ST. LOUIS, Mo.-- The No. 2 ranked Missouri Baptist Spartans were back in action as they hosted conference opponent, Morningside College. The Spartans continued their winning ways with a 3-0 sweep (25-14, 25-16, 25-21), improving to 17-1 overall and 9-0 in conference.
 
Outside hitter Luka Cajic led the Spartans with 13 kills on a .423 hitting percentage, followed by junior outside hitter Steven Rodriguez with 11 kills and seven digs. Opposite hitter Jack Huizinga registered 10 kills to go along with six digs, and sophomore middle blocker Drew Iliff finished with seven kills on a .455 hitting percentage. Senior setter Kyle Foley dished out 36 assists to go along with four service aces, and junior libero Colton Inman picked up 14 digs.
 
Middle blockers Norsigian and Iliff got things going for the Spartans in the first set, registering three and two kills, respectively, to get the Spartans out to an early five-point lead. Tough serving from the Spartans kept the Mustangs from being able to gain any momentum, as Foley registered four service aces in the first set alone. Morningside attempted to make a comeback with a scoring run to bring themselves within 10 points (14-24), but a service ace from Rodriguez halted the comeback to close out the first set win for MBU, 25-14.
 
In the second set, the Spartans jumped out to an early lead, once again. However, tough serving from the Mustangs helped put them in the lead. From there, both teams began to trade points, forcing a timeout from the Spartans. Out of the timeout, kills from Cajic, Norsigian, and Rodriguez pushed the Spartans back in the lead, prompting a timeout from Morningside. MBU continued to extend their scoring run to 11-0 before the Mustangs were finally able to register a kill. Up 23-16, a kill from Rodriguez put the Spartans at set point before a kill from Iliff gave MBU the second set win, 25-16.
 
MBU continued to serve tough in the third set, getting out to a 13-8 lead. After a 5-0 scoring run from the Mustangs, the Spartans looked to Rodriguez and Huizinga to get the team back in the lead. More kills from Huizinga continued to push the Spartans to a 20-17 lead. Three consecutive points from Morningside tied the game at 20 apiece, but a kill from Iliff followed by Rodriguez pushed the Spartans ahead by two points, forcing a timeout from the Mustangs. Out of the timeout, two errors from Morningside combined with a Spartan block earned MBU the third set win, 25-21.
 
The Spartans have a week off before they compete again. Their next match has them hosting conference opponent Ottawa University on Tuesday, March 27. Game time is set for 6 pm inside the SRC.