Volleyball Opens Final Homestand Friday

By
Gary Lee
-

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Volleyball team (13-9, 5-6 SEC) commences a five-match homestand this weekend, hosting Mississippi State (11-10, 4-7 SEC) on Friday, followed by Georgia (15-8, 6-5 SEC) on Sunday. First serve for Friday’s match against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., CT at the Hearnes Center while Sunday’s contest against Georgia is slated for 3 p.m., CT.

Both matches will be televised on SEC Network+ with Casey Roehl (Friday), Noah Reed (Sunday) and Riley Rohler (both matches) on this weekend’s broadcasts.

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The Tigers are currently ranked 35th in RPI (Rating Percentage Index).

With three more wins, the Tigers can match their overall win total from 2020 (16-8, 15-7 SEC).

Friday’s match commences Mizzou’s final homestand. Five Match Mini Plans are currently on sale online.

Missouri has seen a 240 percent increase in attendance at Hearnes this season.

PROMOTIONS

  • Friday’s contest is a Black Out and fans are encouraged to wear Black.
  • Friday is also Alzheimer’s Awareness Night. The team will be wearing purple ribbons to raise awareness for the disease. Patrons can donate to the Alzheimer’s Association through Mizzou Volleyball’s page online.
  • Fans in attendance Friday can receive Mizzou Belt Bags, while supplies last.
  • On Sunday, the Tigers will recognize local first responders and local educators for their Hometown Heroes match.
  • Fans have the chance to grab post-match autographs from the Mizzou Volleyball team at the conclusion of both matches.

MISSISSIPPI STATE SERIES HISTORY 

  • Missouri leads the all-time series against Mississippi State, 15-4, but the Tigers have dropped the last four meetings with the Bulldogs.
  • The last time the two teams faced off during the 2022 campaign, Mizzou dropped a pair of road-matches in Starkville, Mississippi, Nov. 25-26 (3-1 and 3-0).
  • In the Bulldogs’ previous appearance in Columbia, Missouri, the Tigers lost a five-set battle to Mississippi State, 3-2 (Nov. 7, 2021). Missouri dropped a 3-1 decision the day prior (Nov. 6) in 2021.
  • Mizzou is 9-2 all-time at home against the Bulldogs.
  • In the all-time series, Missouri claimed 15-straight victories over Mississippi State, from Sept. 11, 2004, to March 25, 2020, to commence the series.

GEORGIA SERIES HISTORY 

  • Missouri leads the all-time series against Georgia, 10-9.
  • In the most recent matchup during the 2022 season, the Tigers dropped a pair of contests to the Bulldogs in Columbia, Missouri (Oct. 28, 3-2, and Oct. 29, 3-0).
  • The last time Mizzou defeated the Bulldogs was during the 2020-21 campaign, as the Tigers bested Georgia 3-0 on Feb. 19, 2021, in Columbia, followed by another sweep on Feb. 20.
  • Mizzou is 5-4 all-time at the Hearnes Center against Georgia.
  • In the all-time series, Missouri claimed five-straight victories over the Bulldogs, from Oct. 29, 2017, to Feb. 20, 2021.

OLE MISS RECAP 

  • Missouri most recently fell to Ole Miss, 3-1, in Oxford, Mississippi on Oct. 25 to conclude the Tigers’ regular-season series against the Rebels. Each team picked up wins in their home arenas, respectively, to finish the 2023 series at 1-1.
  • Janet deMarrais led Mizzou at the net with 22 kills on a .240 clip, marking her third match of the season with 20-plus kills. deMarrais also added seven digs to go with three blocks and a career-best matching three aces.
  • Jordan Iliff contributed 11 kills on the pin, logging her eighth-straight double-digit kill match, to go with two assists, an ace and a block.
  • Colleen Finney officially surpassed 500 career kills after registering seven kills on a .500 hitting percentage. She totaled 408 kills over three seasons at Clemson prior to transferring to Mizzou.
  • Morgan Isenberg added a team-high four blocks out of the middle to go along with five kills (.250). Isenberg has totaled three-plus blocks in each of the last 10 contests.
  • Freshman setter Sierra Dudley dished out 44 assists for her 11th 40-plus assist performance of the year. Dudley also tallied eight digs, three blocks and two kills.
  • Libero Maya Sands logged her eleventh 20-plus dig match of the season, grabbing 24 digs with three assists and an ace. She has recorded six performances with 24 or more digs in 2023.
  • Dilara Gedikoglu chipped in 11 digs, three assists and an ace to go with four kills. The outside has now posted double-digit digs in four of the last six matches.

