SHAWNEE, Kan. – The 10^th-ranked Missouri Baptist women's beach volleyball team had a successful trip to Kansas on Wednesday finishing the Ottawa University Beach Volleyball Tournament with a 3-1 record including a win over No. 6-ranked Park University (Mo.).
 
After an 0-4 start to the season, Missouri Baptist has now rattled off six wins in their last nine matches. The Spartans are now just one game outside of .500 at 6-7 overall.
 
Maria Hanusik and Calista Morais went a perfect 4-0 for the tournament winning at No. 2 doubles – 21-19, 21-27 – in the Spartans' 3-2 win over sixth-ranked Park, before winning three consecutive matches at No. 3s. Hanusik and Morais' win against NCAA DII pair Jazlin Dencan and Rachel Walker of Wayne State College (Neb.).
 
The Brazilian duo of Nathiellen Machado and Giovanna Tapigliani secured three wins on the day including a three-set thriller [23-21, 11-21, 15-9] over Patricia Carrio Ubeda and Carla Pons Sales of Park, another three-set victory that was key in the win over Ottawa, and a 21-19, 21-15 over a familiar foe in former Spartan setter Nicole Bott, who transferred to Oklahoma Wesleyan in 2020.
 
At No. 5 doubles, freshmen Natalie Edson and Marina Obradovic bounced back from early losses to go 2-2 with wins over Ottawa and Oklahoma Wesleyan.
 
Kaili Smith and Kirsten van der Vleuten only won their first match of the day, but made it count, helping put the Spartans over the top in the 3-2 rout of Park. Smith and van der Vleuten defeated Park's Mafalda Bavon and Laura Danezzi, 21-18, 15-21, 15-11.
 
Missouri Baptist will take the trip down I-44 for a pair of duals with NCAA DI Missouri State University on Friday. The 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. matches will be played in Ozark, Mo. at Volleyball Beach Ozark.