ST. LOUIS – Playing at home for the first time in more than a month, the No. 7-ranked Missouri Baptist University women's volleyball team won in convincing fashion Saturday morning taking down Cottey College in straight sets. The Spartans allowed the Comets' just 39 points – the second fewest this season – in a 25-12, 25-11, 25-16 victory. The win also coincided with MoBap's second highest hitting percentage of the year at .366%
 
The Spartans (13-2, 3-0 AMC) remain undefeated in conference play and extended their winning streak to five. On the flip side, after dropping a five-set heartbreaker to Harris-Stowe State on Friday night and a 3-0 defeat this morning, Cottey is now 5-13 overall and 0-2 to begin its AMC slate.
 
After trading points early, MBU locked in quickly and put together an 8-1 scoring run to distance itself from the Comets. Led by Sara Klunder (4), Maria Hanusik (4), Tayler Neal (3), and Kassie Lee (3), the Spartans hit with high efficiency at a .464 clip to take the opening set, 25-12.
 
Set Two had both good and bad moments. No. 7 Missouri Baptist controlled the beginning of the set and jumped out to a 7-3 lead. The solid start, however, was followed by a sloppy stretch. Cottey rattled off five straight points to take its first lead of the frame at 9-8. Without sacrificing a timeout, MBU halted the Cottey momentum and busted out an 11-1 run of its own behind four Tayler Neal kills and a pair of aces from Luiza Arsufi. By the end of the 25-11 set, Cottey's hitting percentage had dropped well below .000 (-.129%).
 
The third set was never in doubt as MoBap never trailed in the final stanza. It was another productive set offensively for MBU as they finished with 18 kills and a .368 attack percentage in the 25-16 win. Several Spartans saw action in the third including Sidney Hogan (17 assists), Syan Larmond (3 kills), Morgan Ruff (2 digs), Tessa Schneider (2 digs), Ella Nikodym (1 kill), and Paige Glueck.
 
Tayler Neal and Sara Klunder paced the Spartans on Saturday with 11 kills apiece while the former hit a career-high .667 for the match. Liz van Houwelingen recorded a season-high seven kills and Maria Hanusik added seven as well. Other stat leaders on the day included Maiana Coelho with 23 assists, Kaylee Hanger with 14 digs, Luiza Arsufi with four service aces, and Klunder with two block assists.
 
No. 7 MBU will stay in St. Louis next week with another AMC contest at home against Harris-Stowe State on Tuesday (Oct. 3) at 7 p.m., followed by a Conway Clash matchup at NCAA Division II Maryville University on Wednesday at 6 p.m.