ST. LOUIS – First-seeded Missouri Baptist University swept fourth-seeded William Woods University in the American Midwest Conference Semifinals on Friday night. The Spartans move into the AMC Championship game against second-seeded Columbia College on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m., in the Carl & Deloris Petty Sports & Recreation Complex.
William Woods Recap
Missouri Baptist made quick work of the Owls in the first two sets of the AMC Semifinal, winning 25-17 and 25-18. In set one they posted a .229 hit percentage with 14 kills on 35 attacks and followed up with a .280 hitting percentage with 12 kills on 25 attacks in set two.
Gabi Jakubowska led the attack once again in the first two sets, tallying 10 kills including seven in the first set.
Kassie Lee also provided a spark with seven including five in the second set. Behind the stripe, the Spartans notched seven service aces.
Setter
Maiana Coelho began to find freshman outside hitter
Elina Arsov in the third set for several kills which contributed to the dynamic duo of Jakubowska and Lee who continued to perform at a high level. The Owls led the Spartans 15-13 midway through the frame before a
Fernanda Perini kill and a
Tiia Heikkinen service ace swung the momentum and pushed MBU out in front.
Tied at 22,
Kirsten van der Vleuten showed her dominance at the net with her fifth block of the game and fourth of the final set on a Vitoria Campos Mello attack. The senior from Oosterhout, Netherlands, registered a kill on the next play to push the Spartans one point away from the title match and Coelho found Jakubowska for the final point to end the sweep with a 25-22 set final.
Spartan Stat Leaders
Kills:
Gabi Jakubowska (15)
Assists:
Maiana Coelho (35)
Hitting %:
Gabi Jakubowska (.393)
Aces:
Gabi Jakubowska (4)
Digs:
Julia Pereira (17)
Blocks:
Kirsten van der Vleuten (5.0)
Records
(RV) Missouri Baptist: 24-11, 11-0 AMC
William Woods: 25-12, 8-3 AMC
Next Game
The Spartans host Columbia College for the AMC Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m.
Watch:
SpartanDigitalNetwork.com
