SIOUX CITY, Iowa – No. 8-ranked Missouri Baptist University picked up its ninth sweep in 11 matches on Wednesday and did so on the big stage, defeating No. 17 University of Saint Katherine on the first day of Pool Play at the 2023 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship. The Spartans won 25-18 in the opening set, followed by 26-24 nailbiters in Sets 2 & 3.
MBU's Polish duo of
Gabi Jakubowska and
Maria Hanusik stole the limelight with half of the Spartans' kills against USK and all four service aces. Jakubowska led all players in kills (15) and hitting percentage (.345%) and paced the Spartans in blocks (1 S, 2 A) and aces (2). Hanusik was second on the team in kills (9) and pitched in 10 digs and two aces.
Both squads were strong out of the gates, but it was MoBap who stayed red-hot throughout the opening set. All seven starters – even libero
Kaylee Hanger – recorded a kill in Set One, led by Jakubowska (4), and
Kirsten van der Vleuten and
Emma Lattimore with three apiece. The Spartans hit .483 as a group in the 25-18 Set One victory.
Set Two was a rollercoaster ride. MBU ascended first with an 8-0 run with Lattimore at the service line to put the Spartans ahead, 12-4. Saint Katherine returned the favor, scoring the next nine points and giving the Firebirds their first lead of the set. Thankfully, the impressive service run by USK's Mackenzie Cumbie was cut short by a serve into the net. It was neck and neck moving forward and eventually put to rest by
Gabi Jakubowska, who delivered critical back-to-back kills when the game was tied 24-all.
MBU was tested again in Set Three as the Firebirds surged early, built up a four-point margin, and kept the Spartans at bay until a
Chris Nichols timeout at 19-16. The timeout served its purpose as
Tayler Neal came off the bench and provided a quick spark before Jakubowska took over the match. During a 7-1 run that gave MBU match point [24-21], the Katowice, Poland sophomore scored four straight points on three kills and a solo block and then back-to-back aces interrupted briefly by a
Sara Klunder kill. Klunder, battling through injury, sealed the deal with the final kill on a joust at the net with USK's 6-4 middle.
Setter
Maiana Coelho finished with 39 assists, a season-high for a three-setter, and added three kills and four digs to her final stat line. Libero
Kaylee Hanger was one of three Spartans with 10+ digs and led all players with 19.
Other notable performances included
Emma Lattimore with six kills and 11 digs,
Kirsten van der Vleuten with five kills and two blocks (1 S, 1 A), and
Sara Klunder with five kills and two block assists.
With a win on Wednesday, the Spartans improved to 27-6 overall and moved one step closer to punching their ticket to the tournament quarterfinals and single-elimination bracket. They will have the day off on Thursday while Vanguard and Saint Katherine – the No. 2 and 3 seeds of Pool H – meet in the 4 o'clock session. MBU returns to the court on Friday against No. 9-ranked Vanguard at 4 p.m.
