The (RV) Park University women's volleyball program was in Breckon Sports Center to begin their 52^nd season as a program, coinciding with the 150^th year celebration of Park University. The Pirates went 3-1 at the Park Invitational on Friday and Saturday defeating Saint Mary (Kan.), Oklahoma City, Bethel (Kan.), but falling to Wayland Baptist.

Silvia Albani came away with the Heart Setter of the Week award for an excellent opening performance with 164 assists for an average of 10.93 assists per set. She also had one double-double with 16 digs against Wayland Baptist.

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University of Saint Mary | 25-16, 25-22, 26-24 | BOX SCORE
In the opening set, the Pirates and Spires were close up until a 5-0 run by Park to make it 12 to 7. Saint Mary got back within two points, but the Pirates' Daniela Gomez, the senior from Colombia, had two key kills to keep Park ahead. Park eventually cruised to a 25–16 victory over Saint Mary in set one.

Saint Mary fired back in set two with a 4–0 run to start things off. A combination of Gomez and Luna Martins, with a kill and service ace, closed the gap to make it 9–7. The Spires stayed tough and kept a lead of 20–16, until A 7–0 run for Park Forced a Saint Mary timeout at 23-21. Park with the lead closed out set two with a kill by Florencia Churin and an attack error by Saint Mary to go up 2-0 in the match, 25-22.

It was a wild set three for both teams. The Pirates got out to the lead first, but Saint Mary tried to force a set for and overtook Park 19-18 off of a 6-1 run. The situation for Park was bleak, But Park did the unthinkable with a 7-0 run on set point. Elisa Dalla Pozza got her number called often in this span with three kills to secure the sweep, 26-24.

Gomez led Park with 13 kills, followed by Pozza and Isadora Dias in double-figures at 12 and 10 kills. Dias had a double-double on 11 digs.

Albani had 41 assists to open up the season and Ella Schwalm began her Park career with 20 digs.

Oklahoma City University | 25-18, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23 | BOX SCORE
The Pirates took the first set against Oklahoma City and then Oklahoma City was able to tie the match one set a piece. Park was able to gain an advantage and blocking with 12 total blocks for the match.
 
Four sets are when things really got interesting and the Stars and Pirates went back-and-forth in set three and we're tied 15-15. Oklahoma City retained a one-point lead as the set progress but the Pirates with a 4–2 run turned the tied 21–20. In that span, Dias had two kills. The Stars gained the upper hand with a 31 run to make it 23-22, but Park battled through for the last three points to win the set.
 
Set four for both teams was another close set. Midway through, each side alternated points. A 3–0 run put Park in the driver's seat and despite the Stars pushing it to 24–23, Dias came through with the matches final kill.
 
Dias and Pozza were in double-digit kills again at 14 and 10, while Visjna Canak made an impact with seven kills. Defensively, Dias and Pozza each had 5 and 6 blocks.
 
Schwalm added another 20 digs to her credit and Albani ushered in 36 assists.
 
Bethel College | 25-22, 23-25, 27-25, 25-17 | BOX SCORE
Both teams came out with a .194 hitting percentage in the opening set and neither side had an exception hitting percentage on the match, .90 for Bethel and .166 for Park, but the Pirates got late life with a .407 percentage in the fourth set.

The opening two sets were close and Park edged the Threshers 25-22 and then Bethel got some revenge with a 25-23 win in set two. The match had a turning point in set three. Bethel began the set with a 6-2 run to make a statement early. The momentum from set two continued to carry over and Park was now down 12-4. The junior from Natal, Brazil, Dias, got to work and two quick kills and a Bethel attack error cut the lead to 14-9. Another 3-0 run was spouted off by Park and just like that they were within three points, 15-12. The emergence of Gomez in set three was a big lift for Park and she had a kill that began a 4-0 run, while Canak had the kill in that stretch to tie the score at 17-all. Bethel took a one-point lead again, but another kill by Canak and two attack errors gave Park an 18-20 lead. Park looked like they were gong to put the set away with no drama after their fourth 3-0 run to force a set point, 24-20. Bethel scored five unanswered though to then give them the 25-24 advantage. The Pirates went to the two Vincennes University transfers with the game on the line and Dias and Pozza both delivered to make it 26-25. An attack error by the Threshers then turned the momentum of the match back over to Park for the 27-25 win.

The  Pirates were able to gain their largest separation of the match in the fourth set, as the Pirates worked to a 19-12 lead. Bethel was able to come within four points at 21-17, but a fifth set was averted by kills from Gomez and Pozza. Two additional attack errors gave Park the last four points of the match for the win, 25-17.

Dias led the way with 15 kills and Canak was second in line with a 10 spot. Canak's performance included a double-double on 14 digs as well, while Schwalm never was below 20 digs on the weekend. Schwalm showcased the serve with three service aces to lead the Pirates as well.

Albani was one dig shy of a second double-double, but contributed 42 assists.

Dias from the outside led Park with seven total blocks, while Florencia Churin and Pozza from the middle contributed five and four.

Wayland Baptist | 25-17, 24-26, 21-25, 23-25 | BOX SCORE
The Pirates began the match on the right note with the Pioneers and hit .393. The Pioneers were able to stay even in their hitting percentage the rest of the match and did not drop below .225, while Park was below .200 the remaining three sets.

Wayland Baptist got down initially, but came back to tie the first set 10-10. The Pirates took advantage of a service error and attack error by Wayland Baptist and added on kills by Dias and Pozza for a 4-0, 14-11. Another 3-0 run extended the distance between these two teams. Park methodically continued to build as the set went on and in the last six Park points, Canak delivered three kills and two service aces to close out the set, 25-17.

Park started hot in set two with a 10-3 start. A 9-2 run by Wayland Baptist eventually came through to force a Park timeout all tied at 15-15. Park maintained a lead up until a 4-0 run gave the Pioneers a one-point advantage. Park scored the next two points to get to a set point, 24-23, but the Pioneers had a 3-0 run take the set 26-24.

Park had to work from behind in set three, which went to Wayland Baptist 25-21. And despite a close 25-23 set four, Wayland Baptist again was able to edge the Pirates on Claude English Court, making only the second time since 2019 that Park has lost in their home, season opening tournament.

For this match, the Pirates got out blocked by Wayland Baptist 11 total blocks to Park's five.

Canak had a strong showing with 17 kills and three service aces, earning a second double-double. Dias matched Canak's 12 digs and was in for a double-double herself at 15 kills.

Schwalm defensively kept the ball off the floor with 34 digs, while Albani got her double-double on 16 digs and 45 assists.

Dias stood out on the weekend offensively with 54 kills for an average of 3.60 kills per set. She added to her totals, 40 digs, 14 block assists, and six service aces.

Park will rest up after a long weekend and come back for the start of Heart of America Athletic Conference play with a September 6 match at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. WATCH HERE