COLUMBIA--The Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball team pushed their win streak to eight as they competed in the Hampton Inn Classic against No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan and The Master's University.
In their first matchup against Indiana Wesleyan, the Spartans got off to a slow start in set one, falling behind 10-18. After gaining some late momentum, the Spartans used a six-point scoring run to bring themselves to within four (17-21). Down 20-24, tough serving from Rachel Luebbers put the Spartan ahead 25-24, but it was not enough as the Spartans dropped set one 26-28.
The Spartans lead for a majority of the second set before errors began to plague them. Up 21-19, multiple errors from MBU tied the game at 25-25; but, two attacking errors gave Indiana Wesleyan the second set 26-28.
Down 0-2, the Spartans were determined to turn things around in the third set. Both teams traded points until two kills from Brilee Henson put the Spartans up 22-20. Kills from Rachel Luebbers and Mallory Moran put the Spartans at set point (24-23), before a service error earned MBU the third set win 25-23. The fourth set saw the Spartans struggle early-on as they would face a three-point deficit (14-17). Tough serving from Samantha Kurm gave the Spartan the lead 19-18, before more tough serving from Aubrey Wilson pushed the Spartans lead to 23-19. More kills from Maggie Sorensen and Sophia Cristiani sealed the fourth set win for the Spartans, 25-22.
In the fifth and decisive set, both team traded points to a 9-9 tied score, until errors from Indiana Wesleyan pushed the Spartans to a 12-10 lead. Henson earned a kill that was followed by a kill from Caterina Cigarini to give the Spartans the fifth and final set, 15-11.
In the first contest, Mallory Moran led the charge with 21 kills and 21 digs, while Ana Oliveira followed with 15 kills and 20 digs. Caterina Cigarini contributed 12 kills, and Rachel Luebbers picked up 17 digs. Setters Nicole Bott and Aubrey Wilson finished with 24 and 28 assists, respectively.
In their second contest of the day, the Spartans took on The Master's University. Carrying their momentum from the first game, MBU rolled to a 3-0 sweep. After jumping out to an early 20-12 lead in the first set, the Spartans cruised to a 25-16 set win. The Spartans struggled at the start of set two, falling behind 11-13. Rallying to tie the game at 22-22, a block from Cigarini followed by a service ace from Moran gave the Spartans the 25-23 second set win.
The third set saw the Spartans take an early lead and never look back. With a 20-12 lead, kills from Oliveira and errors from The Master's closed out the third and final set, 25-20. Moran once again led the Spartans with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Cigarini followed closely with 10 kills at a .471 hitting percentage. Maggie Sorensen contributed nine kills, and Bott and Wilson each finished with 15 and 17 assists, respectively.
The Spartans are back in action tomorrow as they close out the Hampton Inn Classic with matchups against MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) and Taylor University (Ind.).