Sioux City, Iowa – [BOX SCORE] The Missouri Baptist women's volleyball team notched their first win of the NAIA National Tournament and 100th win for Head Coach Chris Nichols against Ottawa (Kan.) at the Tyson Events Center on Tuesday.
Set one was a fight for control. With 10 ties in the set, it was the most contested set of the match. The Spartans grasped the momentum at the end with a 5-1 run to close out the first set 25-19.
The Spartans bested Ottawa with their highest percentage of the set at 0.308 compared to the 0.211 hitting percentage of the Braves.
MBU took an early lead in set two and maintained the lead through the majority of the set. The team kept Hannah Carey at the service line for five serves as Missouri Baptist went on another 5-1 run to take set two 25-16.
The Spartans held for a commanding set two as they kept the Braves to their lowest hitting percentage of the match (0.061).
The Braves came out in set three ready to fight and held the lead through the majority of the set. The Braves were at set point and the Spartans went on a 5-0 run to tie things up at 24. The teams matched each other point for point until Ottawa put the final nail in the coffin with a block from Caitlin Doran.
Ottawa recorded their highest number of kills in the set with 17. All the while Missouri Baptist recorded their lowest hitting percentage of the match at 0.135.
The Braves hung with the Spartans during the beginning of the set but the MBU created a scoring gap that Ottawa could not bridge as Missouri Baptist took the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
Head Coach Chris Nichols is in his third season of being the head coach of the women's volleyball team and recorded another milestone in his coaching career. This match notched the 100th win for Nichols.
Mallory Dillon led the team with 24 kills in the match.
Hannah Carey and Taylor Cook both notched double-doubles in the match. Carey recorded 16 kills and 19 digs as Cook recorded 14 kills and 13 digs.
Haley Pouliezos had an impressive game with 25 total digs and an average of 6.25.
Ally Krus fed the Spartan offense with 68 total assists for an outstanding average of 17 assists per set.
The Spartans will take the rest of the day off as they will rest up for the second pool play match against #15 College of Idaho at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
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