DUBUQUE, Iowa — After splitting the opening two sets, Park University took control of the match and pulled away from Clarke University for a 3-1 victory Friday night, winning 25-22, 17-25, 25-19, 25-14.
Indi Zetic powered the Pirates with a match-high 21 kills, adding three service aces and 14 digs in an all-around performance that helped Park close out the final two sets. The Pirates hit .216 as a team, compared with Clarke's .128, and finished with advantages in kills, assists and service aces.
The victory moved Park to 19-8 overall and 10-5 in conference play. Clarke dropped to 10-16 and 6-9 in conference action.
Park Responds After Second-Set Setback
The Pirates opened with a 25-22 win in the first set, using a 17-kill effort to establish an early advantage. Clarke struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm in the frame, hitting .095.
The momentum shifted in the second set. Clarke erupted for 16 kills while hitting .275, taking advantage of Park's reduced offensive production to even the match with a 25-17 win.
Park's response was emphatic.
The Pirates recorded 14 kills and committed just three attack errors in the third set, producing a .393 hitting percentage. That efficiency helped Park reclaim control with a 25-19 victory and put Clarke on the brink of defeat.
Park saved its best finishing stretch for the fourth set. The Pirates held Clarke to seven kills and a .000 hitting percentage, closing out the match with a 25-14 win to secure the four-set result.
Zetic Leads a Balanced Park Attack
Zetic was the clear offensive centerpiece, recording 21 kills on 52 attempts while adding three aces. Her 24.5 points led all players.
Teodora Tasic contributed 12 kills and 13 points, giving Park another dependable option in the front row. Visnja Canak added five kills, three service aces and 14 digs, while Trinity Iverson recorded four total blocks to help anchor the net defense.
Setter Silvia Albani directed the offense with 48 assists and contributed three service aces of her own. Her distribution helped Park finish with 51 assists, compared with Clarke's 38.
Defensively, Claire Bingham led the Pirates with 17 digs. Canak and Zetic each added 14, helping Park finish with 73 digs and keep pressure on Clarke throughout the match.
Serving and Efficiency Separate the Teams
Park's advantage extended beyond its leading scorer. The Pirates recorded 13 service aces, five more than Clarke's eight, creating additional pressure from the service line.
Park also finished with 54 kills to Clarke's 42 and committed 21 attack errors, two fewer than the home team's 23. Those differences helped Park maintain its offensive edge even after the second-set setback.
Clarke received 10 kills from Kortney Harms, who also recorded five service aces and 20 assists. Bri Sanchez added nine kills, while Keely Colyer contributed eight. Madison Peck paced the Mustangs with 20 digs.
Clarke held a slight advantage in blocks, 8-6, but could not overcome Park's more efficient attack and stronger serving performance.
The Takeaway
Park's victory was defined by its ability to adjust after losing the second set. Rather than allowing Clarke's offensive surge to dictate the remainder of the match, the Pirates responded with their most efficient hitting set of the night before delivering a dominant fourth-set finish.
Zetic's 21 kills provided the headline performance, but Park's serving, setting and back-row defense made the difference across the final two frames.
The result gave the Pirates another conference victory and demonstrated their ability to recover quickly when momentum shifts. Against a Clarke team that showed its potential in the second set, Park's finish proved decisive.
