MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – No. 1-ranked Missouri Baptist University Women's Volleyball was the superior team on Saturday as it finished an unblemished weekend at the St. Thomas Classic sweeping Southeastern University (Fla.), 25-14, 25-10, 25-20. The Spartans delivered one of their best all-around performances of the tournament registering season highs in kills per set, hitting percentage, digs, and blocks.
 
Missouri Baptist outperformed the Fire in all areas including lopsided advantages in kills (47-20), hitting % (.353-.020), digs (60-40), and service aces (7-3), and a slim margin in blocks (8-6).
 
The win moves MBU to 4-0 on the young season with its toughest stretch of the schedule on the horizon. This Thursday and Friday, the Spartans welcome No. 5 Midland (Neb.), No. 9 Viterbo (Wis.) and (RV) Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) to the SRC for the Spartan Invitational.
 
Although the opening set was deadlocked at 10-all, MoBap used two monster runs to run away with a 25-14 win. The Spartans scored the last seven points of the set which consisted of three Maria Hanusik service aces.
 
The momentum carried over into the second stanza as Missouri Baptist jumped out to a quick 12-3 lead. The second set was never in doubt for the top-ranked Spartans as they went off for 18 kills and a match-high .438 attack percentage while the Fire were ice cold in the set hitting for a -.103 clip and just three kills.
 
SEU kept it closer in the third but didn't have an answer for MoBap's attack surrendering 15 more kills to the Spartans in the 25-20 final set.
 
For the third match in a row, junior middle blocker Sara Klunder led the way for Missouri Baptist. Klunder finished with a match-best 12 kills, .476 hitting percentage and five blocks, three of which were solo. Fellow junior Shannon McLain directed the offense to the 25-14, 25-10 wins in Sets 1 & 2 averaging 13 assists per set to go along with six digs.
 
Freshman Gabi Jakubowska and senior Emma Lattimore both reached double-digit kills in the match with 11 and 10, respectively. Lattimore recorded her third double-double in four matches with 10 kills and 10 digs.
 
Lattimore, Hanusik, and Machado, held down the fort defensively with a combined 39 digs. Other notable performances included Carlee Wise (6 K, .500, 3 B), Nathiellen Machado (14 D, 3 A, 2 SA), Luiza Goncalves (15 A), and Liz van Houwelingen (3 K).