7-Missouri Baptist takes down UHSP in straight sets

(Photo courtesy of Tierney Sylvester)

ST. LOUIS, MO – The Eutectics continued their tour of Top-15 opponents as they went to Missouri Baptist on Wednesday night and fell in straight sets, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18. Michael Olson led all attackers with 14 kills for MBU as the Spartans owned the net both offensively and defensively. UHSP had their best showing in the second set when they swung at .207. But MoBap was better than that Eutectic showing in every set with their worst being .231 in the opening set. The Spartans' 16 blocks had a lot to do with the Eutectics' struggles offensively while UHSP had just six blocks.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• In the opening set, Grant Hoover registered a kill to level the score at 7-7, the sixth tie of the early going. MBU scored five straight after that and six of the next seven to take a 13-8 lead forcing UHSP to play catch-up the remainder of the set. Cooper Hansen got it to within three at 13-10 but Missouri Baptist again went on a lengthy run taking seven of the next nine to go up 20-12. The Eutectics made a late surge to make things interesting as they used three straight MBU errors and a Hoover kill at 24-18 to make it 24-22. Olson registered the set sealing kill to put the Spartans up 1-0.
• Missouri Baptist never trailed in the second set as they jumped out to a 4-1. The only tie came at 5-5 as neither team was ever able to put together any kind of lengthy run. The most either team scored in a row was three straight with each team doing that once. The Eutectics' three-point run came late as they got a pair of MBU errors and another Hoover kill to close the gap to 24-21, but this time Marko Jovanovic put the set away with a kill for the Spartans.
• The third set was tied seven different times within the first 20 points. UHSP got kills from Dickson Colado and Cameron Werner and a trio from Cooper Hansen up to that point. But again, the Spartans put together a stretch that would ultimately decide the set as they took eight of the ensuing ten points to lead 18-12. The Eutectics tried to get back into the set thanks to three MBU errors, a Colado kill and a Hoover ace to pull within 20-17. But after the teams swapped points, Missouri Baptist closed the show scoring four straight to hand UHSP their fifth straight loss.
• Grant Hoover led the Eutectics with 12 kills and only two errors in 28 attempts for a .357 hitting percentage. It was the fifth time this season that Hoover led UHSP in kills in a match. Cooper Hansen added nine kills.
• Marko Jovanovic had ten kills and four digs for MBU while David Rudic handed out 34 assists.
• RJ Dilks had 19 assists and seven digs.
• Missouri Baptist improved to 9-1 all-time against UHSP. The clubs will meet again when the Eutectics host the Spartans on March 18.

UP NEXT:

A five-game road trip for the Eutectics (3-7, 1-5 HEART) continues on Friday when UHSP travels to Parkville, MO for a conference matchup against the Park Pirates (9-2, 5-1 HEART). Opening serve is scheduled for 7:00p. The Euts then finish out that road trip Saturday afternoon when they play Missouri Valley at 1:00p.