UPLAND, Ind. – No. 19 Missouri Baptist University volleyball closed out play at the Amber McClure Fayerweather Tournament with a split on Saturday, falling in five sets to host (RV) Taylor University before bouncing back with a sweep of No.14 Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Spartans move to 8-2 overall on the season heading into conference play.
(RV) Taylor Recap
In the morning session, MBU pushed Taylor to the limit but came up short in a 3-2 battle (21-25, 25-21, 31-29, 23-25, 9-15). After dropping the first set, the Spartans answered in the second with a balanced attack that saw
Allana Capella and
Gabi Jakubowska combine for 12 kills to even the match.
The third set turned into a marathon, with Missouri Baptist fighting off multiple set points before closing out a 31-29 victory behind a timely kill from Capella and a block from
Madison Moore.
Taylor responded in the fourth, coming back from down 12-4 early to win 25-23. In the fifth, a long service run from McKaylah Flagle sealed the set 15-9 and a five-set victory for the Trojans.
Capella finished with a double-double of 22 kills and 17 digs, while Jakubowska added 16 kills, 15 digs, and five blocks. Perini anchored the front line with seven total blocks, and setter
Valentina Navarro guided the offense with 58 assists and three aces.
No. 14 Mount Vernon Nazarene Recap
Missouri Baptist bounced back in the afternoon with a commanding 3-0 sweep of 14
th-ranked Mount Vernon Nazarene (25-22, 25-22, 25-20). The Spartans built an early lead in the first set with kills from Capella and Perini, then held off a late MVNU push to take the opener.
Navarro spread the offense in the second frame, assisting on seven Capella kills and four from Jakubowska as MBU again pulled away late. A long service run from
Nina Cillo, including a service ace, pushed the Cougars to the brink at 24-22, and a service error ended the game 25-22.
The Spartans sealed the sweep in the third, hitting .367 as a team. Capella ended the final frame with a pair of kills and paced the attack with 19 kills on .318 hitting. Jakubowska added 14 kills and three digs, and Navarro tallied 38 assists. Libero
Julia Reis Pereira led the defense with 17 digs.
Next Game
The Spartans open Heart of America Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 6, on the road at Graceland University. The opening serve is scheduled for 11 a.m.
