Park University's No. 5 nationally ranked men's volleyball program was paired with the Tigers of Campbellsville University on Saturday afternoon, ending in a Pirates' sweep, 25-19, 25-10, 25-19.

For the season, Park bumps up to 18-0, while the Tigers are 5-11 on the year. Out of the Mid-South Conference, Campbellsville shared common ground with Park last year as semifinalists in the 2022 NAIA Men' Volleyball National Championship tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

This is only the second time Campbellsville and Park have suited up together and now the Pirates are 2-0 with sweeps in all prior meetings.

The Tigers played Park close and led 10-8, but four of the next five points were awarded to Park off a service ace by Mert Asma, one service error, and two attack errors by the Tigers.

A four-point swing gave Park a 19-13 lead to plant Park's flag in set one, 25-19. Joao Infante and Daniel Isernhagen played important roles in the match and each had a kill in Park's afore mentioned 4-0 run. Isernhagen led Park with eight kills, while Infante tallied seven kills in the match.

The Pirates out did themselves in set two with five consecutive points out of the gate. This was later one-upped by a 7-0 scoring spree to give Park a 16-6 lead. The Pirates went for another run of seven points before ending the set with a massive 25-10 set two win.

In the second set, Park did not try and do too much and had 10 kills and three errors for a hitting percentage of .333. Campbellsville was held to a hitting percentage in negatives and had more attack errors than Park kills with 11.

The final set was a better showing for the Tigers, but their efforts were overshadowed by Park's 14 kills and their highest hitting percentage of the match with a .367. It was a tug of war in the early going, but Park gained control late with a 16-14 lead.

Joao Friedrich and Gabriel Soares ensured victory with a combined four-point scoring run between the two of them. Friedrich had the kill to start the streak, and then Soares took over with two kills and a service ace to give Park a 22-16 lead. Friedrich had six kills and eight digs, while Soares offered up five kills.

Marcus Lucchesi put the final stamp on the match with a kill from the setter position, 25-19. Lucchesi split reps with Eduardo Faquin, and they had 11 and 15 assists, respectively.
Asma was the leader in digs for the Pirates with 10.

Park's season continues with No. 9 William Penn University on Tuesday at 5pm in Oskaloosa, Iowa with another Top 15 Heart of America Athletic Conference match. Watch the live-action here.
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