SIOUX CITY, Iowa ­– With a spot in the 2019 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship First Round already secure for both teams, Thursday's match between Missouri Baptist (2-0) and Grand View University (2-0) turned out to be more for bragging rights and the No. 1 spot in Pool D. Unfortunately, the No. 13-ranked Vikings avenged a loss from earlier this fall and handed the Spartans their first setback of the tournament. GVU won in four defeating Missouri Baptist, 25-20, 14-25, 25-18, 25-10.
 
This one appeared to have the makings of a repeat from the five-setter on September 6 at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports & Recreation Complex, however, after MBU evened the match at 1-all, Grand View took complete control of the match.
 
The two teams traded points for most of Set 1 with the latest tie coming at 19-all. Following the stalemate, Grand View flipped the switch and scored 6 of the last 7 points for a 25-20 win.
 
It took a set for the Spartans to find their groove, but once they did, they took off in a 25-14 triumph. Up by just two at the 9-7 mark, MBU went on a tear scoring in each of the next eight rallies with junior Katie Duncan at the service line. The Spartans benefited from Grand View's rare miscues in the match and the strong play of former Mineral Area College teammates Isidora Stojovic (4 kills, 1 block) and Raylyn Dodd (2 kills, 2 blocks) as well as Giovanna Tapigliani and Caterina Cigarini, who had three kills apiece in the set.
 
Down early in the third set, No. 4-ranked Missouri Baptist stayed within reach until a 7-1 run by the No. 2 seed in Pool D to extend the Vikings' lead to nine. The Spartans chipped away at the hefty deficit, but could only bring it within four. Grand View jumped ahead 2-1 in the match with a 25-18 set victory.
 
Grand View was virtually impossible to stop in the fourth set as the Vikings rattled off 18 kills on 29 swings for a red-hot hitting percentage of .621. GVU's top outside hitter Emily Box paced the Vikings with seven kills, which matched the Spartans' total as a team for the set.
 
Grand View was able to contain MBU middle blocker Caterina Cigarini, who was hitting .484 with 35 kills (4.37 k/s) through two matches. Cigarini finished the match with just 5 kills and 2 blocks. Leading the way for the Spartans was outside hitter Isidora Stojovic, who put down 11 kills on the evening. Opposite hitter Giovanna Tapigliani was one shy of reaching double figures in kills.
 
It was another busy night diving around the court for libero Ariana Macies, who recorded 26 digs (6.5 d/s). She was joined by setter Morgan Berry, who finished with 12 digs to go along with 33 assists. Kasia Kaiser was also a big contributor defensively with 8 digs.
 
With the loss, Missouri Baptist will become Pool D's No. 2 seed for the single-elimination bracket, drawing the new No. 1 seed from Pool C – Concordia University-Nebraska. That match will be played at 3:45 p.m. CT on Court 2. To view the official NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Bracket, click here.