SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the second straight year, Missouri Baptist is coming home from the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship earlier than usual. On Friday, the Spartans were swept by No. 10-ranked Vanguard, the No. 2 seed in Pool H, by scores of 25-20, 25-22, 25-22.
 
With a 2-0 record in Pool H, the Lions from Costa Mesa, California punched their ticket into the Quarterfinals, while the Spartans were bounced from the tournament in Pool Play for just the second time in 10 seasons. MoBap finishes the 2023 season at 27-7 overall with six of its seven losses coming to Top 25 opponents and the other coming to NCAA Division II Maryville University.
 
Statistically speaking, the Spartans weren't too far off from Vanguard as the Lions held a slight edge in kills (38-36), aces (6-5), but in a match that was closely contested, the smallest of details mattered. The Lion defense made all the difference with a 56-47 advantage in digs and 10-6 advantage blocking. VU made life difficult on MBU's attackers and held the Spartans to a season-low .105 hitting percentage.
 
Missouri Baptist started off the first and third frames with a brief lead, however, Vanguard erased the deficits by the 10-point mark in each set and forced the Spartans to play from behind most of the afternoon.
 
Sophomore opposite hitter Gabi Jakubowska, who was one of the stars in MBU's sweep of No. 17 Saint Katherine on Wednesday, led the Spartans in kills (9) against Vanguard but failed to reach double digits for the first time in 12 matches.
 
Senior middle blocker Sara Klunder was the most efficient Spartan hitting .222% with eight kills on 18 swings. Joining her hitting in the .200s was sophomore outside Tayler Neal (6 kills, .214%) and senior opposite hitter Liz van Houwelingen (2 kills, .222%).
 
Stat leaders on Friday included Maria Hanusik with 12 digs, Emma Lattimore with two service aces, and Kirsten van der Vleuten with five blocks. Other notable stat lines included 11 digs for libero Kaylee Hanger and 14 assists for Sidney Hogan coming off the bench to set.