ST. LOUIS – It wasn't the prettiest of wins, however, No. 3-ranked Missouri Baptist Women's Volleyball picked up a sweep at home over Harris-Stowe State University on Monday to improve to 21-2, 7-0 AMC. The Spartans defeated the Hornets by set scores of 25-11, 25-16, 25-14 en route to their 17^th win in a row.
 
In a match where kills were harder to come by, MBU offset the slow offensive night with a season-high 15 service aces. The Spartans' 31 kills were the second fewest in a match this season and the lowest kill total in a win.
 
Set One, which had been MBU's Achilles heel the past two matches, gave MoBap the most trouble on Monday evening as well. With Giovanna Tapigliani and Raylyn Dodd combining for just one kill on 12 swings, the Spartans turned to outside hitters Isidora Stojovic and Maria Hanusik for five of the team's eight kills in the opening frame. Stojovic and Hanusik also contributed three of the Spartans' five service aces in the set. Withstanding a slow start, MBU did what it needed to defensively to take Set One, 25-11, holding the visitors to a -0.222 hitting percentage.
 
A uncharacteristic start to the second set had Missouri Baptist having to battle back from an early 4-0 deficit. The Spartans, who sport a .951 reception percentage on the year, yielded three consecutive aces to the Hornets with the fourth point in a row coming via a block by Darlene Fenderson and Queen Patterson. Missouri Baptist answered with three straight service aces by Natalie Edson for their first lead of the set. Following an 11-11 tie, the Spartans put together a nice 7-1 run to go up by five and ended the 25-16 set win with six of the last seven points. Middle blocker Raylyn Dodd bounced back with a team-best six kills in Set Two.
 
Like Dodd, Giovanna Tapigliani shook off the rust from the opening set when she re-entered the match in Set Three to hit a perfect 1.000 with five kills on five swings.
 
Sophomore setter Shannon McLain led the team in two separate categories including assists (15) and service aces (4), which was a new season high. Four other Spartans recorded multiple aces in the match including Edson (3), Ariana Macies (2), Tessa Schneider (2), and Stojovic (2).
 
Other stat leaders included Dodd with eight kills, Hanusik with eight digs, and Tapigliani and Kirsten van der Vleuten with three blocks apiece.
 
The Spartans will trek to 10^th-ranked Central Methodist University (24-6, 14-2 HEART) tomorrow with an opportunity to secure a fifth Top-25 win this season. First serve is set for 5 p.m.