ST. LOUIS, Mo. – No. 11 Missouri Baptist University improved to 11-2 overall and 3-0 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play with a straight-set sweep of Clarke University on Friday night inside the Carl & Deloris Petty SRC. The Spartans controlled all three sets in a 25-15, 25-20, 25-14 victory.
Clarke (2-10, 0-2) grabbed an early lead in the opening frame, but MBU quickly responded with a 6-1 run capped by kills from
Gabi Jakubowska and
Fernanda Perini. A pair of service aces from
Elina Arsov stretched the lead to 22-15, and the Spartans closed out the set on a Clarke attack error.
The second set featured tighter play, with Clarke leading 15-13 midway through. Missouri Baptist regained control behind back-to-back kills from Perini and
Allana Capella, then extended the lead with a service ace from
Nina Cillo. Jakubowska tallied two of her match-high 11 kills late in the frame as MBU pulled away 25-20.
The Spartans left little doubt in the third, jumping out to a 10-4 advantage behind three service aces from
Julia Reis Pereira. Missouri Baptist forced three Clarke attack errors during the stretch and never looked back, clinching the match on a
Valentina Navarro kill to finish 25-14.
Jakubowska paced the Spartans with 11 kills on .529 hitting, while Perini added seven kills on .875 efficiency and four block assists. Capella chipped in six kills, and
Kassie Lee posted four kills in two sets. Navarro directed the offense with 32 assists, while Reis Pereira anchored the back row with five aces and five digs.
As a team, MBU hit .381 with 13 service aces and eight team blocks, while holding Clarke to a .097 hitting percentage.
Missouri Baptist continues Heart play on Saturday, Sept. 13, in a 2 p.m., matchup against Mount Mercy University.
