ST. LOUIS – No. 17 Missouri Baptist University improved upon its strong run through Heart of America Athletic Conference play Tuesday night, sweeping Culver-Stockton College (30-28, 25-20, 25-10) inside the Carl & Deloris Petty SRC. The Spartans improved to 18-5 overall and 9-1 in the conference.
As a team, Missouri Baptist University hit .308 and recorded 12 aces and eight total blocks, holding Culver-Stockton to a .114 hitting percentage.
Gabi Jakubowska led all hitters with 10 kills on .273 hitting, including the 1,500
th of her career to put her fourth in program history, and eight service aces.
Fernanda Perini finished with nine kills on .692 hitting and five block assists.
Kassie Lee totaled eight kills and two blocks, and
Allana Capella added seven kills, six digs, and two blocks. Freshman setter
Nina Cillo directed the attack with 27 assists and six digs, while libero
Julia Reis Pereira posted a match-high 13 digs.
The opening set featured 14 ties and six lead changes as Culver-Stockton came out swinging. The Wildcats led 26-25 late before kills from Jakubowska and Perini helped Missouri Baptist stay alive. After fighting off two set points, the Spartans finally pulled ahead on a Culver-Stockton attack error and closed it out on a Lee kill to win 30-28.
MBU carried that momentum into the second set, using strong serving to take control. Capella dropped in an early ace, and
Tiia Heikkinen added another during a 3-0 run that pushed the Spartans ahead. Jakubowska and Perini combined for seven kills in the frame as MBU hit .385 to take the set 25-20 and a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set was all Missouri Baptist. Jakubowska opened with four service aces as the Spartans raced to a 7-0 start. The offense stayed efficient with kills from Perini, Lee, and
Summer McDonough, while the front line dominated at the net with four blocks. Jakubowska finished the sweep with back-to-back aces before
Tayler Neal delivered the final point in a 25-10 rout.
Missouri Baptist continues Heart play on Friday, Oct. 10, at home against William Woods University. The opening serve is set for 6 p.m.
