SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Missouri Baptist women's volleyball was narrowly defeated in five sets on Thursday afternoon by Lindsey Wilson College, officially ending the Spartan's season at the 2012 NAIA National Championship Tournament.
MBU looked confident from the outset and began the match in front. The Spartans built a quick 5-2 lead before the Blue Raiders came back to tie the set at five all. From this point forward, the score was close. Though Missouri Baptist led for the majority of the game, Lindsey Wilson kept it within striking distance.
As the Spartans closed-in on the victory at 24-23, the Blue Raiders took the next two points and nearly stole the game away. MBU, however, rattled-off three consecutive points to finish the set 27-25.
The momentum completely shifted in the second set as Lindsey Wilson set the tone. After MBU posted three consecutive points to tie the set at three early, the Spartans fell behind again. The Blue Raiders regained their three-point lead 6-3, but MBU again tied the set at eight all. It was at this point that the game began to turn on its head as LWC went on an 11-4 run and built a 19-12 advantage.
Missouri Baptist refused to bow out and had a final burst of its own. The Spartans brought the game to within three, making it 18-21 and again at 21-24, but that is as close as it came as Lindsey Wilson took the second set 25-21.
The Spartans built off their late game rally as the third set began. Madeline Nesbit recorded two quick kills and a block to go along with a Hannah Carey ace to take a quick 5-2 lead. Things continued to fall the Spartans' way as the team built a 10-3 advantage before Lindsey Wilson head coach Andy Cavins used his first timeout.
When play resumed, the Blue Raiders looked to have renewed focus. Missouri Baptist's lead began to fade as the advantage went down to three, causing MBU Head Coach John Yehling to call a timeout. The teams traded quick points after the break, but it was the play of Taylor Cook that revived the team. Missouri Baptist finished the set on an 8-2 run after the timeout, capped-off with a Cassie Nesbit kill to take the third set 25-16.
The fourth set was a fight to the finish as both teams battled to take their first match of the tournament. MBU was down by as many as three, but looked to the freshman Cook to lead the team. The Spartans took the lead 13-12 but couldn't quite close. The Blue Raiders made a late charge to take a 20-17 lead and later took the set 25-22, forcing a decisive fifth set.
As the set began, Lindsey Wilson looked poised to take home a victory. At the break, the Blue Raiders led 8-6, but MBU came back. The Spartans tied the set at 10, but fell behind 14-10, needing a late comeback. The Spartans did just that, tying the set off four consecutive points, but that was where it ended. LWC finished off the match scoring the final two consecutive points to hand MBU its third loss of the tournament.
For Lindsey Wilson, Sarah Anderson led the attack with 15 kills and a .296 attack percentage. She was followed by Kailey Moorhead, who finished with 14 kills. As a team, the Blue Raiders finished with an attack percentage of .143 as opposed to MBU's .140.
Missouri Baptist was led by freshman Taylor Cook, who posted career-highs on the day in digs, kills and aces. She finished with 21 kills, 20 digs and three aces to lead all players. Fellow freshman Hannah Carey and junior Maddy Hammack also posted double-doubles on the day combining for 25 kills and 45 digs. Carey also recorded three aces on the day.
Though the Spartan season is officially over, the team turned heads in the tournament and will be a force for years to come with all starters due to return next season. MBU finished the season with a 34-6 record.
