SIOUX CITY, Iowa – [Box Score] [Game Highlights] After dropping the first set of the night, the Missouri Baptist women's volleyball team won the next three to defeat Indiana Wesleyan, 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-20, and 25-18). The victory moved the Spartans to 35-3 on the season and is the first win at the NAIA National Championship since 2006.

"It was great to start the trip with a win," said head coach Chris Nichols. "Many of these kids have been here before and have not picked up a win, so it was good to get one in the first match."

No. 6 Missouri Baptist hit .268 in the contest, while limiting Indiana Wesleyan to just a .140 attack percentage. The Spartans recorded three solo blocks and ten block assists in the match, and earned five service aces.

Junior Hannah Carey earned the Hampton Inn & Suites Star of the Match honors after leading MBU with 14 kills on 26 swings. She added two assists, one service ace, and five digs in the victory.

"Hannah really balanced our offense on the right side. She really opened up the middle and the outsides for us with a great night. She did a great job putting pressure on them with a great night from the service line."

Sophomore Mallory Dillon also recorded 14 kills over the four sets. She earned a double-double after adding ten digs.

Junior Ally Krus led the Spartans with 44 assists and added eight digs. The native of St. Louis also posted five kills on seven attempts, with just one error.

The first set did not start off well for the Spartans. Indiana Wesleyan built a 6-2 lead early, but Missouri Baptist stormed back to take a 9-8 lead, thanks to back-to-back aces from Taylor Cook.

The Wildcats answered with three straight points to take an 11-9 lead, a lead in which they would not give up. Mallory Dillon fired a kill to cut the deficit to 20-18, but Indiana Wesleyan ended the set on a 5-2 run to win, 25-20.

Our ball control wasn't where it needed to be and our nerves were high," said coach Nichols about the first set. "We did a great job of settling down the rest of the night."

MBU exploded for a 11-4 lead in set two, which set the tone. The Spartans later worked the lead to 16-8, Indiana Wesleyan roared back with four consecutive points to cut the deficit to 16-12. Dillon ended the Wildcat run with a kill, but Indiana Wesleyan stayed within striking distance.

After the Wildcats cut the MBU lead to 18-15, the Spartans outscored IWU 8-3 to end the set and pick up the victory, 25-18. That tied the match at one win apiece.

The third set was dominated by the Spartans, who never trailed. Missouri Baptist jumped out to an 11-8 lead, forcing the Wildcats to call a timeout. Ally Krus posted a kill out of the timeout, and Mallory Dillon fired a kill to give the Spartans its fourth consecutive point.

The Wildcats minimized the damage and would not allow the Spartans to make a major run, however the lead continued to grow. After Indiana Wesleyan called its final timeout with MBU leading 21-19, the Spartans ended the set on a 4-1 run, highlighted by a Pouliezos service ace.

In the fourth set, Missouri Baptist used a 5-0 run to take an early 11-5 lead. Over the next few points, every time the Wildcats picked up a point, the Spartans answered with multiple tallies. That helped the MBU lead grow to 20-13, but IWU began to make a comeback with a 5-2 run, forcing coach Nichols to call a timeout. Mallory Dillon earned two of the final three points on kills, which ended the match.

The victory sets up a match with Jamestown tomorrow night at 8:00 pm. The Spartans defeated the Jimmies in the first match of the season, 3-0, but a lot has changed since. Jamestown has won 20 out of the last 23 matches, including 10 of the last 11. No. 7 Northwestern swept No. 18 Jamestown earlier tonight.