GAME NOTES (PDF)

Felix Horn and the Pirates have some big matches this weekend with National Tournament bids on the line.

PARKVILLE, Mo. – Seeding for the national tournament will be on the line this weekend, as the Park University men’s volleyball team will take on four very tough opponents at the Clarke College Invitational in Dubuque, Iowa.
 
Park is currently the No. 7 ranked team in the country, only the top six seeds are invited to the 2010 NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational Championship on April 22-24 in Davenport, Iowa.
 
Two of Park’s opponents this weekend are ahead of the Pirates in the national rankings including the tournament host for this weekend, Clarke College who is ranked No. 5 in the nation and Missouri Baptist who is one spot ahead of the Pirates at No. 6.
 
The Pirates schedule this weekend includes a 4:00 p.m. match on Friday, March 26 against Graceland University and a 6:00 p.m. matchup against Mo Bap.
 
Saturday, March 27, Park will face MAMVIC West opponent Hannibal-LaGrange College at 10:00 a.m. and Clarke College at 2:00 p.m.
 
The Pirates come into the tournament with an overall record of 16-8 and 10-1 in MAMVIC West play.
 
Park defeated Graceland, 3-0, on the road back on Feb. 9 and are 2-1 against Missouri Baptist on the year.
 
Since Feb. 27, when the Pirates swept Missouri Baptist, the Spartans have now won six straight matches to improve their record to 13-9 and have jumped in the rankings to No. 6.
 
If the season ended today, California Baptist, Hope International, Cardinal Stritch, St. Ambrose, Clarke and Missouri Baptist would all earn bids to the National Championship Tournament.
 
Clarke College is 15-7 on the year and swept the Pirates, 3-0, back on February 19, while Hannibal-LaGrange comes into tourney with a record of 8-15 and 2-10 in the MAMVIC West.
 
Park is on a three game losing skid, but previous to that streak the Pirates had won 8 of its previous nine matches.
 
Erick Albuquerque has been a consistent leader on the floor for Park all season long. The junior out of Brazil is second on the team in kills with 273 and is first on the squad in digs with 169.
 
Freshman Kalani Rose has stepped up for the Pirates as well with 147 digs on the year, which is good for second on the team. Rose averages 2.01 digs per game this season.
 
Please visit www.parkathletics.com this weekend for full recaps of all four of Park’s matches.

-PARK-