ST. LOUIS – Behind 20+ kills for both Miljan Kastratovic and Auston Bonte and Michael Olson's first career double-double, the No. 15-ranked Missouri Baptist men's volleyball team defeated previously unbeaten and No. 3 Park University on Saturday afternoon. Playing catch-up the entire match, MBU forced a fifth set and kicked it into overdrive to win the game 14-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 15-11.
 
The Spartans continue to have Park's number when playing in the friendly confines of the Petty Sports & Recreation Complex. Saturday's triumph marked Missouri Baptist's seventh consecutive win at home against the Pirates, with the last loss dating back to April 2017. And since 2015, MBU sports a 12-1 record at home versus rival Park.
 
The Spartans nabbed their third win over a ranked opponent this season, improving to 19-7 overall and 12-6 in the HEART. But, just as sweet was the fact that the victory spoiled Park's chance at an undefeated regular season and snapped the Pirates' program-record 22-game winning streak.
 
MBU couldn't find any traction in Set One, of which the Pirates took full advantage. No. 3 Park registered 14 kills with no attack errors and controlled the net with four blocks in a 25-14 Set One win.
 
The Spartans responded in the second set playing much better defensively. After Park hit a blistering .609% in the opening frame, MBU held the visitors to their worst clip of the day (.000%). The Spartans capitalized on the Pirates' 16 errors (9 AE, 4 SE, 3 RE) to take the set, 25-19.
 
Much like Set One, the Spartans never led. Following a 10-10 tie, Park went on a 6-2 run and kept a slight cushion the rest of the way. MBU struggled to keep Park's leading scorer Samuel Essilfie at bay in the third as he went off for seven kills in the 25-20 set win for the Pirates.
 
Set Four was a game of inches as both teams hit the ball well and had moments of glory. With six ties and four lead changes, the turning point was at the 17-16 mark in favor of Park. The Spartans went on a 4-0 run that Park head coach Michael Talamantes tried to break up with a timeout but was unsuccessful. Sparking the run was Miljan Kastratovic with a kill to tie it at 17-all, along with a pair of service aces and a timely Michael Olson-Kyle Merzweiler block. Despite a late push from the Pirates, a successful timeout from MBU head coach Tom Young stopped Park's momentum at 23-22, leading to back-to-back Kastratovic kills to force the tiebreaker set.
 
The Spartans trailed for just one point in the fifth set but had momentum on their side. MBU turned to Kastratovic, and outside hitter Auston Bonte, who accounted for nine of MoBap's 10 kills in the fifth frame. Following an 11-11 tie, MBU scored the final four points, including three consecutive kills by Bonte to sink the Pirate ship.
 
Kastratovic and Bonte finished the match with 22 and 21 kills, respectively, while the former pitched in a match-best four service aces and eight digs. Making his second start in a row, junior outside hitter Michael Olson was all over the stat sheet recording 11 kills, 12 digs, five blocks, and one service ace.
 
Other stat leaders for the Spartans included setter David Rudic with 52 assists, libero Marko Jovanovic with 16 digs, and Kyle Merzweiler with six blocks (1 S, 5 A).
 
No. 15 MBU concludes the regular season on Tuesday with Senior Night versus Maryville University. The Spartans will recognize three seniors: Miljan Kastratovic and Theo McKnight. With seeds locked in for the HEART Men's Volleyball Championship, MBU sits at No. 5 in the standings meaning the Spartans will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, next Saturday for a quarterfinal matchup with No. 4-seed and 12^th-ranked Mount Mercy.