The Park University No. 5 nationally ranked women's beach volleyball program has been aching to get back on the sand, following their appearance in the inaugural 2022 NAIA beach volleyball invitational tournament. The Pirates opened the season with challenging matches with Wayne State College and University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb.

Park begins the year 1-1 after defeating NCAA Division II opponent Wayne State 4-1 and getting swept by the Huskers 5-0.

The Pirates began with Wayne State on Friday and had two pairs win 2-0 and two more pairs seal victories in three sets.

Laura Danezzi and Mafalda Bras joined another Park pair of Debora Bernardi and Giovanna Bello with commanding wins in their opening 2023 matches. Bernardi and Bello won their match by a margin of 11, while Danezzi and Bras had the eight-point differential.

Park 4, Wayne State 1
1. Debora Bernardi/Giovanna Bello (Park) def. Taya Beller/Allie Petry (WSC) 21-18, 21-13
2. Kelsie Cada/Jordan McCormick (WSC) def. Jullia Alvarez/Szonja Stollar (Park) 21-13, 21-9
3. Melissa Knaut/Carla Pons Sales (Park) def. Isabelle Vacek/Rachel Walker (WSC) 21-19, 17-21, 15-11
4. Maria Ramos/Patricia Carrio Ubeda (Park) def. Allie Beresford/Brooke Peltz (WSC) 23-25, 21-9, 15-9
5. Laura Danezzi/Mafalda Bras (Park) def. Maggie Brahmer/Havyn Heinz (WSC) 21-18, 21-16
Exh. Grace Baumert/Taylor Bunjer (WSC) def. Amra Kovac/Luna Martins (Park) 21-16, 21-19

In Park's next match against Nebraska, the home team played a flawless match and defeated Park 5-0.

Danezzi and Bras were part of the only set that went long of all the pairs, but fell 22-20 in the closest set of the Nebraska matchup.

Nebraska 5, Park 0
1. Merritt Beason/Harper Murray (NEB) def. Debora Bernardi/Giovanna Bello (Park) 21-18, 21-12
2. Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez (NEB) def. Jullia Alvarez/Szonja Stollar (Park) 21-14, 21-12
3. Laney Choboy/Lindsay Krause (NEB) def. Melissa Knaut/Carla Pons Sales (Park) 21-9, 21-14
4. Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly (NEB) def. Maria Ramos/Patricia Carrio Ubeda (Park) 21-15, 21-14
5. Maisie Boesiger/Andi Jackson (NEB) def. Laura Danezzi/Mafalda Bras (Park), 22-20, 21-14
Exh. Caroline Jurevicius/Hayden Kubik (NEB) def. Amra Kovac/Luna Martins (Park) 21-10, 21-18

Park will wait another few weeks before their next competitions at the MBU Beach Volleyball Tournament on March 9. The Pirates will play (RV) Missouri Baptist University twice and (RV) Ottawa University (Kan.) twice. The teams will meet at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex in Chesterfield, Mo.