Park University Women’s Volleyball has set this season ablaze with an undefeated record of 29-0 and the NAIA No. 2 national ranking.

Last season, the Pirates sailed into the national tournament and fell short but you will not see them dwelling on that.

They are focused on the here and now and the progression that they need to take each day.

“Coach prides us on taking it game by game but still having that end goal,” said Toi Collins, senior middle blocker.

“Last year, making it to Nationals was a big step as a program. This year, we knew we could have another strong year. We built on the new players and right from the start we were a strong group of girls. We just got to mesh really well.”

You can see that team work on the court each week as the ladies continue to shut each opponent down.

“We need to keep doing what we’re doing,” said Wanessa Siqueira, senior right side hitter. “We think about Nationals but we also think game by game. We prepare each week by who we are going to play.”

With all the success, the Pirates have seen an increase of fan activity at their home games.

“I think this is the most fans we’ve had,” said Collins, “I have people come up to me and congratulate me.”

Siqueira has noticed the support as well.

“People know my name,” she said. “Students and professors are coming to the games and cheering and dancing.”

There are only a few of regular season games standing between the Pirates and the two big tournaments of the year, the AMC Tournament and the NAIA National Championship.

Before they get there though, Collins said she knows she must continue her role as a senior.

“My personal goal is to communicate with my team and to step up and to make sure my team is accountable for having things done in practice,” she said. “Winning a game is not our stopping point.”

As for an undefeated season, Siqueira said it was not expected but was the plan

“It feels good to make history,” she said.

The women do the winning on the court but off the court they would like to point out that Coach Talamantes is the reason behind all of the success.

“The whole plan behind the winning is him,” said Siqueira.

“Coach is the one who put us all together and he doesn’t get enough attention for that,” said Collins.
The Pirates will take on Hannibal-LaGrange at 7 p.m. Friday in Hannibal in hopes to continue an undefeated season.