ST. LOUIS- [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist Women's Volleyball battled Columbia College in the AMC Semifinals on Friday night and dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker (25-22, 17-25, 25-21, 22-25, 12-15). 

In the next chapter of a fierce rivalry between the 2015 National Champion Cougars and the runner-up Spartans, it was Missouri Baptist that stormed out of the gates in this one. Four straight Columbia attack errors to start the match had MBU out to an early lead.

The Cougars chipped away and eventually evened the set at 19-19. That's when the Spartans star middle blocker, Tina Medanovic, caught fire. The junior hammered home three consecutive kills and then forced another CC attack error to claim the set for the home team.

Set two was not as kind to the Spartans. Ahead 10-9 midway through, the Cougars upped their game and pulled away for a 25-17 win to even the match at one.

The back and forth continued as Missouri Baptist grabbed set three and Columbia took the fourth to force a decisive fifth. The Spartans had the Cougars on the ropes at 10-6 in the final stanza. However, after a timeout, the three seed Columbia went on a 9-2 run to steal the set 15-12 and the match 3-2. They will meet Park University in the AMC Championship on Saturday at 5 pm.

Three Spartans recorded double digit kills in the match, led by Mallory Dillon with 17. Tina Medanovic notched 15, while Marion Couraud posted 10.

MBU had five in double-digits digs. Natalie Gremaud was solid with 16 to lead the Spartans. Dillon and Couraud capped off double-doubles with 15 and 13, respectively.

Cate Cigarini was a force to be reckoned with at the net. The AMC Freshman of the Year registered three solo blocks and four block assists. 

For the Spartans, the next stop will most likely be the NAIA National Championship. Missouri Baptist is currently ranked No. 13, but the final poll will be released on November 14. The Top 20 in the final poll advance straight to the National Invitational in Sioux City, Iowa on December 1.