American Midwest Conference Office Story
ST. LOUIS, MO – The American Midwest Conference (AMC) has expanded its Game of the Week Program, and as a result, the AMC is able to feature more games, with more teams as a part of their primary regular season featured broadcast coverage. On Friday, September 30, the AMC volleyball Game of the Week will feature a rematch of the 2015 NAIA Championship Match between the NAIA #15 Missouri Baptist University Spartans (16-4, 5-0 AMC) and the defending NAIA Champion Columbia College Cougars (7-7, 2-0 AMC).
WHO
Columbia Cougars: The Cougars got off to a shaky start in defense of their 2015 NAIA National Championship, but they have recovered over the past three weeks. After starting the season 1-6, the Cougars have won six of their last seven matches – including their last five in a row, dropping only three sets in those five matches. Columbia has seen Peiyi Liu begin to return to her NAIA Player of the Year form from last season, and she will be a force to be reckoned with as the season rolls along.
Missouri Baptist Spartans: Entering the season, the Spartans had a big hole to fill with the departure of setter Ally Krus. So far this season, however, the Spartans have not missed a beat with the insertion of freshman setter Megan Huffman into the lineup. A three-time AMC Setter of the Week already, Huffman is averaging better than 11 assists per set, having already surpassed 600 assists for the season. Her distribution of the ball has been a big part of the Spartans offense, which ranks in the top-10 in the NAIA in Assists per set (1st – 13.01), Kills per Set (2nd – 14.04), and Hitting Percentage (9th – 0.266).
WHAT
Columbia holds the all-time advantage in the all-time series, having won 28 of the 37 meetings since 2006. The teams have, however, split the last six meetings, with Columbia currently on a three match winning streak.
WHEN
Friday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m.
Live Video: Spartan Digital Network (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mobap/)
Live Stats: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10
WHERE
St. Louis, Mo. (Carl and Deloris Petty Sports & Recreation Complex)
WHY
The Spartans have won 20 straight AMC regular season matches. Columbia has the most all-time AMC titles, having won 21 in a row from 1994-2014. These two teams met for both the AMC Tournament Championship, and the NAIA National Championship last season, with the
