St. Louis, Mo. - Missouri Baptist University led at the beginning of each set on Wednesday, but was not able to pull off the upset over Columbia College, losing 20-25, 23-25, 30-28 and 18-25.
The Spartans started the first set well, taking a quick 2-0 lead, but failed to rattle the number three-ranked Cougars. Columbia College proceeded to open up a 13-8 point lead and maintained the lead throughout the set. MBU closed the gap to three, but Columbia again pulled away, winning 25-20.
The second set provided some of the evening's most exciting action. After taking a 15-11 led, the Cougars recovered. Columbia went on a 9-1 run, to take a 20-16 lead. MBU refused to go away. The Spartans came all the way back to cut the deficit to one and make it a 23-24 game with Lucy Ford serving. After an extended rally, Serena Jenkins placed a ball close to the line that was called in to give the Cougars the victory, 25-23.
Columbia College began the third set just as it did in the previous two…down. However, the early deficit did not faze them. The Cougars tied the Spartans at eight and did not let off the throttle. After a 12-12 tie, Columbia took a three-point lead, going up 16-13. The Spartans not only didn't quit, they got focused. The team tied Columbia at 24, as the lead went back and forth. MBU's incredible comeback was capped off on a positive note, as the team won a heart-stopping set 30-28.
Fueled by the momentum of the third set victory, MBU seemed confident, taking an 8-6 lead in the fourth set, but the set was far from over. Columbia rallied to take a 19-14 lead late. Despite the best efforts of the Spartans, the Cougars went on to take the final set 25-18.
Casey Chernin led the Spartan offense with 24 kills, while Lauren Stuckel recorded 41 assists. On the Columbia side, NAIA Volleyball Player of the Week, Paula Ferreira was the star of the game. The junior notched 58 assists in the victory. The Cougars Serena Jenkins, Nicole Murphy and Vesna Trivunovic combined for 46 kills in the match en route to the 4-1 victory.
