ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Missouri Baptist showed the NAIA exactly why it has only lost one match this season on Friday night. The team, coming off a three-set loss to No. 3-ranked Columbia College on Wednesday powered past No. 12, Grand View University 3-1.
Missouri Baptist (24-1, 11-1 AMC) struck first blood in the opening set. Maddy Hammack slammed-home the first point to give her team a 1-0 lead. Grand View's Katie Subbert countered to tie the match at one, which was the first and only tie of the game. By the time the Vikings called their first timeout, the Spartans had built a 14-8 lead. Though Grand View briefly recovered, Missouri Baptist was too strong, going on to a 25-16 victory in the first set.
The Vikings came out like a different team in the second game. The team took a quick 4-0 lead and was up 8-3 before Missouri Baptist called its first timeout. After the break, the Spartan's woes continued as Grand View built a 13-8 lead.
Though MBU played well down the stretch, Grand View was able to finish. Led by the play of outside hitter Devon Jensen (6 kills, .308 attack %), the No. 12-ranked team took the second set 25-22, tying the match at 1-1.
In the third set, both teams came out firing early. After Missouri Baptist took a 7-5 lead, things started to fall into place for the home team. The Spartans amassed an 18-10 lead before the Vikings used their second timeout. The break seemed to be just what GVU needed, nearly erasing an 8-point deficit, but came just short as MBU took game three, 25-20.
Missouri Baptist looked to close-out the match in the fourth set, and started -off well enough, posting a 10-6 lead as Grand View used its first timeout. By the time it had used its second, the Spartans had taken an 18-12 lead, but the Vikings were not done. GVU came back to make it interesting yet again, but the Spartans were able to close, winning 25-19 and taking the match 3-1.
Kadie Subbert led the charge for the Vikings. The sophomore from Stanton, Iowa recorded 15 kills and .483 attack percentage. Missouri Baptist, on the other hand was led by Maddy Hammack (16 kills, 3 solo blocks) and Madeline Nesbit (11 kills, .474 attack percentage). Both Taylor Cook and Hannah Carey combined for 25 kills in the match.
With the win, Missouri Baptist improves to 24-1 and will play Graceland University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday on day two of the inaugural Spartan Invitational.
