COLUMBIA, Mo. – With the fall schedule coming to a close, No. 8-ranked Missouri Baptist Women's Volleyball couldn't have asked for a better outcome. The Spartans went out with a bang taking down conference rival Columbia College on the road in straight sets – 25-18, 25-19, 25-22.
 
Missouri Baptist has now gone nine straight matches and 28 frames without dropping a set. The last time the Spartans lost a set was on opening weekend during a 3-1 win against Viterbo (Wis.).
 
MBU's recent success against the No. 18 Cougars continued on Thursday as the Spartans left Southwell Complex with their third consecutive sweep of Columbia (10-3, 4-1 AMC). At 10-1, 6-0 AMC, Missouri Baptist is now in the driver seat of the AMC standings with three regular-season matches remaining in the spring, including Lyon (Ark.), Stephens (Mo.) and William Woods (Mo.).
 
Despite the Cougars holding an edge in kills (40-39) and digs (53-44), efficiency and an advantage at the net and service line is what put Missouri Baptist over the top.
 
Outside hitters Emma Lattimore and Isidora Stojovic accounted for four kills apiece in the opening set that saw the Spartans collect just 10 kills. MoBap also leaned on Ariana Macies' defense and serving prowess as the senior libero registered four digs and three service aces in the set. Meanwhile, Columbia's errors (8 attack, 3 reception) helped put the game out of reach in favor of the Spartans.
 
Set 2 was filled with runs by both teams beginning with MBU, who jumped out to a 5-1 start. Columbia got within one on two separate occasions, however, following a Chris Nichols timeout, the Spartans preceded to go on a 9-2 run with seven kills and a block in 11 rallies. The Cougars chipped away at the eight-point deficit, but it was too little, too late in MBU's 25-19 win.
 
With a sweep in sight, Missouri Baptist was able to weather the storm in a closely-contested third set. The Cougars led by as much as 3 in the earlygoing, but a clutch 10-2 run by the Spartans was the turning point. MBU closed out the match with a big kill from Isidora Stojovic, and a block by Stojovic and fellow senior Raylyn Dodd on back-to-back points.
 
Stojovic logged her sixth match this season without an attack error, finishing with 12 kills and a .429 hitting %. Sophomore Emma Lattimore had herself a night with a double-double including a career-high 13 kills and 12 digs.
 
Two-time AMC Setter of the Week Shannon McLain found her rhythm on Thursday recording a career-high 34 assists (11.33 a/s), 3 digs, 2 kills and a service ace. Ariana Macies led the team in both digs (16) and aces (3).
 
Columbia was led by 2019 First Team All-AMC Sidney Branson's match-best 14 kills and 11 from Jaqueline Silva, but the pair also made up 13 of the Cougars' 23 attack errors.