DES MOINES, Iowa – Miljan Kastratovic and Luka Cajic were named to the All-Tournament Team on Saturday afternoon after leading the Spartans to two key victories and an undefeated tournament. MBU took down (9) Aquinas College in five sets and (RV) Briar Cliff in four sets to push their current winning streak to eight games.
 
Set one against Aquinas in the redemption match did not go as the Spartans had planned. Missouri Baptist held a 20-19 lead after a Gabe Norsigian kill but went on to drop the set 26-24.
 
The men woke up in the second set, going on an early 6-1 run to give them a 10-4 lead. Jason Harman and Miljan Kastratovic kept the offense rolling to a 25-14 second set blowout victory.
 
The 25-21 victory in the third set was led once again by Kastratovic hitting .714. Luka Cajic also had five kills and Harman brought the defense with five digs.
 
A 25-21 defeat in set four sent things to the shortened fifth set. It looked bleak for the Spartans as they trailed 11-7 to start the extra frame.
 
The two teams exchanged points and propelled Aquinas to a 14-11 lead, one point away from a victory. Determined to return the favor from last year's NAIA National Semifinals loss, Missouri Baptist collected themselves and took the next four points on clutch kills from Cajic and a service ace by Stephen Menzel.
 
Aquinas tied the match back up with a point, but block assists by Cajic, Norsigian, and Kastratovic gave the Spartans the next two points and a match victory.
 
Against Briar Cliff, the men continued their momentum in the first set. MBU rode 14 kills, 12 digs, and eight service aces to a 25-16 thrashing of the Chargers.
 
The second set did not have an ideal start for the Spartans after falling behind 14-11. In typical program fashion, the team went on a 14-4 run to end the second set.
 
The second sweep of the Grand View Tournament slipped through their hands in the third set after the Chargers stormed back to a 25-20 victory.
 
Five more service aces carried the Spartans to a tightly contested fourth set victory and their second undefeated tournament appearance in as many weekends.
 
"We had a solid weekend," said head coach Tom Young. "We still need to become more consistent with our play, but I definitely like the high level that we showed we can play."
 
Missouri Baptist men's volleyball will look to continue their current eight-game winning streak at home this Tuesday against Missouri Valley College. The opening serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.