No. 11 Men's Volleyball Tops No. 8 Missouri Baptist in Heart Postseason

Marshall, Mo., (April 13, 2024)- The No. 11 Missouri Valley College men's volleyball team hosted No. 8 Missouri Baptist in the quarterfinal round of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Postseason Championship Saturday evening inside the Burns Athletic Complex.  The Vikings came away with a victory in four games, by scores of 25-20, 18-25, 29-27, 25-21.

Missouri Valley gradually built up a lead to start the first game as both Freshman Outside Hitter Davi Azevedo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Senior Middle Blocker Daniel Isernhagen (Curitiba, Brazil) each put down one kill and one block to start.  Isernhagen followed with another kill, and one ace to push the advantage out to 7-4.  Missouri Baptist worked back, and eventually went on top, 10-9.  The Vikings responded and won five of the next six points, helped by one block from Isernhagen and three kills from Sophomore Right Side Luca Hasse (Paderborn, Germany) to move ahead, 14-11.  The two teams traded the next several points, featuring one kill from both Isernhagen and Freshman Outside Hitter Andrey Bastos (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.)  Hasse landed another kill, and the lead sat at 19-15. Missouri Valley won three-straight points, including two kills from Hasse, to sit on top, 22-17, then end the first game with three consecutive points to include two Azevedo kills to win game one, 25-20.  Missouri Baptist was limited to a -.040 hitting percentage in the game.

The two teams traded points to open game two, through a 5-5 score.  The Spartans then won four-straight to move in front, 9-5, and eventually held a 13-9 advantage.  One kill from both Isernhagen and Bastos brought MVC into a 13-12 deficit.  Two more kills from Bastos and one kill from Hasse helped the Vikings stay within a 17-15 score, but MBU won the next four points to make it 21-15.  Missouri Valley was unable to rally late, and fell in the second game, 25-18, as the teams were tied at 1-1 in games won.

Missouri Baptist held an early lead in the third game, at 6-4.  Senior Middle Blocker Oscar Manana (The Bronx, N.Y.) came back with one kill, while Junior Setter Lucas Rodrigues (Balnelariu Cambriu, Brazil) added back-to-back aces to pull MVC in front, 7-6.  The two teams traded points over a long stretch as the score was tied at 14-14.  The Spartans then won three-straight points to hold a 17-14 lead.  Missouri Valley came back by winning five of the following six points.  Sophomore Outside Hitter Samuel Essilfie (Tema, Ghana), Isernhagen and Bastos each added one kill and the claimed a 19-18 advantage.  Hasse brought MVC to game-point for the first time after a kill made it 24-22, but MBU won the next two points to extend play.  Missouri Valley gained four more game-points, including one kill from Bastos to put the score at 28-27.  Rodrigues ended the game with a block, and the Vikings won game three, 29-27.

Needing a win in the fourth game to take the match, the Vikings went into a 10-7 deficit at the start.  Five of the next six points were won by MVC, including two kills from Isernhagen and one kill from Rodrigues to push the team ahead, 11-10.  Bastos finished off three more kills over the next stretch of play, as the Vikings stayed in front, 15-13.  Manana then came back with one kill and one ace to make it a 17-15 score.  Isnerhagen landed two more kills late in the game to put the lead at 21-19, while Bastos added one kill, and Hasse a block to make it 23-20.  A late service error from Missouri Baptist gave MVC match-point, and a final error from the Spartans ended the game with a 25-21 win for the Vikings to take the match, 3-1.

Bastos led with 15 kills on a .464 hitting percentage, to go with nine digs.  Hasse had 13 kills and six digs, while Isernhagen finished with 12 kills and a .647 hitting percentage.  Rodrigues led with 49 assists, and added five digs, and Junior Libero Leonardo Leao (Rio de Janeiro) totaled 18 digs.  Missouri Valley had 12 blocks and three aces as a team.

The win moves Missouri Valley to 21-5 on the season, while Missouri Baptist finishes with a 22-8 record.

The win moves Missouri Valley into the semifinal round of the Heart Postseason Championship, and a road game at No. 5 Grand View (Iowa), Wednesday.  Missouri Valley split the two regular season meetings with GVU, falling at home in five games, back on Feb. 24, then earning a four-game win on the road, March 23.

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ABOUT MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.