Mychael Vernon is setting the standard for the Missouri Tigers volleyball program
Mizzou volleyball outside hitter Mychael Vernon began playing the sport when she was 10 years old, after watching her older sister play in club tournaments.
“Whenever I’d go to her games, I’d always grab a volleyball — and my mom would toss me balls — and I’d also hit after her practices,” Vernon said. “So, (my sister) inspired me initially to start playing.”
In just her first season in the black and gold — after transferring from Oregon State — the graduate student set a program record of 37 kills in a single game in Friday’s 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-15) victory against Arkansas.
Vernon’s transition from the Pac-12 to the Southeastern Conference has challenged her with more aggressive play that she describes as “physical” and “rough,” which has caused her to step up in big moments and “not play scared.”
Leading the SEC with 1,090 total kills, the Tigers are fueled by Vernon, who holds the second-highest kill count in the conference (323). Missouri’s right-side hitter Jordan Iliff ranks sixth in the SEC with 289 kills and cites Vernon’s competitiveness as a motivating factor for team-wide improvement.
“Every single day, (Vernon) comes into practice and gives us a run for our money,” Iliff said. “She’s really hard to block and she’s hard to hit around as well, so it’s fun to compete with her and watch her succeed. It makes all of us want to play at her level.”
Through communication with teammates during games and team huddles, Vernon has built more confidence in herself as a player. She credits her teammates and coaches for helping her believe in her abilities.
“One of the main reasons why I came here is the coaches and teammates,” Vernon said. “Everyone is really welcoming, and they put me in an environment where I feel like I can be myself. And I feel like that’s so important when you’re playing sports — just being able to feel like you can be authentically you and have no judgment while just being able to just do what you do without thinking twice on it.”
Vernon has played every minute of each match this season, averaging 4.36 kills per set. On the defensive end, Vernon has 190 digs and 36 block assists.
Missouri coach Dawn Sullivan has built a system that prioritizes getting the ball to hitters like Vernon.
“You watch her play, and she’s just an incredible athlete that can take a lot of the court with her block and allows us some freedom with everybody else,” Sullivan said. “Whether it’s just staying in the middle or outside, we can leave her one-on-one and she’s able to just take so much space. She’s just in the air and really pressing.”
After setting program records with her career-best 37 kills and 38 points against Arkansas, Vernon aims to maintain her high level of play “to benefit the future of the program.”
On Sept. 30, she was recognized as both SEC Player of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week.
Going forward, Vernon is determined to collect more SEC weekly awards.
“I have a lot more shots in my arsenal now that I use during games and practices,” Vernon said. “I also give more vocally, just because of the team and how close we are.”
Vernon plans on attending dental school to become an orthodontist, but she acknowledges that playing professional volleyball could be a potential option.
For now, the graduate student is focused on helping the Tigers get to the top of the SEC and make the NCAA Tournament.
Reflecting on her journey from watching her sister play volleyball to now competing at Mizzou, Vernon shared some advice for her younger self and other aspiring volleyball players.
“Just don’t be so hard on yourself,” Vernon said. “I think I’m still working on that now. I’m very hard on myself and my worst critic, but I think (it’s good to give) yourself grace because volleyball is a game of mistakes. That’s the only way you score, if someone makes a mistake.”
Vernon and the Tigers (15-5, 6-2 SEC) look to extend their six-game winning streak when they travel to face No. 9 Texas (12-4, 7-1) at 8 p.m. Friday at Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Texas. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Copyright 2024 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 5:15 AM with the headline "Mychael Vernon is setting the standard for the Missouri Tigers volleyball program."