Women's Volleyballs Falls to MidAmerica Nazarene in Four Games

Olathe, Kan., (Oct. 20, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College women's volleyball traveled to Olathe, Kan., for a Heart of America Athletic Conference match with MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Friday evening.  The Vikings battled, but fell by scores of 16-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-27.

Game one started with both teams trading points to start the contest, which included one kill from both Senior Outside Hitter Ksenija Simun (Kotor, Montenegro) and Sophomore Middle Blocker Nekane Parera (Barcelona, Spain) to keep Missouri Valley within a 5-4 deficit.  MidAmerica Nazarene won four-straight points to build up a 12-6 lead, then stretched the advantage out to 15-7.  Simun finished off two kills, and Parera added one kill to help cut the deficit to 16-11.  Another kill from Simun and one kill from Junior Outside Hitter Juliana Oliviera (Riberairo Preto Brazil) made it a 16-11 score.  The Pioneers closed out the game from there, and won, 25-16.

Missouri Valley went in front in the second game, which included one kill from Sophomore Setter Ana Carolina Santos (Curitiba, Brazil) and Parera to make it a 4-2 score.  MidAmerica Nazarene slowly worked up an advantage, sitting on top, 9-7.  The next four points went to MVC, which included one kill from Parera and Oliviera, while Parera teamed up with Carolina Santos on a block to bring the team ahead, 11-9.  The Pioneers followed with another run and regained the lead, at 17-13.  Simun and Junior Middle Blocker Brooke Wright (Mansfield, Ark.) teamed up on a block, while Simun finished off one kill to bring the deficit down to 17-16.  The Vikings continued to stayed close late in the game, helped by two kills from Wright and two kills from Oliviera.  Oliviera teamed up with Parera on a block to tie the teams at 21-21, then Oliviera put down another kill to move MVC in front, 22-21.  The Vikings continued to pull away, with three more kills from Oliviera to end the game, and give the team a 25-22 win.

With the match tied at 1-1 in games Missouri Valley used an ace from Junior Setter Lynsey Day (Kingman, Ariz.) and a kill from Oliviera to keep the score tied at 4-4.  Simun put down one kill and Carolina Santos finished off a pair of aces to keep the teams even at 7-7.  MidAmerica Nazarene began to build up a lead from there, with the score at 17-11.  Simun had two kills and the pair of Wright and Day teamed up on a block to put the MVC deficit at 20-14.  The Pioneers stayed in front through the rest of the game, and won, 25-17.

Missouri Valley went on top early in the fourth game, helped by one kill from Parera and one ace from Ana Franco to make it a 4-1 score.  Simun finished off one kill to put the lead at 5-3, but MNU came back to win three-straight and go ahead, 6-5.  The two teams traded points over the next stretch, which included two kills from Oliviera to eventually tie the score at 9-9.  Oliviera had one kill and one ace to put MVC in top, 12-9, while the Pioneers came back to win three-straight and tie the teams at 12-12.  Points were traded through the rest of the game, as a Parera block kept things at a 21-21 tie.  MidAmerica Nazarene went in front, 23-22 late in the game, but MVC used one kill from both Wright and Simun to hold game-point, 24-23.  After a point from MNU made it 24-24, Day landed a kill to put the team at game-point again, 25-24.  The final three points were scored by the Pioneers to end the game at 27-25, and finish off the defeat of Missouri Valley.

Oliviera had a double-double of 15 kills and 13 digs, while Simun finished with 13 kill and nine digs.  Parera had 12 kills.  Day led with a double-double of 40 assists and 10 kills, and Senior Nekane Palsis (Nanakuli, Hawaii) totaled 23 digs.  Missouri Valley had six blocks and six aces as a team.

Missouri Valley drops to 14-14 overall and 6-8 in the Heart.  MidAmerica Nazarene moves to 13-10 on the season and 9-5 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking women's volleyball team goes to Baldwin City, Kan., for a Heart match with Baker (Kan.), Tuesday at 7 p.m.  Missouri Valley won the previous match this season, by scores of 25-18, 25-12, 25-16, back on Oct. 3.

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Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.