MAC volleyball tops West Plains in relentless fashion
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Mineral Area outside hitter Duda Passos (11) spikes over double blocking by Lake Land during game two of an NJCAA volleyball match on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Mineral Area kept Region 16 rival MSU-West Plains guessing behind a varied attack and frustrated with its stingy defensive presence on Wednesday.
The 15th-ranked Cardinals aggressively sought to terminate points quickly, and protected their leads in each set of a relentless 25-19, 25-21, 25-19 road sweep to stay unbeaten.
Outside hitter Lara Gilardi was unstoppable in game one, notching eight of her 12 kills, and picked up eight digs after the majority of subsequent swings shifted to the left side.
Gabrielle Damborowiski also posted 12 kills with 13 digs, two blocks and two aces while Duda Passos added 10 more kills for Mineral Area (15-0, 2-0).
MSU-West Plains (4-9, 1-1) was given little margin for error despite opening the match on a 5-1 spurt, and could not recover from six consecutive lost points in game three.
Victoria Antia compiled 15 kills with eight digs, and Nycole Barboza spiked eight kills in an otherwise shaky and inconsistent outing for the Grizzlies.
Gilardi tipped and swung for two kills as MAC took seven of eight points to establish its first lead. A diving stop by libero Ava Penuel to her right created an immediate spike for Passos at 10-9.
Kills by Damborowiski and Gilardi preceded an ace by Katie Nichols at 15-11, and the Cardinals took the opening stanza after Antia scored twice to draw her team within 18-17.
Belen Ferrufino joined Olivia Shaw for a double block in response, and rejected another spike at 22-19 after she and Damborowski reacted to clear a sideline dig by Gilardi.
Sara Pjevic added three blocks for Mineral Area during a second set that produced its ninth tie at 21-21 before she found the back corner off a quick feed to the middle.
Damborowiski shared a double stuff with Pjevic on the next rally, then blistered a left-side kill before a West Plains attack carried long for a two-game advantage.
A spike into the net and failed clearing shot put the Grizzlies in an 8-4 hole, and some hesitation on two serves resulted in aces for Penuel during 6-0 streak.
Ferrufino added a nifty swat over her shoulder on second contact after opposing libero Isabella Calle stopped her previous attempt. Damborowiski ended a long rally with a bullet from the back row, and four different Cardinals made digs to win another wild exchange for a 15-7 cushion.
West Plains offered a final stand. Erika Gaspard had a kill and solo block on back-to-back points, and Antia blistered two outside kills in a row to make it 17-15.
Damborowiski increased a 19-17 edge before her next dig preceded a Passos kill. Ferrufino registered her 37th assist on match point, and also brought up seven digs.
Penuel finished with 11 digs, and Nichols added six. Shaw and Pjevic had four kills each. Mineral Area will return to West Plains after nine idle days for weekend tournament.
Mariana Franco dished out 21 assists and Calle amassed 16 digs for the Grizzlies, who will challenge MAC in an Oct. 14 rematch. Chesnea Blakey added five kills.
