#25 Missouri Sweeps Volleyball in Weekend Opener
The Gamecocks saw double-figure kills from Robinson and Whitesides in the loss
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina volleyball returned to action for the first time since Feb. 11 and dropped a straight-set decision to No. 25 Missouri (11-4) on Friday afternoon. The Gamecocks were slowed on offense by 19 total attack errors, giving the Tigers a .348 to .158 advantage in hitting percentage in the match. Mikayla Robinson led the team with 11 kills while hitting .474, Riley Whitesides added 10 kills.
SET 1: South Carolina was particularly high-error in the opening game, committing nine on 37 total attacks in a 25-17 final score. Missouri broke away early with a 9-2 run that pushed its lead to 14-6; a 6-0 run sparked by a pair of aces behind the service line from Mallory Dixon would cut into the deficit, but the Tigers would not trail after the opening point of the set. Robinson had four kills for South Carolina, but Missouri held the left pin attack of Whitesides and Kyla Manning to just four kills and seven errors on 20 swings in the set.
SET 2: It would be the home side that grabbed a big early lead to open the second set, beginning on a 7-2 run and eventually holding a 12-7 lead before Missouri used another big streak to take back momentum. Out of that 12-7 advantage, Carolina gave up nine of the next 12 points to Missouri and would not be able to take the lead back in a 25-23 loss. Manning bounced back in a big way to power the offense, hitting .625 with five kills in the losing effort.
SET 3: Missouri’s offense overwhelmed the Gamecock defenders in the final set, a 25-15 margin. The Tigers hit .560 in the game, committing just one error against 15 kills. The Gamecocks were able to continue improving their success rate on offense, highlighted by six kills without an error in the third for Whitesides, but weren’t able to slow down the visitors’ attack. Missouri started the set on a 7-1 run and did not trail in the game.
UP NEXT
The two sides return in less than 24 hours for a Saturday rematch. First serve at the Carolina Volleyball Center is scheduled for noon. The match can be followed on the SEC Network+.
