ST. LOUIS – The highly anticipated Conway Clash lived up to the hype, going the distance in a five-set thriller as No. 10 Missouri Baptist Women's Volleyball edged Maryville University by the slimmest of margins.
The Spartans have historically controlled the series, holding a 13-2 record against the Saints entering the matchup. However, Maryville got the better of MBU last season, sweeping the Spartans on their home court. In their most competitive match to date this season, MBU flipped the script, outlasting the Saints in five sets to reclaim bragging rights in the Conway Clash.
Set one started off hot with a combined three vicious kills between the two teams, giving the Spartans an early 2-1 lead. Three straight service errors by MBU allowed MU to tie the set at 4-4, but the Spartans responded promptly with back-to-back kills from Herdie Castillo and Isabella Munari. Later in the set, MBU went on a 5-0 run to build an 18-11 advantage, with all signs pointing toward the Spartans taking the opening frame. After a timeout, however, Maryville fought its way back, largely behind the play of outside hitter Natalie Frazier, who finished the set with eight kills. The Saints eventually erased the deficit and tied the score at 24 before back-to-back kills from Frazier secured a 26-24 opening-set victory.
Despite the disappointing loss in the opening set, the No. 10 Spartans kept pushing and responded by taking the next two. Martina Ligabue showed she was primed for a huge performance, already totaling 43 assists through three sets. The defense held its own against the Maryville attack, with Isabella Munari and libero Julia Reis Pereira leading the way with 16 and 23 digs, respectively. Attackers Fernanda Perini and Ashlynn Hughes were also highly efficient, with Perini hitting .522 and Hughes at .500 through three sets. MBU closed out the second set 25-19 before battling to a 25-21 victory in the third, giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set four featured several exciting rallies, with both teams' defenses buckling down. The scoring began with a kill from Perini, but the Saints quickly responded with a 10-4 run to take a five-point advantage. The Spartans stopped the bleeding with an 8-3 run of their own to even the score at 13 apiece. MBU looked poised to close out the match following an offensive avalanche that saw several Spartan attackers get involved, building a 19-15 lead and forcing Maryville to take a timeout. The timeout proved effective, as the Saints surrendered just two more points the rest of the way, storming back to take the set 25-21 and force a decisive fifth.
With the match essentially reset to a race to 15 points, neither team showed signs of fatigue from the lengthy battle. After scoring runs from both sides, the deciding set was tied at 4-4 early. As play continued, MBU began to gain momentum, forcing Maryville to burn both of its timeouts before the match reached its conclusion. Still tied late at 11-11, Perini took over, contributing two kills and a block to put the Spartans at match point. Three points later, Perini slammed home another monster kill to close out the fifth set, 15-13, and secure the Conway Clash victory for MBU.
It was a night of season highs for several Spartans. Munari was the star of the show on both sides of the ball, recording season highs in digs (22) and kills (17). Ligabue delivered a jaw-dropping 65 assists, fresh off earning Heart of America Athletic Conference Setter of the Week honors. Libero Reis Pereira had a stout performance of her own, collecting a season-high 36 digs along with nine assists. Other notable season highs included Alohilani Bursey with five digs and Mary Potteiger with eight.
The No. 10 Spartans will enjoy a well-deserved couple days of rest before returning to conference play Friday evening when they host Clarke University.
