in the opening set, using kills from freshmen Ceylin Kuyan and Eva Smith to grab an early 4-3 lead. The set stayed tight until Larkin ripped off back-to-back kills to push Missouri ahead 11-8. Kuyan was especially sharp early, leading the team with four kills in the frame.
Missouri also controlled the service line right away, landing three aces while Idaho didn’t record one in the set. That edge helped the Tigers stretch the margin late, with junior Claire Morrissey making it 17-12 and Smith pushing it to 22-14 after a timeout. Idaho chipped away a bit, but Missouri closed out the first set 25-18, with Felder delivering two kills in the final points.
The second set was much more of a grind. Idaho opened with a 6-3 lead before Larkin stepped in with a block to bring Missouri even at 7-7.
The Vandals stayed within striking distance, but the Tigers finally created separation with a three-point run that made it 18-15, sparked by senior Kaylen Rush’s serving. During that stretch, Felder and Larkin did the damage at the net, with Felder collecting two kills and Larkin adding one.
That cushion held, and Missouri finished the set with another big block at the end. Larkin and O’Reilly combined to stop Idaho on set point, sealing a 25-21 win and a 2-0 lead in the match. The Tigers outblocked the Vandals 5.5 to 1 in the second frame.
By the third set, Missouri had the match firmly in hand. The Tigers scored first, then Felder served up an ace for a 2-0 lead.
Cruz followed with four straight points on her serve to make it 6-1, and freshman Maizy Agnello added an ace to stretch the advantage to 10-3. Felder then teamed with Smith for a block that forced Idaho’s first timeout at 11-3.
The pressure never let up. Late in the set, Larken sparked a five-point Missouri run with a kill, helping extend the lead from 17-9 to 21-9. O’Reilly closed strong with back-to-back kills to make it 24-11, and Agnello ended the night with a kill for the 25-12 finish.
Missouri finished the final set with 14 kills and held Idaho to just four, completing the sweep and putting a clean stamp on a perfect weekend.
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For Missouri, the practical part is simple even if the broader system is not. Drinkwitz made clear his staff will keep its attention on the roster it has and wait for whatever clarity comes next on eligibility, a stance that leaves the Tigers trying to prepare in the middle of a rules fight nobody seems eager to settle. On social media, the reaction around his comments was mixed, which only underscored how unsettled the whole conversation still is. [Read more 🡒]