COLLEGE ROUNDUP: OCC teams earn trips to nationals

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October 27, 2012

COLLEGE ROUNDUP: OCC teams earn trips to nationals

Anonymous The Joplin Globe The Joplin Globe Sat Oct 27, 2012, 11:16 PM CDT

MOORE, Okla. — Ozark Christian College resumed men’s soccer this season after a three-year absence.

Today, the Ambassadors are thinking about an upcoming jaunt to sunny Florida and the NCCAA Division II National Tournament.

OCC won the Southwest Regional by beating Dallas Christian 2-1 Saturday to avenge an earlier 1-0 loss and 1-1 tie.

OCC, coached by Kevin Greer and Damien Spikereit, will take a 13-3-1 record to Kissimmee for the eight-team nationals starting Nov. 7.

Kyle Handley and Nate Wesley had the goals against Dallas Christian — both in the first half — and Trevor Farris had seven saves. Nathan Caddell and Zane Sutherlin assisted on the goals.

OCC beat Barclay (Kan.) 3-1 on Friday as Korben Koenig had two goals and Jon-Michael Bontrager one.

Koenig and Farris, both seniors, are joined by freshman teammate Taylor Hunt as OCC members of the all-Southwest Regional Team based on season performance. The all-tournament team from this weekend includes Caddell and Koenig.

VOLLEYBALL

OCC wins regional

MOORE, Okla. — After opening with a loss, Ozark Christian College fought back through the loser’s bracket to win the NCCAA Division II Southwest Regional Tournament at Hillsdale.

OCC (24-15) lost 25-23, 20-25, 24-26, 27-25, 15-12 against Arlington Baptist on Friday. The Ambassadors followed that with a 25-10, 25-21, 25-15 win against Barclay on Friday, then a 25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 25-15 win against Hillsdale on Saturday.

Those wins set up a rematch with Arlington Baptist. Coming from the losers’ bracket, the Ambassadors needed to beat Arlington Baptist twice. OCC answered the call with wins of 25-15, 25-17, 25-18 and 25-11, 25-16, 21-25, 25-15.

“We have one junior and the rest of the team are freshmen,” Ozark coach Tony Allmoslecher said. “They just played absolutely awesome.”

Carrie Page led the Ambassadors with 57 kills for the tournament, while Bethany Decker contributed 197 assists.

The win sends Ozark to the NCCAA Division II national tournament on Nov. 8-10 in Florida. The Ambassadors also host the ACCA national tournament, which begins Thursday.

NW Missouri downs Lions

Abby Graves had 16 kills to lead Northwest Missouri State past Missouri Southern 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 25-18) Saturday night.

Katie Politte registered a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs for the Lions (0-26, 0-14). The Lions also had eight kills from Payton Graves, 14 digs from Danielle Severns and 22 assists from Sydney Potts.

The Lions play Friday at Truman State.