ST. LOUIS – The 12^th-ranked Missouri Baptist University men's volleyball team remains undefeated in the Conway Clash, winning the latest matchup in the series in four sets on Tuesday. MBU recorded the 'W' at home, defeating Maryville University by a score of 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16.
 
Not only did the Spartans preserve their unbeaten streak against the Saints, but they also improved their 2024 record to 7-0. MoBap is off to its best start since 2019, when the Spartans went 31-1 and suffered their only loss in the NAIA National Championship Semifinals. On the other side of the net, Maryville dropped to 4-3 on the year.
 
It was a rough start to the match for the Spartans as Maryville scored the first five points, including back-to-back service aces. The Saints maintained the margin for a good portion of the set, but an 8-2 MBU run with several big points from senior Michael Olson (3 kills, 1 ace) helped to erase the deficit. The Spartans took their first lead of the set at 19-18 and scored six of the last eight points to win 25-21.
 
Like Set One, Maryville opened the second stanza with a 5-2 start. Once again, the Spartans chipped away at the Saints' lead. However, a .065 hitting clip was not enough to hang with MU's 12 kills and .276 attack %. Maryville won the second, 25-22, and evened the match at one set apiece.
 
Another quick start for Maryville could have doomed the Spartans, yet No. 12 MBU clawed back from an early deficit and used a 7-1 run to pull ahead, 10-7. The Saints were kept at bay the rest of the set as the Spartans claimed a 25-19 win. MBU out-hit Maryville, .381-.091 in Set Three, and widened the gap even further in the final set.
 
Behind a lively crowd at home, MoBap used its momentum wisely and shut down the Saints in Set Four. The Spartans had another efficient set, hitting .368, while the visitors from down Conway Road nearly hit in the negatives (6 K, 6 E, .000%).
 
One area that the Spartans had a clear advantage in was its back-row play. Sophomore libero Marko Jovanovic put on a clinic on Tuesday evening, recording a career-high 22 digs and an impressive 5.50 digs per set. One dig shy of his second straight double-double, Olson was a steady passing presence for the Spartans. MBU held a 44-27 advantage in digs as a team over the Saints.
 
It was a wash at the net as both teams totaled eight blocks on the night. Sophomore middle blocker Veljko Culibrk registered a match-best six blocks, one off his career-high.
 
Offensively, Aleksa Mandic reached 14 kills for the third time in six matches to lead the Spartans. Michael Olson was second on the team in kills with 11, while Auston Bonte finished with eight kills and a season-high four service aces. Middles Michael Anderson and Culibrk combined for 12 kills and a highly efficient .611 hitting percentage.
 
No. 12 MBU's next match will occur in Owensboro, Kentucky, on Thursday, Feb. 15, when it plays Rio Grande (Ohio) and host Brescia in a tri match.