The Park University No. 5 nationally ranked women's beach volleyball program is in their second trip to Panama City Beach, Fla. in the first two NAIA Beach Volleyball Invitational Tournaments. Park's pool play matches on Thursday were identical to 2022 and so were the results, as Park goes 1-1 in matches with No. 1 Westcliff University (Calif.) and No. 4 OUAZ (Ariz.).

Westcliff defeated Park 3-2 in the first match, while the Pirates dug deep to win their second NAIA invitational tournament match in program history, both against OUAZ with a 3-2 score.
Park's 15-match winning streak was ended by No. 1 Westcliff and this also marked the first loss to an NAIA opponent this season. Park is currently sitting on their best record since beginning the program in 2019 at 17-2.

Pairs Season Records
Debora Bernardi and Giovanna Bello are now 12-4 on the season as a pair.
Jullia Alvarez and Szonja Stollar move to 14-5 on the year.
Melissa Knaut and Carla Pons Sales improve to 16-3 on the season.
Patricia Ubeda and Maria Ramos come in at 15-4 for the season.
Laura Danezzi and Mafalda Bras now stand at 14-4.
 
The Warriors are 21-5 on the season and were semifinalists in last year's tournament. After defeating Park, they took care of OUAZ 4-1 and have earned the bye in tomorrow's First Round as the Pool A winner.

Three of the pairs were 2-0 sweeps in the match, but two of those sweeps could have been easily gone a third set, as to of the sets went the distance at 22-20. Maria Ramos and Patricia Ubeda garnered one of those two-set victories, 22-20 and 21-16.

The other two matches were 2-1, one being won by Park's Melissa Knaut and Carla Pons Sales.

Westcliff 3, Park 2
No. 1 Westcliff - Marine Kinna, Fiona Moesching def. No. 3 Park - Debora Bernardi, Giovanna Bello: 2-0 (22-20, 21-15)
No. 1 Westcliff - Gianna Guinasso, Mia Scheepens def. No. 3 Park - Jullia Alvarez, Szonja Stollar: 2-0 (21-16, 21-14)
No. 3 Park - Melissa Knaut, Carla Pons def. No. 1 Westcliff - Sabrina Galassi, Maddie Septson: 2-1 (17-21, 21-19, 15-7)
No. 3 Park - Maria Ramos, Patricia Ubeda def. No. 1 Westcliff - Faith Webb, Luise Palenczat: 2-0) (22-20, 21-16)
No. 1 Westcliff - Brooke Scheidle, Rena Comer def. No. 3 Park - Laura Danezzi, Mafalda Bras: 2-1 (18-21, 21-13, 15-11)

The Pirates rallied back in their second set of pool play against OUAZ. It was another great matchup in the second appearance these two schools have against one another. The Pirates are now 2-0 against OUAZ and defeated the Spirit 3-2 in a match that came down to the final point of the final pair.

Ramos and Ubeda were the final pair to decide the match and all three of their sets with the Spirit went over the normal set points. They came out on top of a 25-23 first set and then were tied after an OUAZ set two win, 22-20. It came down to a 17-15 win for Park in set three, as Ubeda saved the day with the dig of the match to set up Ramos for the teardrop over the heads of the OUAZ pair in the final point.

BEACH??, Ubeda and Ramos had a wild match point, 17-15, to give Park the 3-2 victory over OUAZ! Park awaits the final Pool Play results to know their time/opponent in tomorrow's First Round. #NAIABeachVB #GoPirates????? #BattleForTheRedBanner pic.twitter.com/tRKJwMH6Wx

— Park Pirates (@ParkPirates) April 20, 2023

 
This same duo was interviewed following the match by NAIA Communications Mananger Katie Green.

BEACH??, Maria Ramos and Patricia Carrio Ubeda fresh off Park's #NAIABeachVB National Invitational Tournament Pool Play win and a great interview after the match!#GoPirates????? #BattleForTheRedBanner https://t.co/lQ1ob7sr8D

— Park Pirates (@ParkPirates) April 20, 2023

 
Ironically, all pairs in the match went 2-1. Laura Danezzi and Mafalda Bras were in a close race in their third set and barely missed out on the win, 15-13 Spirit.
Two of Park's pairs, Alvarez/Stollar and Knaut/Pons had to comeback in their matches to pull off reverse sweeps of OUAZ, winning the last two sets in both situations.

Park 3, OUAZ 2
No. 2 OUAZ - Olivia Andersh, Livia DePra def. No. 3 Park - Debora Bernardi, Giovanna Bello: 2-1 (21-15, 18-21, 15-9)
No. 3 Park - Jullia Alvarez, Szonja Stollar def. No. 2 OUAZ - Summer Hanks, Sam Leight: 2-1 (9-21, 21-17, 15-13)
No. 3 Park - Melissa Knaut, Carla Pons def. No. 2 OUAZ - Dayana Raygoza, Mattea Wilson: 2-1 (16-21, 21-15, 15-5)
No. 3 Park - Maria Ramos, Patricia Ubeda def. No. 2 OUAZ - Amanda Carlson, Grace Hughes: 2-1 (25-23, 20-22, 17-15)
No. 2 OUAZ - Sam Baer, Madison Wampler vs No. 3 Park - Laura Danezzi, Mafalda Bras: 2-1 (21-16, 8-21, 15-13)
 
Park is the runner up of pool B and will await the results of the Tie Break in Pool B to determine their opponent for tomorrow, as all teams went 1-1 in their first two matches. Park will play the third place team in Pool B.

The Pirates have their match time locked in for the First Round of the NAIA Invitational Tournament on Friday, April 21 at noon. With a win they will compete in the semifinals against the winner of Pool B at 4pm.

Schedule/Results