ST. LOUIS — No. 19 Missouri Baptist University defeated No. 3 Corban University in five sets to wrap up the MBU Invitational on Friday evening. The Spartans rebounded with a 22-25, 25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 15-9, victory over the Warriors after dropping the morning match in four sets to No. 20 Midland University.
No. 20 Midland Recap
Missouri Baptist came out strong but could not hold off a balanced Midland attack, falling 25-17, 23-25, 14-25, 16-25 in the Spartans' first match of the day Friday at Petty SRC.
MBU stormed through the opening set behind aggressive serving from
Allana Capella, who rattled off three straight service aces to spark a 4–0 lead.
Gabi Jakubowska powered the offense early with kills from setter
Valentina Navarro, while middle blocker
Fernanda Perini stuffed multiple Midland swings to close the frame.
Midland regrouped in set two behind Brooklynn Snyder and Abree Plueger to pull even. Tied at 21, Abby Spidle sent down a kill before Snyder ended the match 25-23 with a kill off an assist from Jaysa Wentzlaff.
Momentum shifted permanently in the third, as Midland hit .440 with just two errors. Midland then closed it out in the fourth behind 10 kills and a .207 attack percentage.
Jakubowska paced Missouri Baptist with 19 kills on .368 hitting and nine digs. Capella added 11 points, including three aces, while Navarro handed out 30 assists. Midland countered with Snyder's 11 kills, Plueger's double-double (10 kills, 10 digs), and steady setting from Mackling (22 assists).
No. 3 Corban Recap
In the 4 p.m. match, Missouri Baptist responded with grit, outlasting No. 3 Corban (Ore.) in a five-set thriller, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 15-9, to cap the tournament on a high note.
The Spartans found themselves in an early hole after Corban's Makayla Roginski and Gracie Boeder combined for seven kills in set one, pulling away late 25–22.
MBU evened the match in the second, using tough serving — including three aces from
Julia Reis Pereira and
Mary Potteiger — to build separation. Jakubowska continued to find success on the left side, hammering down five kills in the frame.
Set three proved pivotal. Missouri Baptist trailed 19–13 before clawing its way back on the left arm of Capella. She sent down three kills and two block assists to propel the Spartans out in front 22-20. At 22-22, the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, native added another kill before Jakubowska ended the set with her fifth kill of the frame.
Corban refused to fold, hitting .256 in set four behind Emma Bischoff's serving run and Roginski's frontline presence to win 25–18 and force a decider.
In the fifth, MBU ran out ahead 5-1 on a pair of kills from Jakubowska, a kill from Perini, and an ace from Capella. Tied at 6-6, Jakubowska sent another Navarro offering down and notched a pair of service aces. Later, Capella made it 13-9, Jakubowska 13-10, and Perini denied a Roginski attack at the net to give the Spartans the upset victory.
Jakubowska finished with a match-high 21 kills, five aces, and nine digs. Capella chipped in 16 kills, while Perini anchored the defense with 11 block assists. Navarro once again steered the offense with 46 assists. Roginski led Corban with 17 kills on .364 hitting, while Bischoff added 11 kills and 13 digs.
Next Match:
MBU heads downtown to take on Wilbeforce University (Ohio) and Harris-Stowe State University on Saturday, Aug. 23. The opening serve of game one at Harris-Stowe State is set for noon.
