Die Macht » Matt Suckling and Marcus Adams missed the clash with Essendon

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- No. 18 Mizzou Volleyball (26-5) advanced to the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament on Thursday, sweeping Northern Illinois (25-16, 25-13, 25-20) in straight sets. The Tigers outstanding .404 team hitting percentage tonight marked the programs second-highest hitting output in NCAA Tournament history. Mizzous top NCAA hitting performance (.505) occurred on Dec. 3, 2005, against Arkansas in Mid-Missouri.The Tigers offense was clicking from the get-go, as junior Courtney Eckenrode (The Woodlands, Texas) turned in a stellar performance at setter. Eckenrode finished with 38 assists, while four Tigers recorded six-plus kills on the evening. Mizzous attack against the Huskies marked its fifth .400-plus team hitting percentage this season.Redshirt junior Melanie Crow (Wildwood, Mo.) was fantastic as an all-around player Thursday, recording a team-high 17 kills on .351 hitting and four service aces. Crows 17 strikes marked her most kills in a three-set match this season. Additionally, it marked her fifth match with four-plus aces this year. Crow now sits with 47 total aces in her junior campaign, ranking T-7th-most in a single season in program history.Senior Carly Kan (Honolulu) produced her team-leading 13th double-double this season with 10 kills on .280 hitting plus 14 digs. It marked Kans third career double-double in NCAA Tournament action and the 28th all-time double-double by a Tiger in NCAA postseason play.Senior Emily Thater (Springfield, Mo.), sophomore Alyssa Munlyn (Suwanee, Ga.) and redshirt junior Kira Larson (Fargo, N.D.) rounded up Mizzous impressive offensive display. Thater tallied five kills on .556 hitting, Munlyn posted six kills on .500 hitting and Larson recorded eight kills on .438 hitting.Mizzou earned its 26th overall victory this season with its triumph against Northern Illinois, placing T-6th most wins in a single season in program history. 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The Western Bulldogs are upbeat stand-in skipper Easton Wood will return from injury this year, but its likely to depend on how far they progress in the AFL finals.The Bulldogs luckless season continued on Sunday when Wood hurt his ankle in their 40-point win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium.Wood, who has captained the club and marshalled their defence in the absence of injured veteran Bob Murphy, grimaced with pain after flying for a loose ball and landing on his left leg.The 26-year-old was sent to hospital for scans and is the latest player on a long list of injury concerns for coach Luke Beveridge.Well know a bit more tomorrow, I dont think hes too flash, Beveridge said of Wood, who was on crutches after the blow.Hopefully its not too bad and even if we lose him for a week or two, hopefully we can go a bit deeper and he might be able to rejoin us.The Bulldogs re-focused after the third-quarter setback to triumph 14.9 (93) to 7.11 (53).Beveridge flashed a look of disbelief following the incident and comforted players on the bench at three-quarter time.Murphy, Dale Morris, Matt Suckling and Marcus Adams missed the clash with Essendon because of injuries, which stretched the Bulldogs inexperienced defence.I did have a bit of a not again moment, Beveridge said.But we should get Dale (Morris) back for the Fremantle game, (Suckling) might be a chance.Ive said time and time again (after each injjury), you just have to give all our players credit for coming and playing critical roles.ddddddddddddThe Bulldogs were ahead by 30 points at quarter time and never lost their lead, although pressure from the Bombers ensured the margin never blew out.Beveridges side banked their 15th win of the season but remain in a tight race to host a final.The seventh-placed Bulldogs will only clamber up the ladder if they defeat Fremantle in the final game of the regular season - and West Coast, Greater Western Sydney or Hawthorn lose.If the Eagles, GWS and Hawks go down then the Bulldogs could sneak into the top four.How do we finish top four? I havent really done the numbers, Beveridge said.Whether thats a reach or not, I dont know. Who knows, stranger things have happened.Essendon midfielder Adam Cooney, who announced his retirement last week, celebrated his 250th game with a second-quarter goal and was applauded by the entire crowd.Cooney was chaired off the field and given a guard of honour by the two clubs he represented.Worsfold praised Cooney and his squad for how hard theyve worked this season in the absence of 12 banned players.People have acknowledged that Essendon havent been easy to play against, Worsfold said. Thats about what I would have expected or hoped for. ' ' '