William Woods has now dropped nine straight sets, translating to three consecutive losses, after the three-set defeat Thursday to Missouri Baptist (16-25, 18-25, 16-25) in its American Midwest Conference opener.
The reigning NAIA national champion and No. 4 ranked Spartans dominated in kills, 45-29, and hitting percentage, .375-.090, while the Owls outnumbered Missouri Baptist in errors 20-9.
William Woods (11-7, 0-1 AMC) led early in the first set 6-4 before a 5-0 run put Missouri Baptist in the driver's seat for the rest of the match. The Spartans would win the first set and then take a 14-7 lead to open the second set. The Owls would cut the lead to four after kills by Lanie Lowry and Tess Schannuth but the second one would go to Missouri Baptist as well.
Missouri Baptist started the third set with a 13-5 run, and William Woods was only able to come as close as five points after a Lowry kill and two Hannah Kuehl kills to make it 17-12. The Spartans ended the set and the match on three kills by Isidora Stojovic, giving her 13 kills for the night and one behind her teammate and match-leader Emma Lattimore.
William Woods didn't have a single player reach 10 kills as Lowry led the team with 8. Tori Rosemann led the team with 14 digs and was one behind the match-leader, Missouri Baptist's Ariana Macies. Kassidy Phillips led all players with three blocks while Schannuth led the Owls with 14 assists.
William Woods will play its second conference game today at 2 p.m. also at home against Harris-Stowe State.