ST. LOUIS – Top-ranked Missouri Baptist Women's Volleyball recorded its seventh sweep of the season on Tuesday as it coasted to a 25-7, 25-17, 25-15 victory over Culver-Stockton College. The sweep boosted the Spartans to 5-0 at home on the year and represents the sixth win in a row following a pair of setbacks at the Viterbo University Invitational in August.
No. 1 MBU gave the Wildcats all sorts of trouble throughout the night, however, it was particularly noticeable in the opening set. The Spartans dominated Set 1 with a .478 hitting percentage while holding the visitors to a pedestrian 3 kills and 8 errors on 23 swings (-0.217%). The Spartans registered four of their six blocks in the opening set and were led offensively by none other than AMC & NAIA National Attacker of the Week
Giovanna Tapigliani. MoBap went on a 9-0 run to close out the set.
A slow start to the second set had the Spartans battling from behind briefly, but Culver-Stockton was unable to push farther than a one-point advantage. The Spartans quickly reclaimed the lead at 7-6 and never turned back. After four kills in Set 1, Tapigliani added six more in the second to finish with 10 on the night. The São Paulo, Brazil native hit a match-high .625.
Several Spartans entered the contest for the first time in Set 3 including sophomore setter
Shannon McLain, who finished with 15 assists, and an attack consisting of
Liz van Houwelingen,
Olivia Himmel, and
Carlee Wise. The trio combined for 13 kills in the third set led by van Houwelingen with five, and four apiece for Himmel and Wise. Defensively,
Tessa Schneider recorded a career-high 9 digs in just one set of action.
Other stat leaders on the night included AMC & NAIA National Setter of the Week
Manuela Vargas with a match-best 24 assists and match-best two service aces, AMC Defender of the Week
Ariana Macies with 12 digs, and
Raylyn Dodd with three blocks.
The Spartans were perfect in serve receive and held the Wildcats to a -.025 hitting percentage on the night.
Missouri Baptist will have a week off before returning to the court at Lincoln Christian University on Tuesday, Sept. 21. The Spartans defeated the Red Lions last week by a score of 25-7, 25-7, 25-11.
