The No. 8 nationally ranked Park University women's volleyball program completed their conquest of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. on Tuesday evening, defeating the Ravens in straight sets, 25-20, 25-23, 25-9.

Park climbs to 14-2 on the season with an undefeated 8-0 record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. To date in 2023, Park's only losses have come against the current No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation, Concordia (Neb.) and Northwestern (Iowa). The Ravens came in to the match with only three losses on the season and now stand at 16-4 and 8-2 on the year.

Park was sure handed in set one with 16 kills and a hitting percentage of .333. A four-point run gave Park a 6-2 lead in the early going. The Ravens countered and brought the match within one point at 17-16. At 20-19, the Pirates turned it up a notch with five of the next six points for the win, 25-23. Debora Bernardi was feeling it in the match and closed out set one with a kill and a solo block in the final two points.

The Pirates remained in control through the first half of the second set, but the Ravens were up for the challenge and turned a 9-4 deficit into a slim 16-15 lead after going point for point with Park. Each team would exchange scoring streaks, Park had a four-point swing for the 19-16 lead, while the Ravens went for five points in a row to tie at 23-23. Malaina Hensley led all Pirates with 11 kills and tacked on the go-ahead score before a Raven attack error into the net gave Park set point, 25-23.

It was another impressive showing in set three with a .321 hitting percentage on 11 kills and only two errors. As a team Park hit for .275 for 44 kills and Benedictine was held to .076 and 27 of the same. The Pirates played like they had something to prove in set three with a 5-0 scoring run to begin the set. The Ravens got the score within three at 11-8, but Park unleashed a 14-1 scoring run that stunned a full crowd in Atchison. Park only had one service ace before the third set, but added four more aces before the match was out. Irene Verdino had one, while Grecia Ung had three service aces during the massive scoring streak. The final set went to Park 25-9 for the sweep.

Hensley is coming off of a Heart Molten Attacker of the Week award and may be on her way to another with a double-double tonight with 11 kills and 17 digs.

Verdino and Ung were in double-figure dig numbers as well with 21 and 10 respectively.

Izabella Ceratti was great for Park tonight with a count of 10 kills.

Bernardi led the Pirates with three service aces, part of Park's six total blocks, and she also contributed nine kills.

Park's setting game was on point with an expert effort from Arianna Marino with 35 assists and four kills in the match.

The Pirates continue on the road at Grand View University on Friday in Des Moines, Iowa at 7pm. WATCH HERE
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