FULTON, Mo. – The No. 4-ranked Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball team kicked off its 2021 American Midwest Conference schedule with a convincing road sweep of William Woods on Thursday evening. MBU notched its eighth win in straight-set fashion and moved to 12-2 overall, while handing the Owls their third consecutive loss which dropped them to 11-7 and 0-1 in the AMC.
 
Even with William Woods effectively slowing down reigning AMC Attacker of the Week Giovanna Tapigliani to the tune of 6 kills and a .111 hitting percentage, the Spartans were able to turn to a different set of offensive weapons. MBU's other pin hitters – Emma Lattimore and Isidora Stojovic – took control in the match combining for half of the team's offensive production. Lattimore led all players with a match-best 14 kills and .538 hitting percentage and Stojovic added 13 kills on 26 swings (.385).
 
For the match, the Spartans hit .375 and recorded 45 kills towering over WWU's 29 kills and .090 attack percentage. MoBap steadily improved its efficiency each set going from .290 in Set 1 to .394 and .438 in the second and third sets.
 
Also contributing to the team's second-highest hitting percentage of the season was sophomore middle blocker Sara Klunder, who finished with 7 kills and 1 error on 12 attempts. The Hudson, Iowa native tied Tapigliani for the team lead in both service aces (2) and blocks (2).
 
The surehanded senior leadership from setter Manuela Vargas and libero Ariana Macies was on display at WWU's Anderson Arena with the former recording 39 assists, 7 digs, 2 kills, and 1 block, and the latter accounting for a match-high 15 digs and 3 assists.
 
The Spartans' busy week continues Friday at 3 p.m. with (RV) Ottawa University (Kan.) coming to town for a non-conference tilt. The matinee match will serve as an opportunity for MBU to avenge its 3-0 road loss against the Braves from this spring (March 22, 2021).