IT’S JO TIME

  • Jordan Iliff  extended her double-digit kill streak to eight matches after recording 11 kills on a .212 hitting clip against Ole Miss on Oct. 29. Iliff also added four digs, two assists, a block and an ace.
  • The junior also posted 13 kills against #12 Tennessee on Oct. 25 to go with 11 digs for her fourth double-double in 2023.
  • Iliff previously earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 23, after recording 13 kills (.357), eight digs, two blocks and a pair of aces in Mizzou’s 3-0 road sweep over then-ranked #23 Auburn on Oct. 20.
  • The St. Louis, native, has now totaled 10 or more kills in 17 matches this season.
  • Iliff opened October with consecutive 16-kill matches (Texas A&M and Kentucky) and consecutive 12-kill matches (Arkansas and Alabama), before her 11-kill match against Ole Miss and consecutive 13-kill outings at #23 Auburn and then against #12 Tennessee.
  • She leads Missouri in the front row this season with 268 kills (3.27 kill/set, 14th in the SEC). Iliff also ranks 10th in the SEC with 322.0 points (3.93 points/set, ninth in the SEC).
  • Iliff has logged 18 total aces in SEC play, which ranks fourth in the league (0.43 aces/set, 18 aces, sixth).
  • The six-rotation hitter has also provided a steady presence for Mizzou in the back row, recording 16 matches with five-plus digs.
  • The junior posted eight or more digs in nine-consecutive matches for Mizzou from Sept. 24 to Oct. 25, including a career-high 15 against South Carolina (Sept. 24).
  • Iliff tallied a career-best day against the Gamecocks (Sept. 24), logging 21 kills on an impressive .455 clip (one error on 44 total attacks).
  • The pin hitter started the season with a bang, logging double-digit kills in five consecutive matches, from Aug. 25 through Sept. 2. Iliff commenced the season with 19 kills in the 2023 opener against Illinois State (Aug. 25).

OUR LIBERO

  • Maya Sands grabbed 24 digs against Ole Miss on Oct. 29 for her 11th match with 20-plus digs on the year. The libero also added three assists and an ace.
  • During the 2023 campaign, Sands has registered six performances of 24-plus digs (four 24-dig matches in 2023).
  • The sophomore has registered 20-plus digs in six of the last eight matches, including each of the last two contests. Sands posted a 20-dig night against #12 Tennessee on Oct. 25 to go with two aces and four assists.
  • The libero has tallied 398 digs (4.80 digs/set) in 2023 after compiling 412 digs her freshman season at UNLV.
  • Sands was previously named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after she grabbed a career-high 30 digs to go with two assists and an ace against Ole Miss on Oct. 15. The outing was the second-highest dig total in the SEC this season.
  • She currently leads the conference with 4.80 digs per set (34th in the NCAA) and 398 digs (51st in the NCAA), posting double-digit digs in every match of the season.
  • In league play, she paces the conference with 213 digs (5.07 digs/set).
  • The libero also paces the Tigers behind the service line with 29 aces (0.35 aces/set, ninth in the SEC). She has tallied a season-best three aces in four separate matches this season.

