Alabama
2-0
Missouri State
0-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Missouri State | 21 | 25 | 11 | 16 | 1 |
Four Finish With Double-Digit Kills in Alabama Volleyball’s Four-Set Win Over Missouri State
8/25/2018 11:20:00 AM | Volleyball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – After splitting the first two sets, Alabama volleyball posted a pair of convincing set victories to defeat Missouri State in four, posting scores of 25-21, 22-25, 25-11 and 25-16.
Four Alabama (2-0) players finished with double-digit kills in the win over Missouri State (0-2), led by junior Mahalia Swink for the second-straight match with 13. Senior Cidavia Hall hit .533 with 10 kills and just two errors on 15 swings, also stuffing a career-best seven blocks to lead the team. Sophomore Meghan Neelon tallied her first double-double of the season with 33 assists and 16 digs.
With Alabama ahead 3-1 early in set one, Missouri State rattled off four unanswered to pull in front, 5-3. Three-straight from the Tide swung it back, 6-5, but the Bears would tie it twice before moving back in front, 8-7. A 4-1 run gave Missouri State a 12-8 lead at the halfway mark and Alabama took its first timeout of the set. Junior Ginger Perinar knocked in back-to-back kills after the break before a Missouri State attack error and a kill down the line from Swink tied it at 12-12. After a Bears timeout, an attack error continued the Tide's run at five unanswered to pull back ahead, 13-12. A 5-1 run added some more cushion, extending the lead to 17-13 before the Bears were forced to burn its final timeout. A block from freshman Mylana Byrd and junior Hayley McSparin put Alabama up by five at the 20-point mark and the Tide would eventually win the frame by four, 25-21.
Missouri State held the early advantage in set two, until three-straight points from Alabama put the Tide in front, 7-6. The Bears responded quickly with four unanswered points, leading 10-7 before Alabama took its first timeout. A service ace from sophomore Kaylee Thomas capped a run of three-straight from the Tide to make it a one-point game and the Bears looked to stop the momentum with a timeout, leading 14-13. Alabama tied it up on the next rally and there would be four more tie scores before Missouri State hit the 20-point mark ahead by two. The Tide took its final timeout trailing 23-20 and eventually fell, 25-22, to even the match at 1-1.
A kill from Perinar and service ace from Thomas started the third set in the Tide's favor before Missouri State tied it up with back-to-back points. Later with a 6-5 lead, Alabama rattled off three in a row to force an early timeout from Missouri State. The Tide remained ahead and, later leading 12-9, scored eight in a row to build a double-digit lead at 20-9. Alabama eventually won the set, 25-11, to take a 2-1 match lead.
The momentum carried over into the fourth set, with Alabama building an early 5-1 lead. Missouri State came back to draw within one at 5-4 but three-straight kills from sophomore Doris Carter and a fourth from Hayley McSparin made it 9-4 as the Bears took a timeout. Missouri State rallied after the break with six straight to take a 10-9 lead but after four tie scores Alabama would retake the lead at 14-13. The Tide led by three at the Bears' second timeout, 18-15, and added to more to make it a five-point game at the 20-point mark. An ace from Swink made it match point, 24-16, and a block from Byrd and McSparin sealed the 25-16 set win for the match.
Alabama wraps up its opening weekend against the host College of Charleston (1-0) tonight at 6 p.m. CT.
