DES MOINES, Iowa - The Missouri Baptist Women's Volleyball team opened up their weekend road trip against Grand View University. No. 10 Spartans are proficient from the opening serve as it takes only three sets to defeat the Vikings.
Grand View jumped out to a 10-7 lead to begin the first set before the Spartans responded with a 6-0 run. MBU took advantage of Viking attacking errors while finding success offensively behind Fernanda Perini and Herdie Castillo.
The Vikings fought back to cut the deficit to one at 18-17, but the Spartans answered with three consecutive kills to regain control. Castillo delivered the final kill of the set as MBU secured the opening frame, 25-21.
Middle blocker Alohilani Bursey came out firing in the second set, accounting for each of the Spartans' first three points. Bursey opened with a kill, followed it with a solo block and capped the run with another kill as MBU quickly took a 3-0 lead.
Grand View responded with a 5-0 run later in the set to pull within one at 15-14. The Vikings eventually tied the set at 18-18 following a block from Maria Eduarda dos Passos and Jocelyn Barrett.
From there, Missouri Baptist took control, outscoring Grand View 7-1 to close out the set, 25-19. Martina Ligabue sealed the victory with back-to-back service aces.
The Spartans carried the momentum into the third set, taking advantage of nine Grand View errors to help secure another 25-19 victory and complete the sweep.
Missouri Baptist's defense was stout throughout the match, recording nine total blocks, with Perini leading the way with five. Ligabue continued her strong freshman campaign, finishing with 34 assists.
In a quick turnaround, the Spartans travel about an hour to take on William Penn University tomorrow at noon.
