ST. LOUIS – The seventh-ranked Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball team continues to stockpile sweeps and recorded its 12
th straight-set win on Tuesday evening. The Spartans dismantled Hannibal-LaGrange University, defeating the visiting Trojans – 25-9, 25-11, 25-8.
MBU improved to 20-4 on the year and remains undefeated in conference at 7-0 with just two regular-season AMC matches left. The Spartans finish their conference slate on the road in Arkansas with matches at Williams Baptist and Central Baptist on Thursday (Nov. 2) and Friday (Nov. 3).
Although Hannibal scored the first points of Sets 1 and 2, Missouri Baptist seized the momentum early and ran away with each set.
Overall, the Spartans held HLGU to just nine kills on 81 swings for a -.074 attack percentage – the lowest out among MBU opponents this season. The Trojans struggled to produce points, recording just 11 on their own (9 kills, 1 block, 1 service ace) and relying on the minimal MBU errors for the rest (17).
It was a fruitful night for the Spartans, who registered a season-high hitting percentage (.384), the second-highest service ace total of the season (12), and the fewest reception errors (1). MoBap held a 44-9 advantage in kills, a 12-1 advantage in aces, a 6-1 advantage in blocks, and a 50-25 advantage in digs.
Leading the charge offensively for the Spartans was sophomore
Gabi Jakubowska. The opposite hitter from Katowice, Poland, notched a match-high 14 kills and a season-best .524 hitting %. Joining Jakubowska with double-digit kills was fellow sophomore
Tayler Neal, with 10 kills on .304 hitting.
Sara Klunder chipped in nine kills on 15 swings while adding three block assists and a career-high five digs. On the dig front, five-time reigning AMC Defender of the Week
Kaylee Hanger led all players with 15 digs.
Maria Hanusik also had 10+ digs, recording 12 digs, three aces, and three kills.
Making a big splash at the service line in Set Three was sophomore
Paige Glueck. Subbing in for
Maria Hanusik, Glueck took advantage of the opportunity and delivered a career-high four service aces in a six-point stretch. Her run at the service line was part of a more extensive 11-0 run near the end of the match.
The Spartans return to the court on Monday in Columbia, Mo., where they'll square off with a pair of Top 20 teams in No. 13 Columbia and No. 19 Central Methodist. This tri-match was initially scheduled for Sept. 13 but postponed to Oct. 30.
