ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist University men's volleyball took two home wins, a sweep on Friday, Kansas Wesleyan University (3-0), and a reverse sweep Saturday against Ottawa University (3-2).
The Spartans dominated in a sweep against Kansas Wesleyan, with key plays from
AJ Tufuga leading in hitting percentage (.889), kills (8), and service aces (3). Assists were dished out by
Axel Griguer (30). From the defense, the blocks were covered by Jonathan Kreke (3) and
Cruse Aea, holding down the fort with 10 digs.
On Saturday, Spartans came out flat but dug deep to overturn the game for a reverse sweep against Ottawa University. Tufuga had a big weekend, holding another three service aces and four blocks. While Aea held down the back row with 19 digs. Offensively, the Spartans were carried by setter Griguer, who tallied 48 assists, and Stepanovic, who posted 21 kills.
Kansas Wesleyan Recap
MBU came out of the gate with close rallies against KWU, before going on a four-point run in the first. The attack began with a kill by
Isaac Allgeyer, followed by a block by Kreke. The Coyotes fought to come back with a serve ace from Anthony Mule, but could not take the lead.
Luka Stepanovic finished the set on a kill, with an assist from Griguer, 25-20.
Missouri Baptist had several runs in the second, giving the Spartans a 25-19 win over the set. Kreke, holding a perfect hitting percentage in the second, gave MBU the motivation on the attack. Griguer placed 13 assists in the second, including the final one to Tufuga for the kill to end the set.
The Spartans clinched the win in the third, 25-9. MBU went on a four-point run with two service aces from Tufuga. The Coyotes tried to stay in the game with a kill from Kaleb Cui, getting them within two points, 4-6. Aea went on to win three service aces in a row during a five-point run against the Spartans. Tufuga served seven straight points to seal the match, backed by kills from Allgeyer and blocks from Kreke,
Gabe Counts, Allgeyer, and Stepanovic. The final kill of the game came from Allgeyer with a set ball from
Matthew Johnson.
Spartan Stat Leaders
Kills:
AJ Tufuga (8)
Assists:
Axel Griguer (30)
Hitting %:
AJ Tufuga (.889)
Aces:
AJ Tufuga (3) and
Cruse Aea (3)
Digs:
Cruse Aea (10)
Blocks:
Johnathan Kreke (3)
Ottawa Recap
The first and second sets were won by the Braves, 26-24 and 25-18. The sets were carried by Ottawa's Andrew Ely, who had a hitting percentage of 0.375, and setter Quentin Le Dortz with 20 assists. MBU originally had the lead in the first, 22-17, but a kill from Peter Lazic motivated the Braves into winning the first two sets.
Missouri Baptist responded in the third set, grinding out a 25–23 win to extend the match. Allgeyer showed up in the third with the first three kills for MBU and seven in the overall set. MBU was defensively sound with blocks from Stepanovic,
Justin McGary, and Allgeyer. The set was finished off by Tufuga with two kills.
The Spartans continued the comeback in the fourth set, pulling away late to take a 25–19 victory and force a decisive fifth set. The fourth started with continuous back-and-forth rallies, until Stepanovic stole a kill to set MBU off on a run that took the lead.
MBU set the standard for the fifth early on by scoring the first six points, two of them being service aces from Tufuga. Kreke and Griguer shut down the Braves' attack with a block, while Aea landed a service ace. Kills came from
Nikos Faoutas, Allgeyer, Stepanovic, and Kreke.
Nikos Faoutas had the last hit, finalizing MBU's win.
Spartan Stat Leaders
Kills:
Luka Stepanovic (21)
Assists:
Axel Griguer (48)
Hitting %:
Luka Stepanovic (.545)
Aces:
AJ Tufuga (3)
Digs:
Cruse Aea (19)
Blocks:
AJ Tufuga (4)
Records
No. 9 Missouri Baptist: 6-7
No. 13 Kansas Wesleyan: 1-11
No. 4 Ottawa: 8-4
