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The adjacent section of Missouri volleyball has already begun.
After introducing nan Dawn Sullivan era successful past week’s debut of First Serve, this week’s version shifts nan attraction to nan group responsible for penning its adjacent chapter. Every Monday, First Serve will research nan stories shaping Missouri volleyball, and nary whitethorn beryllium much important than nan players who will effort to return nan Tigers to NCAA Tournament contention.
The faces are some acquainted and new.
Missouri enters Sullivan’s 4th play pinch 1 of nan deepest roster transitions of her tenure. Gone are veterans Maya Sands and Janet DeMarrais, 2 players whose consistency helped elevate nan Tigers into an SEC contender. Middle blockers Regan Haith and Tyrah Ariail graduated aft anchoring Missouri’s beforehand line, while All-SEC setter Marina Crownover departed done nan transportation portal, leaving 1 of nan largest voids connected nan roster.
Replacing that accumulation will not autumn connected 1 player.
It will require astir everyone.
That process originates pinch a returning halfway that already understands Sullivan’s expectations.
Defensive specialists Zoey Matias Lopez and Kaylen Rush return aft seeing important action past season. Matias Lopez appeared successful each lucifer and averaged 2.65 digs per group while providing dependable service person and shot power passim nan season. Rush besides emerged arsenic a reliable protect action precocious successful nan year, giving Missouri different knowledgeable back-row subordinate tin of stabilizing agelong rallies.
Experience besides returns successful nan middle.
Maca Lobaglio softly developed into 1 of Missouri’s astir productive young front-row players during her freshman campaign. The Argentine mediate blocker averaged 1.27 kills and 0.72 blocks per group while producing respective businesslike violative performances during SEC play. Alongside her are returning mediate blockers Tia Phinezy and Grace O’Reilly, who now person an opportunity to compete for larger roles aft nan graduation of Haith and Ariail.
Outside hitter Nina Mandovic returns arsenic different knowledgeable option, while Sierra Dudley and Paige Felder supply further extent crossed nan roster.
Yet nan speech surrounding Missouri’s returning players inevitably circles backmost to 2 names.
Kimani Johnson.
Claire Morrissey.
If Missouri is searching for players tin of replacing nan violative accumulation near down by DeMarrais and Caylen Alexander, those 2 look positioned to person nan first opportunity.
Johnson has waited patiently for hers.
One of nan nation’s astir highly regarded recruits coming retired of precocious schoolhouse earlier opening her collegiate profession astatine East Tennessee State, Johnson flashed her imaginable passim past play contempt appearing successful only 16 matches. She averaged 1.76 kills per group while hitting an awesome .275 and delivered 1 of nan astir businesslike performances successful programme history during nan play opener, signaling 13 kills without an correction connected a .813 hitting percent against James Madison.
Her athleticism has ne'er been questioned.
Consistency and opportunity now go nan adjacent steps.
Morrissey’s way looks different but carries akin expectations.
The erstwhile top-three nationalist enlistee arrived astatine Missouri pinch 1 of nan strongest recruiting résumés successful programme history aft surpassing 1,000 profession kills astatine St. Joseph’s Academy and earning AVCA All-America honors. Playing clip came sparingly during her first 2 collegiate seasons arsenic she continued processing down knowledgeable veterans, but her talent has ne'er been successful doubt.
Now, nan opportunity is yet here.
With DeMarrais and Alexander gone, Missouri needs constituent scorers connected nan outside. Johnson and Morrissey person nan beingness devices to go precisely that.
The newcomers could make those transitions easier.
Missouri addressed 1 of its biggest offseason needs by adding seasoned libero Ainoah Cruz from Evansville. Cruz arrives aft collecting much than 1,300 profession digs crossed 3 collegiate seasons, bringing activity and acquisition to a backmost statement that mislaid important seasoned production.
In nan beforehand row, Lauren Larkin should beryllium Missouri’s champion summation successful nan class.
The Utah State transportation helped nan Aggies scope nan 2nd information of nan NCAA Tournament past play while starring nan squad pinch 100 blocks and hitting amended than .400. Her beingness instantly strengthens a mediate blocker group replacing 2 graduated starters.
Sullivan besides continued investing successful nan program’s future.
Turkish extracurricular hitter Ceylin Kuyan joins Missouri aft competing internationally pinch Turkey’s younker nationalist teams and bringing master acquisition uncommon for an incoming freshman. Illinois standout Maizy Agnello accelerated her presence by reclassifying into nan 2026 people aft destroying Prairie Ridge High School’s grounds book.
The freshman people besides includes Eva Smith from North Carolina, Piper Batie from Arkansas, Lydia Stahley from Indiana and Springfield autochthonal Millie Bauer, giving Missouri different activity of young talent expected to create wrong Sullivan’s system.
The roster looks different.
The situation remains nan same.
Missouri enters nan play looking to beryllium past year’s disappointment was an interruption alternatively than a regularity. The Tigers still person knowledgeable veterans, promising young talent and 1 of nan SEC’s respected coaching staffs.
Whether that operation returns Missouri to nan NCAA Tournament whitethorn yet dangle connected players who person spent nan past 2 seasons waiting for their opportunity.
For Johnson and Morrissey, that opportunity has arrived.
For nan Tigers, truthful has a play defined not by who departed, but by who is fresh to measurement forward.
Next Monday, First Serve returns pinch different characteristic exploring nan group and moments shaping Missouri volleyball. On Fridays, The Fifth Set continues nan speech by diving deeper into nan stories unfolding down nan scenes passim nan season.
