Sioux City, Iowa - The Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball team struggled early and never recovered in the first match of the NAIA National Championships, losing 0-3 to four-time defending national champion, Fresno Pacific.

From the outset, it looked like the Spartans were in for a tough match. After starting the first set down 13-4, the team rallied. Led by Molly DeClue's five kills and Lauren Stuckel's 13 assists, MBU found themselves down by only two, 22-20. The team would find out, however, that Fresno Pacific is as good as any team the Spartans have faced all season. The Sunbirds held on and closed out the first set, 25-22.

Though the Spartans started the second set differently, the outcome was still the same. Fresno Pacific looked confident and poised. Though tied early with Missouri Baptist, the team pulled away and at one point led 18-10. The more MBU tried to adjust, it seemed as if the four-time defending national champion was executing its game plan flawlessly, as the Sunbirds went on to win set two, 25-17.

The Spartans tried to change their fate in the third set, but again had difficulty suppressing the big Fresno offense. The teams were tied at five, but again, the Sunbirds broke free and put up a large lead. Though Missouri Baptist mounted a late comeback, it was not enough, dropping the final set 25-17.

MBU will be back at it tomorrow night at 5:45 p.m. against another top contender, University of Texas at Brownsville.