Box Score Missouri Baptist 3, STU 1

1st  Set: 23-25
2nd Set: 25-14
3rd  Set: 25-16
4th  Set: 25-10

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - St. Thomas (1-1) followed up its 2014 regular season debut  with a tough four-set loss to 24th ranked Missouri Baptist (3-0) on Friday afternoon as part of the Ft. Lauderdale Sonesta Classic at the Fernandez Family Center.  Missouri Baptist had four players with double-digit kills.  Hana Carey (15 kills) led the way for the Spartans, with Ally Krus setting up her teammates for a match-high 43 assists.

Sophomore Marisa Markus (11 kills, two digs, one assist) was strong at the point of attack.  Freshman Whitney Battoe (eight kills, two digs) was once again impressive in only her second collegiate match.  Veteran Dana Nowaczyk (four kills, 26 assists, 10 digs) had a solid performance notching a double-double.

The Bobcats won an entertaining first set 25-23.  It was a balanced effort all-around with multiple Bobcats contributing.  Battoe and Markus led the first-set attack, with Nowaczyk setting up the two hitters for a team-high nine assists.  Missouri Baptist responded by sweeping the final three sets 14-25, 16-25, 10-25.

St. Thomas returns to action at 9 a.m. on Saturday vs. West Virginia Tech in the Sonesta Ft. Lauderdale Classic at the Fernandez Family Center.  Missouri Baptist will face Warner (Fla.) at 11:30 a.m.