SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the sixth time in program history, Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball has advanced to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Quarterfinals by sweeping No. 15-ranked Concordia University (Neb.) on Friday evening (Dec. 6).
 
The Spartans' Round of 16 opponent didn't make it easy on them, taking each set down to the wire. No. 4-ranked Missouri Baptist prevailed 25-23, 25-22, 25-23 ousting the Bulldogs from the single-elimination bracket.
 
One area of Concordia's game that the Spartans shut down was their top attacker coming into the Round of 16 match. CUNE's middle hitter Emmie Noyd was averaging 4.3 kills per set and hitting .402 before the match, but was limited to just 5 kills (1.6 k/s) and a .000 attack percentage.
 
Each set win had its highs and lows with the one constant being that the Spartans closed it out when the match was on the line. In Set 1, after Concordia went on a 4-0 run to even the match at 22-22, the Spartans fended them off with a key block from Caterina Cigarini and Katie Duncan and game-clinching kill from Cigarini.
 
MoBap appeared to be pulling away in the second set with a six-point advantage (13-7), but the Bulldogs quietly crept back and tied it on three separate occasions. Outside hitter Isidora Stojovic stepped up with back-to-back kills in the 25-22 Set 2 win.
 
With Set 3 tied at 22-all, Missouri Baptist secured their bid to the Quarterfinals behind three Giovanna Tapigliani kills in the match's last four points.
 
As a team, MBU hit .286 and held a 49-37 advantage in kills, 8-2 advantage in blocks and a slight 43-41 advantage in digs.
 
Individually, Stojovic and Cigarini registered double-digit kills with 13 and 12, respectively. Cigarini grabbed the Spartans' two service aces for the match and also had a match-high 5 blocks. Setter Morgan Berry was extremely efficient outing with her highest assist total in a 3-set match this year – 43 (14.33 a/s).
 
Up next for the Spartans is a quarterfinal matchup with Marian University (Ind.), who is making just their third-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championship.