WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The No. 8-ranked Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball team hit the ground running this weekend in Florida and will return home as a winner of five straight. Following an exhilarating five-set victory at (RV) St. Thomas University, the Spartans churned out four more wins on Friday and Saturday at the Vipers Sports Academy Classic hosted by Keiser University.
With a perfect record in the Sunshine State, Missouri Baptist starts the season 5-0 for the second straight year. The Spartans will take the unblemished record into their home opener on Tuesday against NCAA DIII WashU before entering a lengthy stretch on the road. Two days later, No. 8 MBU will square off in one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year with matches against No. 9 Midland, No. 7 Viterbo, and No. 2 Corban.
(8) Missouri Baptist def. (RV) Campbellsville, 3-1 [25-20, 27-25, 19-25, 25-21]
MBU and Campbellsville were evenly matched throughout, with the Spartans holding a slight advantage in kills (48-47), aces (12-9), and digs (52-46), while both squads registered eight blocks apiece. Ultimately, it came down to the team with the fewest errors and better efficiency: Missouri Baptist.
The Spartans established a 2-0 lead in the match following a valiant comeback in Set Two. MoBap avoided four Campbellsville set-point opportunities and snagged the 27-25 win to create some distance from the Tigers, who eventually took Set Three.
Much like the Spartans' season-opening win over (RV) St. Thomas, middle blocker
Sara Klunder and opposite hitter
Gabi Jakubowska led MBU's attack. Klunder posted 14 kills, three blocks, and a team-best .545 hitting %, and Jakubowska added 12 kills, three blocks, and a .250 hitting %.
Additional standouts included double-digit digs and four service aces apiece for
Luiza Arsufi,
Emma Lattimore, and
Maria Hanusik. The trio combined for 33 digs and all 12 of the Spartans' aces. Setter
Maiana Coelho finished with 39 assists and seven digs.
(8) Missouri Baptist def. Ave Maria, 3-1 [25-12, 22-25, 25-13, 25-17]
The Spartans put on a display to begin their second match of Friday against Ave Maria. No. 8 MBU coasted in Set One with a match-high 18 kills and a .452 hitting clip.
Although MoBap opened Set Two with a 6-1 run, the Gyrenes disrupted MBU's offense and held the Spartans to a match-low .108% and 10 attack errors. Seizing momentum at the midway point, Ave Maria closed the set on a 6-3 run to steal one from the Spartans.
MBU returned to form in the third frame and stormed out to a 10-2 lead. The Spartans quickly cleaned things up, committing just two attack errors for a .419 hitting %. They also played the role of a disruptor at the net, picking up four blocks.
Starting the set just one kill shy of a career-high (16), sophomore
Gabi Jakubowska obliterated her previous mark as she provided MBU with seven in the fourth set for a total of 22.
Other notable performances:
(8) Missouri Baptist def. Cumberland, 3-0 [25-17, 25-16, 25-23]
Saturday's morning session brought MBU its first sweep of 2023. Set One was by far the Spartans' best of the match outhitting Cumberland .464 to .346. Sophomore transfer
Tayler Neal notched six of her nine kills in the opening set to pace the Spartans.
MBU carried over the momentum in Set Two jumping out to a commanding 12-2 lead. The hot start eventually tapered off. Despite hitting into six Cumberland blocks, MBU did enough at the service line and defensively held the Phoenix to a -.045 hitting % to win by nine – 25-16.
Cumberland lingered in the third set and dodged four MBU match points before a Haley Mitchell attack error ended it for the Phoenix.
Gabi Jakubowska once again led the Spartans in kills with 11. Defensively,
Emma Lattimore and
Liz van Houwelingen finished with 13 digs apiece and were flawless in serve receive.
(8) Missouri Baptist def. Life, 3-1 [25-18, 28-26, 25-27, 25-22]
A sloppy start to MBU's final Vipers Sports Academy Classic match didn't faze the Spartans as they quickly bounced back from a 7-1 deficit. The Spartans grabbed the lead at 9-8 and never trailed in the set afterward. Senior
Sara Klunder carried a heavy load in Set One contributing six kills and three block assists.
Set Two was a back-and-forth affair and one that Life nearly locked up. The Running Eagles surged late in the set and were one point away from evening the match on three occasions. A trifecta of Klunder kills, and a
Maria Hanusik service ace bailed out the Spartans in a 28-26 set victory.
MBU appeared to be on their way to a dominant Set Three. Jumping ahead 8-1 behind four kills, three aces, and a block, the Spartans quickly saw their lead diminish as the Running Eagles found some life. The two teams traded leads and went to extra points for a second set in a row. Life avoided the sweep, winning Set Three, 27-25.
The Spartans had strong spurts in the fourth set leading by as much as six, but let Life hang around. The Running Eagles even closed within one at 19-18. However,
Tayler Neal helped propel MBU late in the set with three key kills for points 22, 23, and 24.
Sara Klunder led all players with 18 kills and another efficient outing at .536%. Joining Klunder in double digits were Jakubowska (12), who had 10+ in each match this week, and Neal, who tied her career-high with 13. Another career best achieved in the Life match was sophomore
Kassie Lee with six blocks.
