LAMONI, Iowa – No. 11
Missouri Baptist University opened Heart of America Athletic Conference play with a 3-1 road win at Graceland University on Saturday, taking sets 25-13, 25-16, 20-25, 25-12.
The Spartans (9-2, 1-0 Heart) controlled the opening frame behind a 10-2 run sparked by kills from
Fernanda Perini,
Gabi Jakubowska, and
Allana Capella.
Julia Reis Pereira added an ace to push the margin to 15-5, and Missouri Baptist closed the set 25-13 on a Graceland attack error.
Graceland (4-9, 0-2) battled in the second set, taking a lead at 13-11 after a kill from Kariana Hernandez Cruz, but Missouri Baptist responded with seven of the next eight points.
Elina Arsov tallied a pair of kills, and
Tayler Neal brought her total to three before Perini closed the frame at 25-16 off a set from
Valentina Navarro.
The Yellowjackets rallied in the third with their best offensive rhythm of the match, hitting .517. Graceland pulled away late with three straight kills from Kylee Dixon and Kaci Young to take it 25-20, handing MBU its first dropped set.
MBU regrouped quickly in the fourth, racing to an 11-6 lead. Capella's serving run fueled the surge with five aces. Graceland called two timeouts but could not slow the Spartans' momentum as Perini tallied three blocks down the stretch. Arsov finished the match with a kill on Navarro's 25th assist to seal it 25-12.
Capella led all scorers with nine kills, six aces, and three blocks. Perini and Jakubowska each added 12 points, while Navarro paced the offense with 25 assists. Missouri Baptist hit .295 as a team with 11 aces and 13 total blocks.
Graceland was held to a .074 attack percentage. Ella Thomas and Grace Jensen each finished with eight kills, while Dixon chipped in seven.
Missouri Baptist continues conference play Sept. 9 at home against Culver-Stockton College. The opening serve is set for 7 p.m.
