ST. LOUIS – Despite playing shorthanded, the No. 6-ranked Missouri Baptist University men's volleyball team bounced back from a down weekend to sweep Culver-Stockton College at home Tuesday evening. The Spartans operated just fine without three key starters, defeating the Wildcats by scores of 25-19, 25-13, and 25-20.
 
MBU improved to 16-5, 9-3 HEART and remains in the No. 3 spot in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings. The midweek sweep provided the Spartans with a nice tune-up match before embarking on a formidable stretch that includes No. 2 William Penn and No. 4 Grand View at home followed by No. 13 Missouri Valley, Graceland and No. 9 Park (Mo.), all on the road.
 
Outside of Culver-Stockton's match-best 10 blocks, the Spartans held a distinct advantage in everything else including kills (44-19), hitting % (.364-.031), aces (8-3), and digs (26-15).
 
Missouri Baptist outside hitter Auston Bonte continued his remarkable run that has included kill totals of 19, 13, 23, 12, 16, and 17 on Tuesday. During the recent stretch, Bonte has averaged 5.26 kills per set and hit .380% After a slow start to the match, Bonte put on a clinic in the second set. In the Spartans' 25-13 Set Two win, Bonte went off for 10 kills on 11 swings (.909). He ended the night with 17 kills (.565%), two assists and two blocks.
 
Fellow outside hitter Michael Olson also found success against the Wildcats finishing with a career-high 13 kills on .500 hitting, six digs, two blocks, and a service ace. The Wildwood, Mo. sophomore led the Spartans in kills in both the first and third sets.
 
Stepping in at libero, freshman Noah Varga led all players with eight digs, chipped in three assists, and recorded one of the Spartans' eight service aces. Other notable performers included Milos Markovic with a match-best four aces to go along with six kills and four digs, and Gabe Norsigian with four kills on six swings (.500) and three block assists.