FRESHMAN SETTER

  • Sierra Dudley has posted 40-plus assists in 11 matches this season, after dishing out 44 assists to complement eight digs, three blocks and two kills at Ole Miss on Oct. 29.
  • The freshman has now posted 30 or more assists in 10-consecutive matches, including a 33-assist night against #12 Tennessee on Oct. 25. Dudley also contributed 10 digs on the night for her eighth career double-double.
  • The setter earned SEC Co-Freshman of the Week after she registered a career-best 60 assists and 12 digs in the Tigers’ first matchup against Ole Miss on Oct. 15.
  • Dudley’s stat column against the Rebels not only marked the second-highest total assists for an SEC setter this season in conference play, but also was the most assists by a Tiger setter since Andrea Fuentes registered 62 assists against Alabama on Nov. 8, 2019.
  • Dudley, a Spartanburg, South Carolina, native, handed out 47 assists to lead Mizzou to a season-best team hitting percentage of .354 against the Crimson Tide on Oct. 11. The 47 assists are the second most for an SEC setter over three sets this season in conference play.
  • Dudley has recorded eight matches with at least 45 assists during the 2023 campaign. She ranks fourth in the SEC with 808 assists (9.98 assists/set, fifth in the SEC) this season.
  • In conference play, she is fourth with 10.68 assists per set and 438 assists.
  • Behind the 10-foot line, Dudley has logged 18 matches with five or more digs, including securing double-digit digs eight times this season.
  • Her time as a Tiger got off to an impressive start, as Dudley registered 52 assists in Missouri’s third match of the season against Colgate on Aug. 27. She combined for 146 assists over the season-opening Mizzou Classic (Aug. 25-27).

DEMARRAIS ALL THE WAY 

  • Janet deMarrais paced the Tigers in their latest match against Ole Miss on Oct. 29, finishing with 22 kills to extend her double-digit kill streak to 12-straight matches. deMarrais also added seven digs, three blocks and a career-best matching three aces.
  • The outside has now clocked double-digit kills 13 times this season, including three matches with 20 or more kills (three of the last five matches).
  • In the back row, deMarrais has tallied six-plus digs in nine of the last 10 matches, including a career-best 13 digs against Ole Miss on Oct. 15.
  • The sophomore opened last week, clocking 13 kills against #12 Tennessee on Oct. 12. deMarrais also added three aces, three blocks and four digs.
  • She has registered 14 total aces so far during the 2023 campaign including a career-best three, three times including each of the last two matches.
  • deMarrais totaled a combined 54 kills (6.75 kills/set) and 20 digs (2.50 digs/set) on a .317 hitting percentage during the Tigers’ week of matches against Alabama (Oct. 11) and Ole Miss (Oct. 15).
  • She recorded career-best kill outings over the pair of matches. deMarrais led Mizzou attacking with a then career-best 24 kills on a .400 clip with seven digs and two aces in Mizzou’s road win over Alabama on Oct. 11.
  • deMarrais then registered a double-double, the second of her career, setting a career-high 30 kills (.269) and 13 digs to go along with two blocks and an ace in the Tigers win over Ole Miss on Oct. 15.
  • The Colleyville, Texas, native, registered 15 or more kills in five-straight contests (Oct. 1 through Oct. 15), including 18 in her home state at Texas A&M on Oct. 1.
  • deMarrais has appeared in the Mizzou starting lineup in each of the last 11 matches, dating back to the Tigers’ SEC opener at Tennessee on Sept. 20. She previously had started in Mizzou’s first two matches of the season Aug. 25-26 (Illinois State and Central Arkansas) at the Mizzou Classic.
  • The sophomore ranks second in the SEC in league play with 4.36 kills/set (183 kills) and 5.01 points per set (210.5 points).
  • Overall, deMarrais ranks 15th in the league for kills per set (3.18, 248 kills).

MO MAKING MOVES

  • Morgan Isenberg tacked on a team-high four blocks in Mizzou’s match against Ole Miss on Oct. 29 to go along with five kills on a .250 hitting clip. The middle blocker has registered three-plus blocks 19 times this season, including each of the Tigers’ last 10 contests.
  • At the net, the junior has clocked five or more blocks 10 times in the 2023 campaign, including eight against #12 Tennessee on Oct. 25.
  • Isenberg also tallied five kills against the Lady Vols. The middle blocker has registered 14 matches with five or more kills this season, including three double-digit kill contests.
  • She registered eight kills on a .727 hitting clip at #23 Auburn on Oct. 20 while adding three blocks and career-best matching two digs. The outing marked the middle blocker’s second-straight eight-kill match. The hitting percentage was Mizzou’s highest since Kenna Sauer posted a mark of .700 at Ole Miss on Nov. 21, 2020.
  • Isenberg also recorded seven blocks and eight kills (.429) in Mizzou’s win over Ole Miss on Oct. 15.
  • The middle blocker ranks 39th nationally and third in the SEC with 104 total blocks (1.27 blocks/set, fifth in the SEC, 44th in the NCAA) this season.
  • In SEC play, she ranks fifth with 1.26 blocks/set (53 blocks).
  • The Wildwood, Missouri, native, tallied a career-high nine blocks against South Dakota on Sept. 2.
  • Isenberg also notched a career-best 16 kills on a .444 hitting clip to help the Tigers secure a five-set win over Xavier on Sept. 9.

