The Park University No. 5 nationally ranked women's beach volleyball program completed their second straight appearance in the NAIA National Invitational Tournament on Friday after a loss to No. 6 Webber International University (Fla.) in the First Round, 3-1.

The Pirates are in elite company as a two-time qualifier to the six-team, invitational tournament. Park is also the only school in the NAIA that can boast having all three programs in bracket play at the final site NAIA tournaments for two straight years.

Park turns the page on 2023, but it was a memorable one in this program's young history. Together this group has amassed a 17-3 record. Their first loss was to, NCAA Division I, University of Nebraska in the second match of the season. The Pirates went on to win 15 matches in a row to bring them to Panama City Beach, Fla. for the NAIA tournament.

Park picked up a win against No. 4 OUAZ (Ariz.) in pool play yesterday, but their only losses against NAIA opponents this season came against No. 1 Westcliff (Calif.) and No. 6 Webber.

Park is 1-2 in the final site tournament after today and now have a 2-4 record in the last two seasons at the invitational.

Their road during the past two tournaments has been identical, beginning with a loss to Westcliff, a win against OUAZ, and finally a First Round loss to Webber.

The Warriors were semifinalists last year and advance to their second semifinal round in two straight years with a 22-7 record in 2023.

Pairs Season Records
Debora Bernardi and Giovanna Bello:           12-5
Jullia Alvarez and Szonja Stollar:                   14-6
Melissa Knaut and Carla Pons Sales:            16-4
Patricia Ubeda and Maria Ramos:                 15-4
Laura Danezzi and Mafalda Bras                   15-4
 
Each pair ended in 2-0 sweeps today and the fourth position pairs did not finish once Webber had three pairs win their matches.

The 1-2 pairs both ended the second set 21-19 and were close to stretching it to a third game each.

The 5^th pair for Park won their match 2-0 and won their first set by 10 points, the largest margin of any other pair in the matchup. Like the 1-2 pairs, Laura Danezzi and Mafalda Bras had a close second set but pulled out the win 22-20. 
 
Webber 3, Park 1
No. 6 Webber - Cindy Garcia, Montana Pelak def. No. 5 Park - Debora Bernardi, Giovanna Bello: 2-0 (21-16, 21-19)
No. 6 Webber - Bailey Sikkema, Kendall Steinert def. No. 5 Park - Jullia Alvarez, Szonja Stollar: 2-0 (21-12, 21-19)
No. 6 Webber - Nadia Reid, Kiersten Tisdale def. No. 5 Park - Melissa Knaut, Carla Pons: 2-0 (21-17, 21-13)
No. 5 Park - Maria Ramos, Patricia Ubeda vs No. 6 Webber - Faith Wanda Harris, Lily Arnold: ---
No. 5 Park - Laura Danezzi, Mafalda Bras def. No. 6 Webber - Delanie Johnson, Abby Baxter: 2-0 (21-11, 22-20)

Schedule/Results