Upset of the Week: Missouri Claims Top Spot in SEC With Defeat of Kentucky

The Missouri women's volleyball team staked its claim on the top spot in the SEC with a five-set victory over Kentucky.

Oct 24, 2016 by Megan Kaplon

Upset of the Week: Missouri Claims Top Spot in SEC With Defeat of Kentucky

Before Sunday's match between Kentucky and Missouri, the two schools were tied for No. 1 in the SEC standings.

Then-No. 11 Kentucky had already proved itself with a huge upset of Florida earlier in the season, but Missouri had yet to be tested by other top teams in the conference. Nevertheless, it was Mizzou, playing at home, which came out with a victory at the end of five hard-fought sets.

It's certainly a match we need to learn from to keep getting better.

Missouri won the first two sets, and Kentucky took the third and fourth. In the fifth set, the Tigers led 8-2 at the switch and claimed their first match point 14-10. Kentucky clawed its way back to 14-12, but Missouri won the final point by challenging that the Wildcats were in the net on a block.

"It's certainly a match we need to learn from to keep getting better," Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner said.

Senior middle blocker for Missouri Emily Thater bested or tied three of her personal bests with 14 kills hitting .524, along with three solo blocks and six total blocks. Senior outside Carly Kan led her team with 17 kills and 17 digs, her eighth double-double of the 2016 season. Kan now ranks third all-time at Missouri with 1,527 kills.

The Tigers now top the SEC with a 9-0 conference record, while Kentucky is second at 9-1, just ahead of the 8-1 Florida Gators.