Disappointments abound in volleyball loss

In a reversal of the last meeting two weeks ago, the University of Missouri swept K-State at the Hearnes Center at Columbia, Mo., on Wednesday night.

The match followed in form but not numbers, as Missouri (14-9, 6-6 Big 12 Conference) showed enough strength to best K-State (8-13, 2-9) in three sets. With only six total runs three points or longer, any lead was sure to last, a strategy that Missouri used to its advantage to eke out another win for its record.

As could be expected from these two closely matched teams, the match began with a trade-off of points until Missouri generated enough success to take a slight lead at 15-13, but a timeout from K-State head coach Suzie Fritz brought the serve back to K-State. Missouri finally found its groove with a five-point run to bring their score within two points of a win, but a block from senior middle blocker Kelsey Chipman started a short run to put K-State at 21-23.

K-State’s momentum was halted by a timeout from Missouri head coach Wayne Kreklow, and Missouri took the last two points to claim the set 25-21, despite the best efforts of junior outside hitter JuliAnne Chisholm, who tallied five kills for .500 attack percentage, and freshman middle blocker Alex Muff with three kills for .750, another surprise performance from her.

The opening two rotations of the second set echoed those previously with a stalemate straight through to the closing points. A pair of two-point runs and a lone three-pointer from K-State were outmatched by Missouri’s eight two-point runs to put the Tigers up four at 20-16. Another strategic timeout from Fritz returned the volley to the Wildcats, but the point was given straight back. Missouri took the set 25-20 after small pushes from each team. K-State held a lead only twice — once in the opening of the set following an attack error from its opponent, and once for three points in the middle.

Set three commenced without the fervor K-State was hoping to find during intermission. As was the norm in this oscillatory match, neither team could prosper enough to secure the win early on, but the numbers favored a prediction for Missouri; the Tigers continuously held the lead, no matter how small, until the end at 25-18. An early performance by redshirt freshman outside hitter Izabela Grot looked promising for the Wildcats, but neither she nor the rest of her team could continue for high numbers.

Junior rightside hitter Paola Ampudia lived up to her reputation to lead Missouri in the front with 18 kills for .317 and two of the team’s four aces. Defensively, junior libero Caitlyn Vann found 13 digs against K-State’s attacks.

The visiting team posted numbers far below expectations. Chisholm was the only player to climb into double digits for kills, hitting 10 for .296. Chipman, who was on the rebound from illness and a week of no practices, according to her coaches, barreled through her lethargy in the first set to swing for .400 with nine kills. Junior libero Lauren Mathewson also saw double digits, totaling 13 digs for the match. Noticeably absent from the box score were solid numbers under serving aces and blocks, instead being replaced by eight net errors.

Although K-State did not play as well as their previous matchup against Missouri, which included highlights from eight players, the team will look to rebound into another conference game victory when they travel south to Oklahoma Saturday night.