The No. 8 nationally ranked Park University women's volleyball program was clicking in Breckon Sports Center on Saturday, defeating No. 19 Central Methodist University in straight sets, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21.

Park is now up to 20 consecutive wins on the season bringing them up to 24-2 and 14-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Eagles are in a solid position in the Heart at 11-3 and 17-7 overall.

The Pirates now have a three match lead in the conference standings over Central Methodist, (RV) Benedictine College, and Mount Mercy University. With only three matches remaining in the season a win against Benedictine in Park's next match will secure at least a share of the 2023 Heart of America Athletic Conference Regular Season Title. With two wins, Park
Park and Central Methodist played close to one another for much of the first set, which included 13 ties and four lead changes. The Pirates had their highest hitting percentage of the day at .457, while the Eagles held their own at .235. In set one, Park only had one error and 17 kills. Malaina Hensley was the go to hitter in the first set with four kills to begin the match. With it tied at 15-15, the Pirates gained separation with a pivotal three-point run off consecutive kills from Grecia Ung, Szonja Stollar, and Barbara Almeida. The Pirates turned it on from there, recovering the last five of six points in the set for the 25-18 win.

A 7-6 lead for Park turned into a five-point lead at 11-6 after a string of four consecutive points for the Pirates. Within that span, Almeida and Arianna Marino combined for a block and Isabella Ceratti slammed down a kill. At 13-7, Central Methodist called a timeout to regroup and it paid off with a six-point scoring run to tie it at 13. It remained close until another scoring spurt of four points put Park up 22-18. Ceratti had five kills in the second set to lift Park to a 25-21 win. She led the Pirates with 12 kills and 11 digs.

At an 8-4 lead in set three, the Pirates jumped out to an early lead and enjoyed a healthy margin for their lead the majority of the set. The Eagles fought hard to bring it back within a manageable deficit at 20-19, but Park was quick to distance themselves with a five-point run for a 24-18 lead. The Eagles battled on set point with a three-point run but in the end Bernardi shut the door with the final kill at 25-21. The Pirates had their most kills in the third set at 18, while the Eagles had their highest hitting percentage of .262 on 13 kills, two errors, and 42 total attacks.

Hensley joins Ceratti with double-double numbers with 11 kills and a team-leading 14 digs.

Marino barely missed a double-double herself with 42 assists and nine digs.

Ung and Irene Verdino were solid defensively as well with 11 and 10 digs, respectively.

Bernardi, Ung, and Almeida were top notch offensively as well with nine, eight, and seven kills.

Park will host Benedictine College on Tuesday, October 24 in Breckon Sports Center for Breast Cancer Awareness night at 7pm. It is a "Pink Out" Game and all fans are encouraged to wear pink. WATCH HERE
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