Marshall, MO – The No. 2 Missouri Baptist University Spartans continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-20) sweep over No. 8 Missouri Valley College. The win moved the Spartans to a record of 4-0 and dropped the Missouri Valley Vikings to 0-1.
 
Outside hitter Luka Cajic led the Spartans with 10 kills, and opposite Jack Huizinga followed close behind with nine kills. The sophomore also put up three service aces and four digs. Freshman outside hitter Sam Clifford, and junior middle blocker Cameron Hibbler each finished the night with six kills, as well.
 
Senior setter Kyle Foley led the offensive effort for the team with 29 assists, six service aces, and four digs. Junior libero Colton Inman finished with eight digs.
 
The Spartans got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set, thanks to tough serving from Foley. The Vikings would come back, taking over the lead. However, errors from the Vikings proved costly as the Spartans would take back the lead, once again, by just two. Multiple Viking kills combined with errors from the Spartans tied the score at 23-23. After exchanging points back and forth, a block from Hibbler and Foley, followed by an error from the Vikings gave the first set to the Spartans 27-25.
 
Foley got the Spartans off to a hot start in the second set, serving four service aces to go along with kills from Cajic and Huizinga to take a quick 7-0 lead. After a bit of pushback from the Vikings, the Spartans gained possession, and never looked back. Huizinga served another ace with a kill from Hibbler, sealing the second set for the Spartans 25-19.
 
Going into the third set, the Spartans continued their momentum as Cajic led the Spartans offense. A successful service run from Huizinga sealed the deal for the Spartans, once and for all, as they took the third set 25-20.
 
The Spartans outhit the Vikings .237% to .165%. The key difference maker in the game was the nine service aces from the Spartans, compared to just five for the Vikings. The teams were even with five blocks apiece.
 
The Spartans return to action Thursday, January 25. Coach Yehling and the squad will travel to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the Molten Invitational at Grand View University. Their first opponent will be the Wolves of Cardinal-Stritch University. First serve is set for 4:30 pm.