Tigers Sweep Past Wildcats - Kansas State Official Athletic Site

Tigers Sweep Past Wildcats

COLUMBIA, Mo. Playing in front of the second-largest crowd in Hearnes Center history, 2,438, the No. 8-ranked Missouri Tigers defeated the No. 17-ranked Kansas State Wildcats, 3-0 (30-19, 30-20, 30-26). It was the first win by the Tigers in the series since September 30, 2000.

Kansas State (11-2, 2-1 Big 12) was led by senior outside hitter Agata Rezende with 15 kills. Werner was next with 12 kills on a team-leading .304 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Stacey Spiegelberg recorded 35 assists, while sophomore libero Angie Lastra registered a match-high 13 digs.

In game one, the Wildcats were able to overcome an early deficit to tie the set at five on a kill by redshirt freshman Megan Kroeker. The Tigers (10-0, 4-0) roared back with a six-point run to capture an 11-5 lead. This was a lead Missouri would build to the final game margin of 11. This was the largest deficit K-State has lost a game by this season.

Rezende tallied seven kills on a .875 hitting percentage and one block assist in the frame. Werner registered three kills and one service ace. Missouri outhit the Wildcats .429 to .152.

The second game was more of the same, as Missouri was able to push to a 9-3 lead before a Kansas State timeout. The Wildcats were able to hang in the game on a combination of Rezende and Kroeker kills, before the Tigers opened up an insurmountable advantage at 26-11. K-State was able to push for five straight points on two Rezende kills and a Jamie Perkins service ace to force a Missouri timeout.

Rezende and Werner paced the Wildcats with four blocks apiece, while Spiegelberg recorded 13 assists and Lastra had five digs. K-State improved on its hitting percentage but was still outdone by the Tigers, .516 to .235.

In the third frame, Kansas State captured its first lead of the match at 1-0 and its second at 4-3 on a Werner kill. Missouri used a five-point run to edge ahead 9-4, with junior Joy Hamlin ending the run with a kill. K-State used the momentum to come to within one at 9-8 on a Rezende kill.

The Tigers were able to withstand the four-point run and build a 10-point lead at 20-10. The Wildcats were not done however, clawing to 21-20 on a seven-point run started by a Spiegelberg kill. The rally included two Werner kills and a Lastra service ace. The Tigers were able to hold up against the barrage and use a three-point run to end the match.

Kansas State will be back in action on Wednesday, September 28 in Ahearn Field House. K-State welcomes the No. 23-ranked Texas Longhorns at 7 p.m. The match will be taped by Fox Sports Net Midwest for broadcast on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m.