The No. 2 nationally ranked Park University men's volleyball program had an exciting night in Breckon Sports Center in a sweep of Ottawa University, 25-15, 25-16, 25-22.

The most exciting moment came in the first set when Park's junior outside hitter Joao Friedrich claimed his 1,000^th career kill at Park. The three time NAIA All-American has had a tremendous career at Park, having been part of three consecutive NAIA National Championship Tournament Semifinal appearances and helped Park to its first Heart of America Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships last year.
 

M??, Joao Friedrich shares his thoughts following tonight's match and carries with him a new career milestone! #GoPirates?????
???https://t.co/LpaQ6d3mZL pic.twitter.com/lrUdoqfaMI

— Park Pirates (@ParkPirates) February 10, 2024

The Pirates are 7-1 to begin 2024 and have one more non-conference matchup before turning it over to Heart play. Ottawa began the year receiving votes in the preseason poll but have since dropped after a 1-7 start to their season.

Ottawa was never able to have a set above seven kills tonight, while the Pirates were able to get two 14 kills twice and hit .276 for the match.

The Pirates were close with Ottawa early on, but a 4-0 run put Park on the fast track at 12-7. Two kills by Leonardo Maldonado and a kill by Friedrich spurred on the run. Before long the Pirates were up 10, 19-9, after a Brave service error and single kills from Maldonado and Friedrich. There was no denying Park their moment as a double-block by Mihailo Ivanovic and Friedrich closed down set one, 25-15. Three total blocks came in that first set for the Pirates and two were from the combination of Ivanovic and Friedrich.

Eduardo Sabi held serve for five consecutive points to begin set two for Park, capping off Park's 5-0 run with a service ace. Nicolas Tenius added a kill along with Friedrich to make it 8-1 out of the gate. There was little recovery possible for Ottawa, as the Pirates took set two by nine points in the end, 25-16. Tenius was an asset out there on the court with four kills in the set and he eventually led Park with 10 kills for the match.

Ottawa came back strong in set three and led by four in the early going, 9-5. Coach Michael Talamantes had seen enough and called a timeout to regroup his squad, working like a charm as Park scored seven unanswered points directly after the timeout. Some highlights of that scoring swing were two kills by Gabriel Soares and two combined blocks by Alessandro Tolin and Marcus Lucchesi. Lucchesi would later have a service ace to put Park up five points, 16-11. Despite being up six points on match-point, the Braves gave a little rise out of the Pirates with a 4-0 run before Soares put a stamp on the match, 25-22.

Friedrich and Soares were behind Tenius with seven kills apiece.

Sabi and Lucchesi paved the way for the offense with quality assists on the night, 21 for Sabi and nine for Lucchesi.

Bonanoni was the lone Pirate in double-figure digs with 12 for the match.

Ivanovic and Tolin were the blocking leaders with three block assists each.
 
It will be another week before the Pirates play their next match with Central Christian College at 6pm in Breckon Sports Center on Friday, February 16. WATCH
BOX SCORE