Unlike earlier this season, Alabama volleyball fell to Missouri in five sets Wednesday night, 3-2, in a back-and-forth match until the final fifth set.
Alabama won the first set, making it all the way to 35 points. The Crimson Tide was trailing 24-20 to the Tigers, but was able to fight its way back and tie it up 24-24 after a kill by Emily Stebbins and multiple errors on Missouri’s side of the net. Brittany Thomas sealed the deal with a kill, ending set one 35-33.
The Tigers took set two, 25-20, then Alabama took set three, 28-26.
Going into set four, Alabama had a 2-1 set advantage, but Missouri forced Alabama into fifth set after ending set four with a 25-19 win.
When the two teams switched sides at the halfway mark in set five, Missouri was leading. Alabama trailed at 9-7, 12-8 and 13-9. Coach Ed Allen called a timeout, but it wasn’t enough. Missouri held the lead, allowing Alabama one more point, and finished the set, 15-10.
Alabama defeated the Tigers earlier this season at home in Foster Auditorium.
Krystal Rivers led Alabama with 30 kills, hitting 0.355. Brittany Thomas followed with 19 kills, hitting 0.268. At setter, Sierra Wilson had 65 assists, and at libero, Natalie Murison had 17 digs.
Alabama will come home, only to travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to face the Razorbacks on Sunday.