ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Park University ended Missouri Baptist's reign as National Champions Friday night with a come-from-behind 3-1 win in the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Semifinals.
Park (25-5) used a big 28-26 second set victory to shift momentum and oust the two-time defending champs. The Spartans (27-3) made a spirited comeback in the fourth set, but fell short.
The night started off well for the host school. MBU trailed 19-17 in set one before rallying to take a 1-0 lead. A kill from Mico Janicijevic capped a 4-0 run to put the home team up by two 21-19. They held the same two-point margin until a Daniel Prada kill and a final block gave MBU the 25-21 set win. The Spartans pulled out the win despite Park hitting a set-low .346 in the first.
Set two went back-and-forth with Park sneaking out a 28-26 win. Daniel Arteaga had a team-high five kills in the set to lead the way. The Spartans had the Pirates on the ropes, leading 24-22, but a kill from Mario Lucas kept things alive and a team block knotted the score up. Park spoiled set-point once more before Arteaga ended it with two consecutive kills. Arteaga finished with 17 on the night on 33 swings.
Spartan setter and AVCA Player of the Year Kyle Foley twisted an ankle early in set three. Foley returned with MBU trailing just 12-10, but he and the Spartans were never quite the same down the stretch. Park took advantage, winning 25-19 while not trailing a single time in the set.
Fleming and Luka Cajic teamed up on a block to get MBU within a point at 16-15. Park responded with an 8-2 run however and put the Spartans on the brink and go up 2-1.
With their backs against the wall, Missouri Baptist put up a spirited effort in the fourth. The Spartans stared down a 17-12 deficit and stormed back to take a 22-20 lead. Janicijevic had six kills during that stretch and led the comeback. He ended his MBU career with a 22-kill performance.
MBU also led 23-21, but a service error and a kill from Arteaga knotted the match back up. Park took a 24-23 lead after a kill from Murilo Pereira and won it when the final Spartan swing found the net. The Spartans finished their season with a 27-3 overall record and another trip to the semifinals. Park will face Grand View Saturday at 6pm in the Championship.
Daniel Prada and Luka Cajic each posted 10 kills, while Foley still posted 37 assists despite the injury. Robert Hall had a game-high 15 digs.
