The Park University No. 8 nationally ranked women's beach volleyball program traveled to Ozark, Mo. to Volleyball Beach Ozark for the Missouri State University hosted beach volleyball tournament on Friday and Saturday, March 1-2.

The Pirates move to 3-4 on the season with only one match so far in 2024 against NAIA competition. In fact, the Pirates went 3-2 over the weekend with two wins over NCAA Division I programs, Eastern Illinois University and Southwest Baptist University.

Grecia Ung and Arianna Marino stood out with a 4-1 record this weekend in the No. 2 flight.

Fights one through three were able to capture the 3-2 victory over Eastern Illinois. Each of those flights came out on top with 2-0 sweeps.

Park 3, Eastern Illinois 2

1. Alvarez/Stollar (Park) def. Mohesky/Hasz (EIU): 21-16, 21-18
2. Ung/Marino (Park) def. Martinez/Flynn (EIU): 21-18, 21-17
3. Pons/Ceratti (Park) def. Navarro/Witherspoon (EIU): 21-18, 21-15
4. Rochaix/Dean (EIU) def. Martins/Bras (Park): 18-21, 10-21
5. Paniagua/Amettis (EIU) def. Verdino/Amra (Park): 17-21, 16-21

Exh. Carrio/Arruda (Park) def. Eastern Illinois: 21-13, 21-14
 
It was a battle against Lindenwood, who edged the Pirates by one match. Izabella Ceratti and Carla Pons Sales were the only Park pair to get a 2-0 sweep against Lindenwood, while Ung and Marino were able to outlast Lindenwood in the final frame, 15-12.

Lindenwood 3, Park 2

1. Soto/Malzahn (Lindenwood) def. Alvarez/Szonja (Park): 14-21, 15-21
2. Ung/Marino (Park) def. Gentemann/Wilson (Lindenwood): 21-18, 18-21, 15-12
3. Ceratti/Pons (Park) def. Seidel/McGee (Lindenwood): 15-21, 17-21
4. McWhorter/Jacobs (Lindenwood) def. Bras/Martins (Park): 21-17, 11-21, 15-7
5. Llorens/Schade (Lindenwood) def. Kovac/Verdino (Park): 10-21, 15-21

Exh. Carrio/Arruda (Park) def. Lindenwood: 21-16, 21-17
Exh. Ferreira/Sandins (Park) def. Lindenwood: 21-19, 21-15
 
The tournament host, Missouri State was 4-0 on the weekend and in 2024 are off to a program's best start of 9-0. The Pirates got to see top competition over the weekend and among the best is NCAA Division I opponent, Missouri State. All Park pairs were swept 2-0 in the 5-0 loss.  
Missouri State 5, Park 0

1. Bach/Niemeyer (MOST) def. Alvarez/Szonja (Park): 13-21, 18-21
2. Steele/Cleary (MOST) def. Ung/Marino (Park): 18-21, 17-21
3. Muriel/Eschelman (MOST) def. Ceratti/Pons (Park): 14-21, 8-21
4. McSpadden/Larkin (MOST) def. Bras/Martins (Park): 8-21, 18-21
5. Plessner/Schrandt (MOST) def. Kovac/Verdino (Park): 10-21, 15-21

Exh. MOST def. Carrio/Arruda (Park): 21-16, 21-17
Exh. MOST def. Ferreira/Sandins (Park): 21-19, 21-15
 
The Pirates got back to their winning ways to close out the weekend, starting with NCAA Division I opponent, Southwest Baptist University. The Pirates had a tough 2-1 match in flight No. 1, but Alvarez and Stollar found a way in the final set, 15-12. Mafalda Bras and Luna Martins were able to get a nice 2-0 sweep, including a 21-12 win to claim the win. Likewise, Amra Kovac and Irene Verdino go the 21-12 score in their second set for the sweep, their first sweep and first win so far in 2024.
Park 5, Southwest Baptist University 0

1. Alvarez/Szonja (Park) def. Belcher/Lasater (SBU): 13-21, 21-19, 15-12
2. Ung/Marino (Park) def. Pogue/Lawrence (SBU): 21-9, 21-18
3. Ceratti/Pons (Park) def. Lill/Pido (SBU): 17-21, 21-18, 15-8
4. Bras/Martins (Park) def. Satterly/Hoerning (SBU): 21-19, 21-12
5. Kovac/Verdino (Park) def. (SBU) : 21-14, 21-12

Exh. SBU def. Carrio/Arruda (Park): 15-21, 18-21
Exh. Ferreira/Sandins (Park) def. SBU: 21-9, 18-21, 15-8
 
The Eagles of Oklahoma Wesleyan had their hands full with No. 8 Park, as the Pirates earned three 2-0 sweeps to capture their second 5-0 victory of the weekend. Bras and Martins were looking at the pinnacle of their game with a winning margin of 29-points in their 2-0 victory. Ung and Marino maintained their level of play throughout the weekend and secured their fourth win and third sweep.
Park 5, Oklahoma Wesleyan University 0

1. Alvarez/Szonja (Park) def. (OKWU): 14-21, 21-15, 15-6
2. Ung/Marino (Park) def. (OKWU): 21-18, 21-12
3. Ceratti/Pons (Park) def. (OKWU): 17-21, 21-15, 21-12
4. Bras/Martins (Park) def. (OKWU): 21-7, 21-6
5. Kovac/Verdino (Park) def. (OKWU) : 21-18, 22-20

Exh. Carrio/Arruda (Park) def. OKWU: 21-16, 21-17
 
Park will play in Chesterfield, Mo. at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9 for the St. Louis Invitational, where they will play another five matches against Bryant & Stratton College and Ottawa University.