ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist University Women's Volleyball finished off a perfect weekend of action against some of the NAIA's elite programs with a clean sweep of Midland University on Saturday. The hosts of the 2019 Spartan Invitational defeated the preseason No. 8 Midland Warriors by a score of 25-19, 25-19, 25-18.
 
The stiff competition doesn't stop there for the Spartans as they will host another group of Top 10 teams next weekend at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports & Recreation Complex. On Friday, Sept. 6, No. 2 Columbia (Mo.), No. 3 Grand View (Iowa) and Tabor College will come to town for the one-day MBU Fall Invite. Missouri Baptist will square off with Tabor at 11:30 a.m. followed by No. 3 Grand View at 7 p.m.
 
Midland and Missouri Baptist duked it out for a large portion of Set 1, but it was the Spartans who took control late. With the set tied at 18-18, MBU caught fire. Junior outside hitter Isidora Stojovic notched 3 kills to go along, Caterina Cigarini and Katie Duncan each had one apiece and Morgan Berry served up an ace to take seven of the last eight points in a 25-19 opening set win.
 
In the second set, the Spartans gradually increased their lead midway through and kept Midland from making any runs. Missouri Baptist went up two sets to none with another 25-19 win in Set 2. The Spartans registered their highest hitting percentage of the match in Set 2 with a .324 clip against the No. 8 Warriors.
 
A slow start to the third set forced MBU to battle from behind for a short period of time. Down 5-2, the Spartans evened it at 6-6 and took the lead for good on the next rally. The fourth-ranked Spartans came to play defensively in the final set registering four blocks and making several plays on the back line.
 
With the 3-0 sweep, Missouri Baptist stretched its current winning streak to nine matches. The Spartans hit .303 for the match and held a 45-29 advantage in kills over the Warriors.
 
Individually, head coach Chris Nichols had several players who stepped offensively with four recording 9+ kills. Isidora Stojovic led the charge with a match-high 11 kills, followed by Giovanna Tapigliani with 10, and Caterina Cigarini and Katie Duncan with 9 apiece. Sophomore setter Morgan Berry put up a hefty 12.0 assists/set to go along with a team-best 12 digs and team-best 3 service aces. Other statistical leaders included Cigarini with 3 blocks (2 solo, 1 assist) and Marina Sanches with a .600 attack percentage.