ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] After a rough start to the match on Wednesday evening, the No. 6 Missouri Baptist men's volleyball team came back to defeat rival, No. 1-ranked Park University, 3-2 (23-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-18, 15-13). With the win the Spartans remained undefeated in conference play.
MBU (7-4, 3-0 NAIA South) held the lead for the majority of the set in both the first and second games. The Pirates, however, hung right behind the Spartans and were able to make an advance at just the right time to close the two sets.
Missouri Baptist came out with new life in the third set and fought to stay alive. The Spartans were able to maintain a solid lead through the game and capitalized on that lead with Kyle Foley at the service line for a four point run. MBU held an eight point lead over Park University to take the set from the Pirates.
With the momentum on their side, MBU rallied again to hold the Pirates to 0.000 hitting percentage. The teams traded points to start the fourth set, but after a 12-all score, Missouri Baptist regained the lead and tied the match at two with a decisive fifth set on the horizon.
The rivalry continued into set five as the Pirates tried to close the gap, but the Spartans held firm to grab a 15-13 set win and a 3-2 match victory over the No. 1-ranked team in the Nation.
Mico Janicijevic and Chris Flood led Missouri Baptist on the night. The duo combined for 41 kills in the match, which proved to be the difference. Janicijevic set a new career high of 13 digs and Flood posted new career highs in kills (19) and blocks (5).
Middle blockers Kevin Knight and Shane Welch also put-up big numbers for MBU. Each finished with eight kills apiece. Knight closed out the night with a 0.800 hitting percentage while Welch posted new career highs of 5 digs and 10 total blocks.
Sean Benedict posted nine kills on the night as well as a new career high of 8 total blocks. Kyle Foley also found much success through the evening. The freshman transfer from Loyola (Ill.) posted career highs of 66 assists (13.2 assists per game) and 9 digs.
The Spartans will have some time to enjoy the victory and prepare before traveling to play Fontbonne University on February 24, 2015.
