An opportunity for the Park women’s volleyball team to solidify its elite status came during a two-game stretch against Columbia College and Missouri Baptist University, two highly ranked teams and the Pirates’ biggest challenge in the AMC. Park failed to take full advantage, dropping their third game of the season.

At the time of Park’s top ten matchup with Columbia College on October 19, the Cougars held the No. 10 ranking. If Park had toppled their strongest conference opponent it would have most likely pushed the Pirates into the national top three. Instead, the Cougars took the Pirates to five sets and ultimately earned their 25^th win of the season. After winning the first set decisively 25-18, Park dropped the second set 22-25. The Pirates held a lead for one point after sophomore libero Celina Monteiro forced the Cougars into three straight attacking errors to push the score to 13-12. Columbia seized control two points later and held on to tie match at 1 set apiece.

The Cougars then handled Park easily in the third set. Columbia closed with five straight points to win 25-17, putting the Pirates in a corner down 2-1. Park quickly returned the favor during set number four, outing the Cougars by 113 points and doubling Columbia’s kill count 16-8. Park would finally crumble in the decisive fifth set. The Pirates hit a dreadful .130 in contrast to Columbia’s mark of .350 and would lose the set 15-10. The Cougars upset victory created a tie between four one-loss teams in the AMC.

Park would have to wait six long days for redemption against 12^th ranked Missouri Baptist University. On October 26 at the Breckon Sports Center, the Pirates would return to their winning ways. Park traded tight victories with the Spartans in the first three sets, winning frames one and three by just four points. The Pirates then dismantled Missouri Baptist to the tune of 25-14 in the fourth set, outhitting the Spartans by 463 points thanks to an elite .583 hitting percentage. Sophomore middle blocker Maren Mair recorded eight of Park’s 10 blocks while freshman outside hitter Nada Meawad led both teams with 19 kills. The Pirates’ victory, along with a William Woods University loss, left only Columbia College tied with Park for the top spot in the AMC.

A matchup with Harris-Stowe State University on October 27 followed Park’s two match gauntlet. The Pirates rolled to a three-set sweep, winning by an average margin of 13 points. Park held Harris-Stowe to a lowly .084 hitting percentage while posting a .517 mark themselves. Junior setter Danna Gomes tallied 27 of Park’s 36 assists as five different Pirates posted a perfect killing percentage. Park moved to 25 victories on the year while handing Harris-Stowe their second straight loss.

Park’s final test before the conference tournament came against William Woods University on November 1. Although the Owls are not nationally ranked, they came into the contest sporting an impressive 24-7 overall record with a 9-2 conference record while competing in the incredibly competitive AMC. The Pirates had little trouble topping the Falcons, however, winning by an average margin of points while delivering their first back to back sweep in nearly three weeks.

The Pirates made easy work of Freed-Hardman University in the first round of the AMC tournament. Park swept the Lions 25-14,25-13,25-18. Park now has a rematch looming against No. 12 Missouri Baptist University on November 10. Should Park handle the Spartans as they did last time, the Pirates will most likely face No. 7 Columbia College in the tournament final on November 11.