MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Top-ranked Missouri Baptist University extended its winning streak to 32 matches on Friday with a pair of wins at the St. Thomas Volleyball Classic.
 
First-time opponent Webber International challenged the Spartans in the first match of the day, yet the Spartans still came out unscathed with a 25-21, 25-20, 27-25 sweep. In the 5:00 PM match, Florida Memorial stole the first set of the season from MoBap before the two-time defending national champs handily won the following three frames.
 
The Spartans bounced back with vengeance from the set loss to FMU rattling off 15 of the first 17 points in Set Two. MBU eventually defeated the Lions, 22-25, 25-10, 25-19, 25-16. One of the key areas that propelled Missouri Baptist past Florida Memorial was its aggressive work at the service line. The Spartans had a lion's share of service aces in the match with 12 to FMU's one.
 
Sara Klunder, the Spartans' lone returning All-American (2020-21), appears to be primed for a big year. The junior from Hudson, Iowa, has eclipsed 10+ kills in each of MBU's wins in Florida and led the team in kills in both of Friday's matches. Against Webber International, the 6-foot-3 middle blocker led the Spartans in nearly every statistical category besides digs with a team-high 13 kills, .476 attack %, four blocks, and three service aces. In the second match, Klunder paced MBU with 15 kills including six in the decisive third set.
 
Fellow middle blocker Kirsten van der Vleuten joined Klunder with a career-best 11 kills, no attack errors and a red-hot .611 hitting percentage.
 
Freshman setter Luiza Concalves, another fresh face on MBU's squad, made her collegiate debut against WIU and recorded 14 assists.
 
Missouri Baptist concludes the St. Thomas Volleyball Classic Saturday morning (10:00 AM ET) against Southeastern University (Fla.). The Fire were 21-14 a season ago and picked third in this year's The Sun Conference preseason poll.