ST. LOUIS, Mo. – No. 4 Missouri Baptist Women's Volleyball clinched its second consecutive Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season title with a dominant sweep of Peru State College on Saturday afternoon (25-14, 25-20, 25-21).
The victory came on Senior Day, as the Spartans took time to recognize the seniors from both programs, including MBU's own Kathryn Froemsdorf and Julia Reis Pereira.
The Spartans came out firing in the opening set, with Ashlynn Hughes teaming up with Martina Ligabue and Alohilani Bursey for back-to-back blocks to help MBU jump out to an early 8-3 lead. Hughes carried that momentum to the attacking end, recording five kills, while Fernanda Perini added four of her own. A balanced offensive attack and strong defensive presence allowed the Spartans to cruise to a comfortable 25-14 opening-set victory.
Peru State came out with renewed energy in the second set, claiming seven of the first 11 points to establish an early advantage. The Bobcats continued to battle, keeping the set tight as the two teams traded points. With MBU holding a narrow 17-16 lead, Bursey appeared to suffer an injury but remained in the match. She immediately made her presence felt, delivering a solo block followed by a kill to ignite the home crowd and shift momentum in the Spartans' favor. MBU capitalized on that spark, pulling away late to secure the second set, 25-20.
The third set featured several exciting rallies as both teams battled to keep the match alive. MBU maintained a comfortable lead for much of the frame, but the Bobcats refused to go away quietly. Peru State's defense came alive down the stretch, recording all four of its blocks in the latter half of the set. A 4-0 Bobcat run trimmed the Spartan advantage to just two points, putting pressure on the home team. However, the No. 4 Spartans responded when it mattered most. A block by Perini and Ligabue, followed by a service ace, sealed the 25-21 set victory and secured the conference regular season crown.
The Spartans' seniors also made their mark on the afternoon. Froemsdorf earned the start and contributed four digs, while Reis Pereira anchored the defense with 15 digs of her own. Ligabue orchestrated the offense efficiently, distributing 32 assists while adding an impressive five service aces.
With the victory, Missouri Baptist celebrates another milestone in its continued success as a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, claiming back-to-back regular season championships.
Just one week remains in the regular season for the Spartans, who return to action Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Missouri Valley College.
