FREMONT, Neb. – The first match of the day at the 2020 Warrior Invitational didn't go as planned for the Missouri Baptist women's volleyball team (0-1), who won Sets 1 and 3, but dropped the deciding fifth set to (RV) Midland University, 15-11. It marks the second time in three seasons that the Spartans have opened the year with a loss to Midland.
 
Set 1 had its highs and its lows including MBU scoring the first five points out of the gate, a strong blocking presence, a back-and-forth battle in the middle of the set, and the last four points to the Spartans. MBU snagged a 25-21 win to open the season.
 
The second set was a forgettable one as Midland cruised to a 25-12 win, while holding the Spartans to five kills on 27 attempts and a -.037 hitting percentage.
 
MoBap regained its composure in Set 3 and did so in a big way. Hitting a match-high .444, the Spartans relied on a strong attack from the senior trio of Giovanna Tapigliani (5 kills), Isidora Stojovic (4) and Raylyn Dodd (3) along with a pair of service aces from senior libero Ariana Macies.
 
The Spartans had plenty of chances to put the match away in Set 4 and the tiebreaker, however, the home team changed the tied in each set with big stretches. Down 18-17 in the fourth, Midland put together a 6-0 run and withstood a late rally by the Spartans to claim the set, 25-22. In the fifth set, the Warriors used a 6-1 stretch and a 6-2 run to end the match.
 
For the match, MBU hit .161 and led the match in blocks (10) and digs (60). Pacing the Spartans offensively were Isidora Stojovic and Giovanna Tapigliani with 12 kills apiece and middle blocker Sara Klunder with 7 in her collegiate debut. The freshman middle from Hudson, Iowa had a team- and match-high 6 blocks. Ariana Macies recorded a match-best 3 service aces and 21 digs.
 
The Spartans will wrap up their quick trip to Nebraska with a marquee matchup against 2019 NAIA National semifinalist and No. 3-ranked Viterbo (Wis.) around 3 p.m.