University of Missouri
2-0,2-0SEC
Alabama
0-2,0-2SEC
No. 9 Mizzou Volleyball Cruises to Thursday Sweep at Alabama
10/22/2020 11:17:00 PM | Volleyball
Tigers’ offense posts 39 kills on excellent .412 hitting percentage
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 9 Mizzou Volleyball ended its second match of the 2020 fall season versus Alabama Thursday with a 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-19, 25-19). The Tigers enjoyed exceptional hitting performances this evening with senior MB Tyanna Omazic, senior OH Kylie Deberg and sophomore OH Anna Dixon all exceeding .400-plus hitting.
Defensively, Omazic registered six total blocks across three sets played, tallying her 300th career block by the second set of Thursday's contest. In another outstanding offensive effort, Deberg produced nine kills while adding nine digs on defense. Dixon exploded with nine kills and three total blocks in her second career match in Mizzou black and gold.
Senior OH Leketor Member-Meneh delivered a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage on two attacks and added four digs defensively in the back row. Redshirt junior MB Anna D'Cruz stepped up on both sides of the ball Thursday with four kills and four total blocks (one solo) in her second career match as a Tiger. D'Cruz exceeded 100 career total blocks following tonight's strong performance at the net.
#ShowMe Top Performers at Alabama
- Deberg: 9 kills on .450 hitting, 9 digs, 3 total blocks
- Omazic: 7 kills on .462 hitting, 6 total blocks (1 solo)
- Dixon: 9 kills on .400 hitting, 3 total blocks
- Kenna Sauer: 6 kills, 2 digs, 1 total block
- Andrea Fuentes: 33 assists, 2 kills, 2 total blocks, 2 digs
Hear From Head Coach Joshua Taylor
On the Tigers' sweep Thursday inside Foster Auditorium…
"Very pleased with the focus and energy our group came out with tonight. With such a late start, it was important that we came out from the get-go and showed a lot of toughness. We made some adjustments following last night's match and it really showed tonight. We improved in just about every offensive and defensive category and really kept the pressure on Alabama. It was great to see so many different players come in and contribute tonight, as we'll need that kind of production all season long."
#MIZ Takeaways
- Mizzou improves to 13-3 all-time against Alabama. The Tigers have now won nine consecutive matches in the all-time series with the Crimson Tide dating back to 2015.
- The Tigers hit a season-best .412 Thursday evening, marking their first .400-plus team hitting performance since a season ago (Nov. 15, 2019 vs. Alabama).
- Mizzou opened the match on fire defensively at the net, registering 5.0 total blocks. D'Cruz led the way individually, recording 3.0 total blocks.
- In set two, the Tigers' offense stole the show with 12 kills on .375 hitting. They one-upped themselves yet again in the third and final set, recording 15 kills on an astounding .484 hitting percentage (zero attack errors).
- Senior RS Dariana Hollingsworth-Santana earned her 2020 season debut Thursday, registering both an ace and dig.
- Mizzou used smart and efficient attacks all night on offense, committing only four attack errors compared to Alabama's 20 errors.
- Additionally, the Crimson Tide's defense only managed one total block against the Tigers' attack throughout the match.
Up Next
Mizzou makes its season debut inside the Hearnes Center next Wednesday/Thursday (Oct. 28/29) for a showdown against No. 3 Kentucky. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT each night in Mid-Missouri. Both matches will air live nationally on ESPNU.
Single-game and season tickets for the 2020-21 Mizzou campaign are available for purchase at MUTigers.com/VBTix. Tiger fans can also call the Mizzou Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS.
Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Volleyball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (Missouri Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouVB).
