St. Louis, Mo. – Cougar volleyball fell to No. 18 Missouri Baptist University for the first time since 2005 in the regular season tonight by scores of 20-25, 26-24, 25-15 and 25-18 (1-3). The defeat hands the Cougars their first conference loss of the season while the Spartans remain undefeated. Columbia, who is ranked No. 7 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, is now 20-3 and 4-1 in conference play while Missouri Baptist advances to 17-1 and 4-0 in league play.

Columbia and Missouri Baptist battled to get ahead of one another at the beginning of the first set. The Spartans later trailed 12-11 before an 8-4 run by the Cougars to take a 20-15 lead. The Spartans would answer back to make it 22-20, but Columbia was able to close it out with a kill by Polina Severina and two kills by Paula Rosa to take the 25-20 set win.

The second set was a back and forth clash between the two squads. Later in the set, Columbia was able to work their way back to a 23-23 tie, but the Spartans were able to take a 24-23 lead after a kill by Mallory Dillon. The Cougars would tie the set 24-24 after a kill by Brooke Simpson but the Spartans were able to finish the set after a kill and a block to win, 26-24.

The Cougars were able to tie the third set 4-4, but the Spartans went on an 8-2 run to take the 12-6 lead. Columbia was unable to gain control, and Missouri Baptist was able to take the third set win, 25-15.

Columbia led set four 12-10 until the Spartans were able to rally for a 15-15 tie. Missouri Baptist would come back to take the next two points for a 17-15 lead, but the Cougars were not finished. Columbia would take the lead two different times, but the Spartans were able to overcome the Cougars, when they scored seven of the final eight points to take the win, 25-18.

Columbia was led offensively by Manon Soraru with 13 kills followed by Polina Severina with 10. Brooke Simpson and Paula Rosa chipped in with nine kills apiece. Lydie van Deursen dished out 40 assists and 14 digs while Sarah Schwentker contributed a team high 17 digs.

The Cougars return to action Wednesday, October 8 when they travel to Parkville, Mo. for another American Midwest Conference matchup with No. 4 Park University. Match time is set for 7 p.m.