ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Baptist men's volleyball team has held a strong rivalry against Park University for several years and still continues to this day.
The No. 3 ranked Spartans (23-7, 6-0) will travel to the No. 1 ranked Park University (23-3, 6-1) on April first. Although the Pirates hold the No. 1 spot in the national ratings, MBU holds the number one spot in the South Conference.
MBU comes off of a busy 5-1 week against Lindenwood – Belleville (W 3-2), Missouri Valley (W 3-0), Culver Stockton (W 3-0), Graceland (W 3-0), Grand View (L 2-3), and St. Ambrose (W 3-2). The Pirates only had two games the previous week against Hannibal LaGrange(W 3-0) and Missouri Valley (W 3-0).
The teams hold a rich history with Park University leading the way for an overall record of 19-7 and a 64-32 record in sets won. Facing each other three times in the conference tournament since 2006, the Spartans have won one of those three matches. The pair has also met at the national tournament twice since 2006, in 2013 being in the semifinal round and in 2012 they met in pool play.
In their last meeting, Missouri Baptist began to close the deficit with a win over Park, three sets to two. In the contest, the Spartans kept the Pirates under 0.300 hitting percentage throughout each set only allowing a 0.096 total team hitting percentage, the lowest percentage the Pirates have had all year, and only allowed Park an average of 8.6 kills per set.
MBU put up a front at the net with 18 blocks, the highest number of blocks the Spartans have had in a game thus far this season. Several of the Missouri Baptist players also recorded new career highs that night and many still hold true.
MBU looks to defend their conference standing with three time NAIA Setter of the Week Kyle Foley, and this week's Player of the Week Mico Janicijevic, who is currently ranked second in the nation for kills per set (4.1). MBU will also have Chris Flood who is number one in the nation in service aces per game (0.600) and total service aces (61).
The show down will produce a battle at the net with both teams producing a hitter ranked nationally in the top five in hitting percentage. Park University's Caio Souza has been a force for the Pirate being ranked number one in hitting percentage (0.477) and blocks per set (1.4).
The battle between rivals will take place tonight at the Breckon Sports Center for the Spartans second to last regular season game. First serve is set for 6:00 pm and will be broadcasted via the Park Sports Network.
