Volleyball team prepares for Missouri Baptist

Win could keep team in contention for No. 2 seed in AMC tournament

October 15, 2008
By Robert Jackson
Sports Editor

With two wins in three days against American Midwest Conference opponents, the Prairie Stars have positioned themselves for a potential two or three seed in the AMC conference tournament next month.

As of press time, the team stands 6-3 in the AMC, staying even with the McKendree Bearcats (6-3), the William Woods Owls (6-2), and tonight’s opponent, the Missouri Baptist Spartans (6-2). All four teams are chasing the Columbia Cougars, who stand with a perfect 8-0 record in conference play.

In the first meeting this year the Prairie Stars lost in three straight games, but pushed the Spartans to extra-points in the final game after losing the second game by three points.

For the rematch Head Coach Joe Fisher hopes the team improves in two areas.

“We need to serve receive well and be able to slow their middle hitters down,” Fisher said.

Fisher points out that the team has been improving in the service receiving area throughout the year but needs to be even more consistent to power an attack that features a host of outside and middle hitters, all of whom are looking to replace the production of last year’s kill leader, Megan Naborowski.

“I think (Naborowski’s) graduation makes us have to be a well rounded team,” Fisher said. “We get offensive contributions from more and different people each match.

No question that Stephanie (George) and Sarah Cooper have stepped up offensively. Our outsides, Kim (Bartosiak), Kelly (Wajda), and Cayla (Baggerly), are doing a great job also,” Fisher said.

The Prairie Stars already scored a key road victory over McKendree last Tuesday when the team battled back from an early 25-15 blowout in the first game to eventually win the match 3-2.

“We always play tough against McKendree,” Fisher said. “It was very important to get the win at their place.”

Beating McKendree came just three days after the team previously lost to Culver-Stockton, a team that had lost nine straight before besting the Prairie Stars in three straight games.

The inconsistency can be remedied by, according to Fisher, winning “the matches we are supposed to.” Last week the Prairie Stars completed their sweep against Williams Baptist College, but then stumbled in the second game of the double header with a loss against the Hannibal-LaGrange Trojans, a team that was 3-7 in the AMC entering the match.

The loss against the Trojans could hurt the Prairie Stars next month as the regular season dwindles, and the seeds begin to form for the AMC tournament. The Spartans swept the Trojans during regular season, while the Owls collected a road victory against the Trojans in Hannibal, Mo. The Bearcats also beat the Trojans and play in Hannibal later this month.

The Prairie Stars will face the Spartans tonight, at TRAC, with first serve scheduled at 7:00 p.m.