Contributed by Travis Collard

Sports Information Assistant

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Missouri Baptist men's volleyball team captured an upset win on the road tonight against NCAA DII rival Lindenwood University in five sets (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 15-13). The Spartans had their best offensive match of the year hitting .357 as a team and held the Lions to only a .245 hitting percentage. 

Both teams battled back and forth in the first set with six total ties, but Lindenwood never lost the lead and would go on to win it 25-23. The second set was the exact opposite as MBU flew out of the gate with an ace by senior outside hitter Danny Traylor that gave the Spartans a 10-7 lead. MBU would not look back and even up the match at one set a piece winning 25-22.

The third set was all MBU as well. With some of the best offense of the year, the Spartans hit .571 as a team in the set. MBU capitalized on every mistake in the set as Lindenwood missed multiple serves and had numerous hitting errors. The Spartans would take the set 25-22.

In the fourth set, the Spartans came out firing away and built a six point lead early. With a couple mistakes and miscommunication the lead diminished and Lindenwood would take the set 25-20 forcing a fifth and deciding set.

The Spartans would rebound in the set with big kills from senior opposite hitter, Gustavo Cintron. MBU built a 12-7 lead and finished strong with a huge kill by junior middle blocker, Jordan Pinto, giving the Spartans a 15-13 victory in the set and the match.

NAIA setter of the week, Robert Esser, had 53 assists in the upset. Opposite hitter Gustavo Cintron had 22 kills and Danny Traylor added a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs.

With the win, MBU moves to 3-1 (2-0) on the year. The Spartans' next match will be next Tuesday, February 5^th when they take on Fontbonne University in the team's home opener in the SRC. First serve is scheduled at 7 p.m.