Park outlasts Columbia for NAIA volleyball championship in five-set thriller

It was point for point, blow for blow, all the way through five sets.

In the end, it was Park University with the NAIA women’s volleyball national championship.

Park outlasted conference rival Columbia College 19-25, 25-15, 17-25, 25-10, 16-14 in the the national final on Saturday night in Sioux City, Iowa.

Park finished the season 36-1. Columbia (42-5) was the only team to beat Park in a match this season. Both teams are in the American Midwest Conference.

Park also won the NAIA title in 2014. Columbia last won it in 2015.

Park beat Midland (Neb.) 26-28, 25-19, 25-15, 25-10, while Columbia knocked back Vitero (Wisc.) 25-22, 25-14, 20-25, 25-12 in Saturday’s semifinals.

NAIA soccer: It was all Missouri for the NAIA men’s national soccer crown as well: Central Methodist won the shootout 4-3 over Missouri Valley to win the championship in Irvine, Calif. The game was tied 2-2 after two scoreless overtimes.

NAIA football: Benedictine will get its chance at a national championship. The Ravens beat Kansas Wesleyan 43-21 in Salina, Kan., on Saturday. The Ravens (13-1) will take on Morningside (Iowa) in the final on Dec. 15 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Morningside (14-0) beat two-time defending champion St. Francis (Ind.) 34-28 in Sioux City, Iowa on Saturday.

Gone bowling: Emporia State won the Corsicana Bowl in Corsicana, Texas. Braxton Marstall had five passing TDs for the Hornets in the 30-22 win over Arkansas Monticello. ... Missouri Western held on against Southern Arkansas 30-25 in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl in Texarkana, Ark. ... Missouri S & T cruised past Minnesota State Moorhead 51-16 in the annual Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs.

This story was originally published December 1, 2018 at 5:50 PM.