The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Missouri
No. 9 Volleyball upends Missouri, 3-1
11.19.2011 | Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Junior opposite hitter Sha'Dare McNeal's all-around, season-best performance propelled the ninth-ranked Texas Volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Missouri, Saturday night at the Hearnes Center. The 25-19, 26-28, 25-9, 25-11 win improved the Longhorns to 20-4 overall and 13-1 in Big 12 play and dropped the Tigers to 20-12 on the year and 6-9 in league action.
McNeal recorded her second kill/dig double-double of the season, posting or equaling season highs with her 15 kills, .750 hitting percentage and four total blocks, while chipping in 11 digs. Freshman outside hitter Haley Eckerman posted a team-best 16 kills and was joined in double digits by sophomore Bailey Webster (14 kills) and senior All-America middle-blocker Rachael Adams (13 kills).
Texas allowed an early 6-1 Missouri run in the first set and trailed 14-12 midway through the frame before two kills and a solo block by Webster keyed a 10-3 run to put UT ahead, 22-17. McNeal's fifth kill of the set forced set point and Webster's fourth kill ended the set, 25-19.
In the second, the Longhorns took the lead at the 2-1 mark and took advantage of five kills by Adams to maintain the lead until it forced set point at the 24-21 mark. Missouri quickly erased the deficit, tying the set with a three-point run and closing out the stanza 28-26 courtesy of three UT errors.
The Horns stormed back after the break, using five quick blocks, including a solo and three block assists by freshman middle blocker Madelyn Hutson to capture a 10-2 edge. Texas maintained the edge, closed out the frame on a 9-1 run fueled by three Eckerman kills and earned a 25-9 set win.
Texas kept things rolling in the fourth, using a 10-2 run paced by a pair of Webster kills to open the set. The Horns blew the set open with an 8-2 rally headlined by two kills and two blocks from Adams that pushed the margin to 18-7 and down the stretch, UT used two more kills by Webster and a pair of Adams blocks to clinch the set, 25-11.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday, Nov. 23 when it travels to Texas A&M. First serve is set for 5 p.m. Central.
POST-MATCH NOTES
- The victory improved Texas' all-time record against Missouri to 22-10 and 9-7 in Columbia. In its final Big 12 match against Mizzou, Texas earned their 11th-straight win over the Tigers.
- Sha'Dare McNeal recorded her second kill/dig double-double of the season with her 15-kill, 11-dig effort. She set new season highs with her 15 kills and .750 hitting percentage.
- Madelyn Hutson posted a new career-high total with her seven total blocks against Mizzou.
- Texas recorded six blocks in its 25-9 third set victory.
- Texas out-hit Missouri, .323-to.137 and out-blocked the Tigers 15.0-to-7.0.
