Tigers fall in volleyball home opener

The team lost to Baylor in four sets.

By Ross Taylor

Published Sept. 22, 2008

The Missouri volleyball team was finally on a friendly floor, but the inconsistency that followed the team around the country made its way to the Hearnes Center on Sunday afternoon.

Missouri dropped its home opener to Baylor, 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22.

Missouri (5-6, 0-2 Big 12) struggled with matchup problems throughout the day. The Tigers were unable to generate offense, as Baylor (10-2, 2-0) out hit Missouri, .263 to .170.

Although the offensive struggles continued, one of Missouri's biggest problems during non-conference play - serving - became an advantage. Missouri had eight aces and four errors serving to Baylor's five aces and eight errors.

"We served well, but the big problem we've been having to this point is consistency," coach Wayne Kreklow said. "We score one, we give up two. We score two, we give up four. We've got to find a way to be able to stop the runs a little bit and string some things together."

Despite the offensive inconsistency, the back line, which often featured two freshmen and a sophomore, was a bright spot for Missouri.

Sophomore libero Caitlyn Vann was nothing short of fantastic, or "Vann-tastic," a term coined by several Missouri fans to yell after she serves. Vann, the Big 12 leader in digs per set, finished with 25 digs.

With Missouri trailing 20-19 in the third set, Vann changed the match's momentum with an athletic play. Diving to her right, Vann dug a well-struck ball with one arm. The ball sailed over the net and landed between six frozen Baylor defenders, helping Missouri salvage the third set.

In their first home match, freshman defensive specialists Priscilla Armendariz, known as "Pip" within the program, and Annie Lopez contributed significantly to Missouri's defensive effort. Lopez and Armendariz finished with 13 and 12 digs, respectively.

"You know you're out there for a reason," Armendariz said. "But there's a lot of adrenaline going all the time."

Kreklow said Missouri faced a challenge when trying to match up with Baylor. Baylor's two big guns, juniors Katie Sanders and Anna Breyfogle, finished with 35 combined kills.

"Every player is going to have their great hit, and every team is going to have their really on-night night," junior middle blocker Megan Wilson said. "That's why we play sports."

But for Missouri to dig itself out of the 0-2 hole it has created for itself in Big 12 play, Kreklow said the offense is going to have be more effective, regardless of the opponent.

"Our margin of error isn't very big," he said. "We don't have outside hitters who can create their own shots - they need help. To compare it to a basketball game, we've got a lot of people who can spot up and shoot but nobody that can take the ball and go."