ST. LOUIS, Mo. - When Missouri Baptist and Park University volleyball teams get together for a conference match, both teams can expect to see a high level of play on both sides. The NAIA has taken notice this week, with both in the Tachikara-NAIA Coaches' Top 25 and has announced that Friday's match will be featured as the NAIA Game of the Week.
Missouri Baptist (26-1, 11-1 AMC) has been one of the most consistent teams in the nation in 2012. Over the past week, MBU posted a record of 5-1, losing only to No. 3, Columbia College, allowing the team to move up to 15th in the latest Coaches' Poll. The Spartans recorded big wins against No. 12, Grand View University and the Pirates last week, giving national raters a reason to advance MBU for the first time this season.
Park University (19-9, 8-3 AMC) has played a tough schedule this season and nearly upset the Spartans at home last Monday in the Breckon Sports Arena. Had the Pirates won, they would have handed MBU its first loss of the season, which was done by Columbia College just two nights later.
Though Park did not come out on the winning end, after going 1-1 on the week and spending three straight weeks in the top spot of teams receiving votes just outside the 25, the Pirates finally broke through to gain the No. 25-spot in the poll. This is the first time in team history that Park has been listed in the Top 25.
The teams have had some great matches in recent history. The last time Park has beaten Missouri Baptist was on Oct. 15, 2010 in a five-set thriller at Parkville. These teams have a tendency of nail-biting matches of late. Since 2005, the teams have faced each other eight times and though MBU owns a 7-1 record in that time frame, the last two matches have gone to five sets.
Park will rely on big play from two players in particular, former NAIA National Player of the Week Patricia Souza and big middle blocker, Lauren Purdy. Last week Purdy was an absolute star for the Pirates, recording 21 kills and a .375 attack percentage, giving MBU fits in attempting to stop the 6' junior from Arlington, Texas.
Missouri Baptist will counter with big hitting outside Maddy Hammack and an NAIA National Player of the Week of their own, setter Ally Krus. Hammack is currently ranked 7th in the NAIA in kills per game with 4.32. Krus is one of the top setters in the NAIA, averaging 11.3 assists per game, ranking her 3rd in the NAIA in that category.
In the last meeting, Krus had one of the best matches of her career, posting a double-double with 54 assists and 13 digs with one ace and three block assists.
Friday's match is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. first serve in at the Carl and Deloris Petty Sports and Recreation Complex on the campus of Missouri Baptist.
NAIA RELEASE
