Men’s Volleyball
Season Preview
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After advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA National Invitational Tournament last season, the Park University men’s volleyball team enters its 2005 campaign ranked fourth in the country in the NAIA Preseason Top 10 Coaches’ Poll. The Pirates, who posted a 21-8 record in 2004, will be led this season by first-year Head Coach Cory Frederick. Frederick came to Park last summer after spending three seasons as an assistant women’s volleyball coach at Missouri Western State College. Frederick will have six letterwinners returning to the Pirates in 2005, led by junior Marco Rabello (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and sophomore Cristian Maciel (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Maciel led Park offensively last season, averaging 3.97 kills per game, to go along with 1.72 digs per game. Rabello ranked second on the squad in kills with 3.24 per game, as well as averaging 1.78 digs and 0.98 blocks per game. Junior Walker Swan (Norfolk, Neb.) and sophomore Simon Golola (Kampala, Uganda) also return to man the middle hitter position. Swan averaged 1.19 blocks and 1.86 kills per game, while Golola posted numbers of 2.55 kills and 0.79 blocks per game last season. Rounding out Park’s returning letterwinners are senior Wilfredo Ponce (Valencia, Venezuela) and sophomore Daniel Joens (Overland Park, Kan.). Leading the class of six newcomers to the program is freshman Ryan Stafford (San Ramon, Calif.), who had a team-high 20 kills in Park’s exhibition match against its alumni on Jan. 14. The current Pirates won the match, 3-1. “After seeing our match against the alumni, it is apparent that we have a lot of talent on this team,” Frederick said. “I’m excited to see how they develop over the next few weeks as we enter our regular season matches. “There is a lot of room for improvement and growth as a team, but that is a challenge we are all willing to accept,” Frederick added. “Once we reach our full potential, we will be a team to look out for. The talent is in place, now we just have to put it together as one team.”
Cory Frederick -- Head Coach -- First Season
Cory Frederick enters his first season as the head men’s volleyball coach at Park University. Frederick comes to Park following a threeyear stay as an assistant women’s volleyball coach at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Mo. At Missouri Western, he contributed to scouting, recruiting and practice management. Before his stint at Missouri Western, Frederick spent a year in the high school ranks coaching the girl’s program at Fridley (Minn.) High School in 2000. He has extensive experience working camps during the summer, including serving at the University of Minnesota and Standford University camps. Frederick earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1998, where competed in NIRSA Div. I Club Volleyball. In addition, he completed his formal certification in cytotechnology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in 2000. He and his wife Becky reside in Kansas City, Mo., and have two dogs Izzy and Chaos.
Mladen Bundalo -- Assistant Coach -- First Season Mladan Bundalo enters his first season as an assistant men’s volleyball coach at Park University. A two-year letterwinner at Park, Bundalo was a reserve on the 2003 National Invitational Championship team. As a senior in 2004, he averaged 0.93 kills and 0.54 digs per game. A native of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Bundalo earned his bachelor’s degree in bussiness management from Park in December 2004.
Gustavo Rocha -- Student Assistant Coach -- First Season Gustavo Rocha is in his first season as a student assistant coach for the Park University men’s volleyball team. Rocha, a four-year letterwinner, was twice named to the NAIA National Invitational AllTournament Team, including during Park’s 2003 National Championship season. As a senior, Rocha averaged 11.8 assists and 1.4 digs per game in 2004. A native of Goiania, Brazil, he is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in business administration.
Sophomore Simon Golola (Kampala, Uganda) averaged 2.6 kills and 0.8 blocks per game as a freshman in 2004.
2005 Park University Spring Sports Guide