March 4, 2008 | Box Score
LAMONI, IA-After a delayed start due to scoreboard problems, the Graceland University Men’s Volleyball team headed to the court with the word upset on their minds yet again. The #1 Pirates (19-1: 5-0 MAMVIC WEST) started the match with poise and refused to back down as the Yellowjackets (2-12: 0-4 MAMVIC WEST) fought to gain control. Graceland improved over the course of the match despite losing 0-3 (19-30, 21-30, 25-30). Game 1 began quickly with and following a Park service error and a huge kill out of serve receive from freshman middle hitter Calsen Agrade (Kekaha Kauai, HI) kept the score close at 3-3. It was a solid night from Agrade who finished the match hitting .294 (12 kills, 4 errors, 17 attempts). Several long dedicated defensive plays kept it close combined with weak serving from Park. Yet after a 4 pt run from the Pirates, Graceland was behind 10-15. Good transition work from both Agrade and junior middle hitter Joe Klein (Richmond, MN) kept the match alive for Graceland. Following a block from Agrade and freshman opposite hitter Josh Walters (Hilo, HI) the Yellowjackets found themselves behind 6 at 18-24. 3 service aces from Park University brought the Pirates within 1 as they closed out the first set by a score of 30-19. As the whistle blew for the start of game 2, junior outside hitter Kevin Allison (Elgin, IL) led the charge following a pass to attack out of serve receive that resulted in the Yellowjackets first lead of the match. Yet Park got ahead quickly 3-1 until a solo block from sophomore outside hitter Dan Parish (St. Louis, MO) tied the second set at 5 points apiece. A Klein overpass kill following a tough serve from Walters brought Graceland within 1 point after Park surged ahead. Graceland fell behind 16-11 at the midway mark of the set and came within 3 at 18-21 until a pair of 3 pt service runs from Park closed spelled defeat for the Yellowjackets in game 2 as they lost 22-30. Game 3 spelled a similar fate for the Yellowjackets as the Pirates thumped ahead fast to a 3-0 lead and never looked back. Tough serving from Pirates gave them a 13-5 advantage which would increase to 19-10 in the closing points of the match. Aggressive blocking from senior opposite hitter Travis McPherson (Kelwona, BC) and a service ace from Allison brought the Yellowjackets with 3 at 22-25 as a result of their “never-say-die” attitude. A kill from Klein and a service error from Park kept the match close until the Pirates pulled away winning game 3 and the match with a final score of 30-25. It was a tough night on offense for the Yellowjackets who struggled to give senior setter Ainoa Miyashiro a chance to establish a rhythm as Graceland passed at a season-low %85 with 13 receiving errors and only 22 digs. Klein led the Yellowjackets with a team-high .500 efficiency (8 kills, 1 error, 14 attempts) as Allison chipped in 6 digs and McPherson added 1 solo block and 1 block assist (1 block per game average). The Yellowjackets head to St. Charles, MO this weekend to face the #5 Lindenwood University Lions and #6 Missouri Baptist University Spartans in a two-match two-day affair. Graceland returns home following spring break to face Lindenwood University again March 27 at 7 pm.
For More Information on Graceland University Athletics Contact: Matt Shelton, Sports Information Director (641) 784-5318 mshelton@graceland.edu
