ST. LOUIS — Missouri Baptist University had four earn Heart of America Athletic Conference individual awards and six named to the all-conference teams. The Spartans, who finished 29-5 overall and 17-1 in league play en route to the Heart Regular Season & Tournament Championships.

Opposite hitter Gabi Jakubowska was selected the 2025 Heart Player of the Year and the All-Heart First Team after delivering 484 kills, averaging 4.14 kills per set while hitting .257 across 117 sets. She also added 63 service aces, 3.79 digs per set, and 90 total blocks.

Middle hitter Fernanda Perini was named the Heart's Co-Defender of the Year and was added to the first team, controlling the net with 156 total blocks, including 14 solo stops and 142 block assists. Perini averaged 1.31 blocks per set (ninth in the NAIA) while also providing 249 kills on a team-leading .406 hitting percentage (fourth in the NAIA).

Setter Valentina Navarro was voted the Heart Freshman of the Year following a debut season in which she guided the MBU attack with 1,118 assists, averaging 10.45 assists per set. Navarro appeared in 107 sets and added 46 service aces, 173 digs, and 21 total blocks.

Outside hitter Allana Capella joined Jakubowska and Perini on the First Team after producing 414 kills and 3.45 kills per set across 120 sets. Capella hit .250 on more than 1,000 attacks while adding 280 digs, 44 service aces, and 51 total blocks.

Setter Valentina Navarro and libero Julia Reis Pereira represented the Spartans on the Second Team. Reis Pereira appeared in 117 sets and anchored the back row with a team-leading 444 digs, averaging 3.79 digs per set. She also contributed 35 aces and 103 assists while allowing only 39 reception errors across a full season of primary passing duties.

Middle hitter Kassie Lee earned Third Team honors after totaling 186 kills, 85 blocks, and a .221 hitting percentage through 111 sets. Lee averaged 1.68 kills per set and 0.77 blocks per set while adding 18 digs and providing MBU with reliable front-row depth throughout conference play.

Missouri Baptist head coach Claire Ochs was named Heart Coach of the Year after guiding the Spartans to 29 wins, including 16 victories on their home floor. Under her leadership, MBU recorded 1,553 assists, 300 service aces, 1,614 digs, and 269 blocks over 125 sets and captured the Heart Regular Season and Tournament Championships to secure the league's automatic bid to the national tournament.

The Spartans are set to host Dillard University (La.) in the NAIA Opening Round on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 6 p.m., to begin the NAIA National Tournament. Watch on the Urban Edge Network, buy tickets on MBUSpartans.com/Tickets, or follow live stats on the Missouri Baptist Spartans mobile app.