ST. LOUIS, Mo.- The NAIA game of the week did not disappoint between two Top 25 teams in No. 15 Missouri Baptist and No. 25 Park University. The Spartans mounted the second big comeback against the Pirates in as many weeks, winning 3-2.
Park University (20-10, 9-4 AMC) started one of their outside hitters as a middle blocker, trying to gain the size advantage. The Spartans, however, started out hot, posting the first four points of the first set.
Park picked up the pace and took its first lead of the set at 8-7. The Pirates continued their high flying attack, taking a 13-9 lead forcing a Spartan timeout. Park was led by Pamela Lima and Wanessa Siqueira with three kills each in the first set.
MBU was able to adjust, however, getting the lead back at 17-16 off a kill by Hannah Carey. The Spartans were able to create some breathing room on another kill by Maddy Hammack to make it 22-19. Hammack was the leader offensively, with five kills. The team never relinquished the advantage and held on for the 25-20 win.
In the second set, each team became more active defensively, but it was Park taking a 7-9 lead on a kill by Sequeira, forcing an MBU timeout. After the timeout, the Pirates continued the offensive pressure, fighting off charging Spartans. Park held MBU to just eight kills and an attack percentage of .107.
Missouri Baptist trailed 13-17 and took its second timeout of the set. Head coach John Yehling seemed to calm the team during the break as MBU rattled off three straight points, trimming the lead down to 16-17. The Pirates held strong defensively and took set two after a kill by Patricia Souza, for the 25-19 win. Park totaled 14 kills in the set led by Lauren Purdy getting six kills, with an attack percentage of .308.
In set three, the Pirates dominated the entire set, posting 14 kills and an attack percentage of .370. The Spartans had their worst set of the match so far, recording just five kills, having eight errors and an attack percentage of -.136. However, a kill by Hammack brought the Spartans to within one down 11-12.
The Pirates took control from that point forward, closing the set on a 13-2 run, taking a 2-1 set lead heading into the fourth set. Purdy was huge again in set three with five kills and an attack percentage of .333. None of the Spartan players, had an attack percentage above .000.
Missouri Baptist trailed at the start of the fourth set, but found its rhythm at the midway point of the set. Taylor Cook posted a big kill, giving the team a 17-16 lead. Cook was impressive in the set, with four kills and an attack percentage of .400. Park fought back and was able to tie the game up at 19-19, after a kill by Siqueira.
MBU landed four points in a row, led by a Molly DeClue ace to take the 20-19 lead and after huge plays defensively, Madeline Nesbit spiked a kill giving the team a 21-19 lead and the fans on there feet. MBU went on to hold for the fourth set victory 25-21, forcing an all important fifth set. The fourth set was the best on the night for Missouri Baptist, as the team had 14 kills, zero errors and an attack percentage of .452. This was the second time in as many weeks that the Spartans forced a fifth game with the Pirates after a 1-2 set deficit.
In the final set, it was the Spartans that came out on fire with the momentum gained in the fourth set. The team jumped out to a 4-1 lead after an attack error by Park, forcing a Pirate timeout. After the timeout, MBU continued their strong play with help from a Hannah Carey, Madeline Nesbit kill and Park errors to take an 8-3 lead.
Park didn't quit as the Pirates went on a 7-2 run, tying the game at 10-10 capped off with a kill by Souza. Park continued to roll and was up 14-13, looking for the upset. A serving error on Park gave the Spartans new life and the team took advantage. MBU was able to close out the match with an error by Park, a kill by Cook and Carey for the 16-14 match win.
Offensively the Spartans were led by Carey and Hammack, who totaled 17 kills each. Ally Krus continued to be a top performer with 44 assists and defensively the Spartans had three players in double figures in digs, led by Cook with 15. Park had out-killed the Spartans 61-51, with four players with at least 10 kills. Leading the way was Purdy, whom was huge for the Pirates all match with 17 kills. Kat Patridge added 54 assists for the Pirates.
One of the biggest keys to victory for Missouri Baptist was the ratio of aces. The Spartans recorded nine aces to the Pirates' three.
With the win, Missouri Baptist moves to 28-1 while Park drops to 20-10. MBU is back in action in a rematch at No. 3-ranked Columbia College on Oct. 22, 2012. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
