University of Missouri
Valparaiso
No. 22 Volleyball Finalizes Invitational Run with Leatherneck Classic
9/17/2025 10:10:00 AM | Volleyball
The Tigers take on a three-match slate in Macomb, Illinois with Valparaiso, Chicago State and Western Illinois
Game #9 • Friday, Sept. 19 • 11 a.m. CT
No. 22 Mizzou (5-3, 0-0 SEC) vs. Valparaiso (7-3, 0-0 MVC)
Western Hall • Macomb, Ill.
SERIES HISTORY: MIZ leads 2-1 • STREAK: W2
LAST GAME: W, 3-0 vs. Valparaiso (Morehead, Ky. • Sept. 7, 2012)
OPPONENT WEB: valpoathletics.com
Game #10 • Friday, Sept. 19 • 4 p.m. CT
No. 22 Mizzou (5-3, 0-0 SEC) vs. Chicago State (0-7, 0-0 NEC)
Western Hall • Macomb, Ill.
SERIES HISTORY: MIZ leads 2-0 • STREAK: W2
LAST GAME: W, 3-0 vs. Valparaiso (Milwaukee, Wis. • Aug. 29, 1997)
OPPONENT WEB: gocsucougars.com
Game #11 • Saturday, Sept. 20 • 4 p.m. CT
No. 22 Mizzou (5-3, 0-0 SEC) vs. Western Illinois (2-8, 0-0 OVC)
Western Hall • Macomb, Ill.
SERIES HISTORY: MIZ leads 8-5 • STREAK: W1
LAST GAME: W, 3-1 at Western Illinois (Macomb, Ill. • Sept. 14, 1995)
OPPONENT WEB: goleathernecks.com • BROADCAST: ESPN+
No. 22-ranked Mizzou (5-3) finalizes the nonconference invitational slate, as it takes on a three-team set at the Leatherneck Classic starting on Friday, Sept. 19, in Macomb, Ill.
The Tigers start the three-match stretch with Valparaiso, followed by Chicago State in a Friday (Sept. 19) doubleheader, before wrapping it up with the home team, Western Ill.
MU takes on the Beacons at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, followed by the Cougars' match at 4 p.m. The Tigers wrap up the Leatherneck Classic with an ESPN+ streamed match against the Leathernecks at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20.
SERIES HISTORY
- Mizzou leads the all-time series against Valparaiso, 2-1.
- The Tigers last faced the Beacons on Sept. 7, 2012, where MU swept Valparaiso in a neutral match in Morehead, Ky.
- Mizzou leads the all-time series against Chicago State, 2-0.
- The Tigers have a 5-0 all-time lead in sets against the Cougars, as they last faced off on Aug. 29, 1997, in a neutral match in Milwaukee, Wis.
- Mizzou has a more extensive history against Western Illinois, as the Tigers lead the all-time series, 8-5.
- Last time up, MU faced the Leathernecks on Sept. 14, 1995, in Macomb, Ill. In that match, the Tigers won 3-1, breaking a three-match losing skid. Mizzou is 2-1 all-time in Macomb, Ill.
PRESEASON HONORS
- Mizzou posted two players on the AVCA Preseason Player of the Year Watch List with senior transfer outside hitter Caylen Alexander and senior libero Maya Sands.
- Alexander joined the Tigers in 2025 after transferring from Hawai'i, where she was named an AVCA All-American after leading the NCAA in kills with 611, averaging 5.09 kills per set.
- Sands has headlined Mizzou's defense for the past two years, as she heads into her senior season as the two-time reigning SEC Libero of the Year and AVCA All-American in 2024.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
- The 2025 campaign is the third year for head coach Dawn Sullivan. Sullivan led the Tigers to their fifth NCAA Sweet Sixteen in program history and earned AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year.
- Last season, Sullivan led Missouri to a record of 22-9, including an 11-5 record in SEC play.
- During the year, the Tigers picked up two top-10 victories (at No. 9 Texas; at No. 10 SMU). The latter victory over the Mustangs advanced the Tigers from the NCAA Second Round to the NCAA Round of 16 for the first time since 2017.
- Mizzou recently earned the No. 17 spot in the 2025 AVCA/TARAFLEX Preseason poll, announced on August 6. During the 2025 campaign, the Tigers will face six top-25 teams, including four top-10 squads.
- The Tigers return three of their seven starters from 2024, including All-SEC performers Maya Sands and redshirt junior Marina Crownover.
MILESTONES
- Libero Maya Sands recorded her 1,500-career dig against James Madison (Aug. 29).
- The now-senior recorded 535 digs during her junior year, following her 2023 campaign that saw her post 542 digs. Sands began her career with UNLV, where she compiled 412 digs in her freshman season before transferring to Mizzou.
- Sands is one ace away from her 100th career service ace.
- The senior leads the team in the category with eight this season.
- Head coach Dawn Sullivan recorded her 150th career win against James Madison (Aug. 29)
- Sullivan is currently 152-62 (.710) in her career after recording a record of 109-38 (.741) in her five years with UNLV. With the Tigers, the third-year coach is 43-24 (.642) overall.
- Redshirt senior Tyrah Ariail recently recorded her 300th career block against Arkansas State (9/5/25).
- Ariail was one block short of tying her career high as she posted eight blocks in the five-set victory.
- The redshirt senior recorded 283 in her four-year career with the USC Trojans.
SEC PRESEASON
- Mizzou was picked to finish fourth in the 2025 SEC Preseason Poll with 182 points.
- Kentucky, the defending conference champion, was picked to repeat in the SEC after earning 218 points.
- Senior Maya Sands was selected as the lone player from Mizzou on the Preseason All-SEC Team.
MAKING AN IMPACT
- The newest Mizzou athletes have already made a major impact as Caylen Alexander leads the team in kills (75), Tyrah Ariail leads the team in blocks (18) and freshman Zoey Matias-Lopez is second on the team in digs (54).
- Freshman Zoey Matias-Lopez has steadily improved every match this season, as she has ten or more digs in four of the five matches played.
FIVE SET STANDARDS
- The Tigers are 1-1 on the season in five set matches but are 11-3 under head coach Dawn Sullivan.
- As a head coach Sullivan is 30-14 all-time in five set matches.
- In 2023 the Tigers went a perfect 5-0 in five-set matches.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A TIGER
- Redshirt junior Marina Crownover spent this past summer as an intern working for NASA.
- The setter is majoring in Physics at Mizzou and has a goal of becoming a pilot and flying jets such as F-22s.
CAYLEN ALEXANDER: AN UNDERDOG STORY
- Last season, Caylin Alexander led the NCAA in kills for Hawai'i (611).
- However, the story isn't about her success as much as it is her journey to college, as she earned only two scholarships coming out of high school (Hawai'i and Chicago).
SETTING THE STANDARD
- Marina Crownover against TCU recorded 54 assists, and 21 digs - a new career high.
- Crownover, with this stat line, became the first Tiger since Lei Wang to post a 20-20 match with 20+ assists and 20+ digs (Sept. 17, 2008).
- The redshirt junior leads the team in double-doubles with five. Crownover has 16 during her time at Mizzou, as she had 11 in 2024.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
- For all the latest information on Mizzou Volleyball, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
