ST. LOUIS, MO. – In their first match at home of the 2021 campaign, Missouri Baptist men's volleyball came out strong with a convincing sweep against the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy. The Spartans hit a combined .431 with 18 services aces to pick up their second conference win.
 
Miljan Kastratovic got the ball rolling for MBU early in set one, sending the Spartans on an 11-point scoring run where he picked up six service aces. UHSP picked up one more point, followed by a seven-point scoring run led by Stephen Menzel.
 
In all, the Spartans collected eight service aces and 11 kills in the 25-5 first set blowout.
 
Set two was more of the same early on, as Daniel Borsi sent the Spartans on a six-point scoring run where he collected two service aces. Strong performances from Will Merzweiler and Milos Markovic paved the rest of the way, taking set two 25-9.
 
After finding themselves down 12-5 early in set three, the Eutectics showed resolve to pull the set to within one after a 10-4 scoring run. Job Faber stopped any thoughts of a comeback with two straight kills that sent the Spartans on their way to a second sweep to begin the year.
 
Kastratovic led the team in aces on Tuesday evening, collecting six in his lone set. Faber and Borsi led the team in kills with seven and four, respectively.
 
Defensively, Matt Pike showed up with three digs as did Jason Harman, Gabe Norsigian, Will Merzweiler, and Kyle Merzweiler collecting two blocks each.
 
The Spartans hit the road for an Iowa trip that begins tomorrow night against (RV) Graceland University. The opening serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Lamoni, Iowa.