MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Fresh off back-to-back NAIA national championships, the No. 1-ranked Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball team kicked off the 2022 campaign with a straight-set victory over St. Thomas University. The newer-look Spartans, who graduated four All-Americans, turned to a group of seasoned vets and one key freshman for the 25-21, 25-22, 25-18 sweep on Thursday afternoon.
 
With the win, Missouri Baptist increased its current winning streak to 30 matches, an impressive run that commenced nearly 12 months ago on Aug. 28, 2021. It also marks the third year in a row that the Spartans have kicked off a new year with a 'W'.
 
No. 1 Missouri Baptist was challenged throughout the match by the Bobcats, who were picked to win the Sun Conference and are coming off a 20-win season and regular-season title in 2021. Neck-and-neck for much of the opening set, it was senior leader Emma Lattimore that the Spartans turned to for a spark. The 2021 All-AMC First Team selection was unstoppable offensively in Set One from both the pin and back row. Lattimore accounted for nine of the Spartans' 17 kills and helped fend off a late STU run to take the opening set, 25-21.
 
Neither squad hit particularly well in the second set with MBU holding a slight .191-.133 advantage on attack. The Spartans appeared to find some separation by building a seven-point lead at 20-13, however, St. Thomas had different plans. The host Bobcats clawed back to within two (24-22) before a key Emma Lattimore kill to close out the set.
 
Averaging 12.33 assists per set in the match, junior setter Shannon McLain continued to get middle blocker Sara Klunder and freshman opposite hitter Gabi Jakubowska involved as the two front-row hitters combined for nine kills in the third set. While STU stayed within reach all the way to the end in Sets 1 & 2, the Spartans maintained at least a five-point margin from the 14-9 point on.
 
The trio of Emma Lattimore, Gabi Jakubowska and Sara Klunder teamed up for 37 of MBU's 45 kills. Lattimore led the way with 15 kills, a .406 hitting percentage, and finished with a double-double as she also dug up 11 balls. In her first appearance as a Spartan, Jakubowska notched 12 kills to go along with nine digs. Klunder also reached double-digit kills with 10 kills and a .304 hitting clip.
 
Defensively, Maria Hanusik and Nathiellen Machado led the way with 13 and 12 digs, respectively.
 
On Friday, the Spartans continue the St. Thomas Volleyball Classic with a pair of matches against Webber International (Fla.) and Florida Memorial at 1:00 PM and 5:00 (EST). Both matches will be streamed via The Sun Digital Network.