GEDIKOGLU, MORE THAN JUST A FUN NAME TO SAY

  • Dilara Gedikoglu has been a solid presence in the back row for Mizzou, contributing 11 digs in the Tigers’ latest matchup against Ole Miss to go with four kills, three assists and an ace on Oct. 29.
  • Gedikoglu has now posted double-digit digs in four of the last six matches.
  • The outside notched nine kills against #12 Tennessee on Oct. 25 to open last week, while adding three digs, two blocks and an assist.
  • Gedikoglu compiled eight-plus digs in eight-straight matches, spanning from Sept. 24 through Oct. 20.
  • She tallied her seventh double-double of the season in the Tigers’ win over Ole Miss on Oct. 15, recording 14 kills (.313 hitting percentage) and 12 digs. Gedikoglu also added a block and an ace against the Rebels.
  • The graduate student has finished in double-digits attacking 11 times this season including 14 kills four times.
  • The Alanya, Turkey, native, compiled a season-best 20 kills to go with 13 digs in her third match as a Tiger against Colgate on Aug. 27.
  • Gedikoglu ranks second and third, respectively, on Mizzou with 202 digs (2.46 digs/set) and 214 kills (2.61 kills/set).
  • In her career, Gedikoglu enters the week with 898 kills and 898 digs.

500 CAREER KILLS 

  • Colleen Finney surpassed 500 career kills against Ole Miss on Oct. 29, after she tallied seven on a .500 hitting percentage.
  • Finney, a graduate student from Blythewood, South Carolina, has started in all 22 contests this season. She has compiled 98 kills (1.21 kills/set) in 2023, after totaling 408 kills over three seasons at Clemson prior to transferring to Mizzou.
  • Naomi Franco is two kills away from 500 in her collegiate career.
  • Franco, a senior from Fayetteville, Georgia, has registered 19 kills over 13 matches this season with Mizzou. She notched 479 kills over three seasons at Syracuse prior to transferring to Missouri.

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 UNLV, leading the Rebels to five-straight postseason appearances and a pair of Mountain West Championships.
  • Sullivan has added seven transfers and four freshmen since her arrival in Mid-Missouri this past December.
  • The Tigers returned juniors Jordan Iliff, Lauren Forbes, Morgan Isenberg, and sophomores Madilyn Sell and Janet deMarrais from the 2022 team.
  • Iliff, a right side hitter from St. Louis, was named to the 2023 USA Volleyball Women’s Collegiate National Team in June. The junior was third on Mizzou offensively in 2022 with 227 kills (2.39 kills per set).

NEW FACES ON THE BENCH

  • The 2023 team features a multitude of new staff members in addition to head coach Dawn Sullivan.
  • Cullen Irons, who coached with Sullivan at UNLV, was added as an assistant coach in January.
  • Wendel Camargo and Arielle Wilson will serve as Sullivan’s Recruiting Coordinators. Wilson, a four-time NCAA Champion, and four-time Big Ten Champion at Penn State, is also the Defensive Coordinator.
  • Technical Coordinator Jhenna Gabriel competed for Sullivan at UNLV in 2022, helping the Rebels secure the Mountain West Regular-Season Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Gabriel also earned All-American honors at Texas before her graduate transfer season at UNLV.

NEWCOMERS

LOOKING AHEAD

  • Missouri next continues its five-match homestand at the Hearnes Center, hosting Texas A&M on Friday, Nov. 10. First serve is set for 6 p.m., CT. The match will be streamed on SEC Network+.
  • Fans with tickets to the men’s basketball game against Memphis will receive free admission to the volleyball match against Texas A&M.
  • Parking for the Friday, Nov. 10 volleyball match will be in the TAPS garage.
  • Following that contest, Missouri will face #24 Auburn at Hearnes on Sunday, Nov. 12.

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