Game 1: Park 3 – Graceland 1  |  Game 2: Park 1 – Missouri Baptist 3

Oskar Soderlund had 10 kills against Missouri Baptist on Friday night.

DUBUQUE, Iowa – In two pivotal matches against MAMVIC West opponents, the Park University men’s volleyball team defeated Graceland in four sets, 27-30, 30-15, 30-25, 30-27 and lost to Missouri Baptist University also in four sets, 30-24, 24-30, 30-26, 30-26.

Park is now 17-9 overall on the year and 10-1 in MAMVIC West action. Park is currently ranked No. 7 in the country while Missouri Baptist is ranked No. 6.

Only six teams will qualify for this year’s NAIA National Invitational Championship Tournament, despite being ranked No. 7 in the nation Park is currently in first-place in the MAMVIC West standings and if they were to win the MAMVIC Conference tournament on April 9-10 in Denver, Colo., the Pirates would earn an automatic bid into the National Tournament which is hosted by St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

Erick Albuquerque had a team high 24 kills against Graceland and had an astounding four errors on 33 total attacks, good for a hitting percentage of .606.

Jake Penolio had a team high four service aces and four kills of his own. The Pirates posted a hitting percentage of .368 on the night and defeated the Yellowjackets for the third time this season.

In match number two, Mo Bap allowed four Pirates to collect 10 or more kills including Fray Luis Fajardo Arteaga who led the team in kills with 17.

Phillip Heckmann had 34 assists against the Spartans in four games and fellow setter Felix Horn had 29 assists also in four games.

Park will now take on Hannibal-Lagrange at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow and tournament host school Clarke College at 2:00 p.m. in day two of the Clarke College Invitational.

-PARK-