MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The No. 1-ranked Missouri Baptist women's volleyball team improved to 3-0 on the young season after earning a pair of quick sweeps on Friday at the St. Thomas University Volleyball Invitational. The Spartans rolled past (RV) Olivet Nazarene University in the morning match, 25-17, 25-11, 25-15, and capped off the day with a commanding 25-7, 25-21, 25-16 win over Florida National University.
The keys to Friday's victories were stout defense and dominant play in the opening set of each match. Between the two sweeps, Missouri Baptist averaged 15.5 kills in Set 1 with a blistering .461 hitting percentage. Defensively, the Spartans held Olivet Nazarene (2) and Florida National (1) to a negative hitting percentage in three sets.
Top-ranked Missouri Baptist will finish out its Florida trip and the STU Volleyball Invitational on Saturday morning the host Bobcats at 10 a.m. (CST).
(1) Missouri Baptist def (RV) Olivet Nazarene, 3-0 [25-17, 25-11, 25-15]
The Spartans made a major statement in the opening set against the Tigers, who were receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Hitting a match-best .520, opposite hitter
Giovanna Tapigliani and middle blocker
Raylyn Dodd combined for 13 kills.
MoBap shut down ONU in the second set limiting the Tigers to just four kills and a -.088 attack %. The Spartans scored the first five points of the set, but had an even more impressive finish with 10 straight points to claim the 25-11 set victory.
Despite a back-and-forth start to Set 3, the defending national champions made their move midway through the set with an 8-1 run.
Other notable stats:
(1) Missouri Baptist def. Florida National, 3-0 [25-7, 25-21, 25-16]
Still rolling from the Olivet Nazarene win, MBU made quick work of Florida National overpowering the Conquistadors, 25-7. In fact, the Spartans held FNU to just one kill in the set, which came in the second rally of the match. A 10-0 run at the start set the tone the rest of the way.
Playing just one set, 2020-21 AMC Player of the Year
Giovanna Tapigliani went off for 7 kills on 9 swings (.667) to go along with 4 blocks (2 S, 2 A). Libero
Ariana Macies also logged an impressive one-set stat line of 11 digs and 2 assists.
AVCA National Freshman of the Year
Sara Klunder led the way offensively with 12 kills, 4 digs and 3 more service aces to bring her season total to 10.
Other notable stats:
