CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Park University delivered a strong all-around performance Saturday, defeating Mount Mercy University in four sets, 25-22, 26-24, 23-25, 25-23, in a women's volleyball matchup on Oct. 24.
The Pirates used a balanced attack, effective serving and timely plays down the stretch to secure the road victory. Park finished with 62 kills and 12 service aces, overcoming a determined Mount Mercy squad that pushed the match to four competitive sets.
Teodora Tasic led Park with 17 kills, while Indi Zetic added 15 and Isadora Dias contributed 13. The trio accounted for 45 of the Pirates' 62 kills, providing the offensive firepower needed to close out a tight match.
Park improved to 20-8 overall and 11-5 in conference play, while Mount Mercy fell to 18-7 and 11-5.
Pirates Take Control in Tight Opening Sets
Park set the tone by claiming the first set, 25-22, before surviving an even closer second-set battle, 26-24. The Pirates' ability to finish the opening two sets proved decisive, giving them a 2-0 advantage and putting Mount Mercy under pressure.
The second set was particularly important. Mount Mercy continued to generate offense, recording 17 kills in the frame, but Park found enough answers to edge out the two-point victory. The Pirates' ability to win that set gave them a significant cushion in a match where the teams were evenly matched in overall hitting efficiency.
Mount Mercy responded in the third set, winning 25-23 to extend the contest. The Mustangs recorded 12 kills in the set and took advantage of Park's nine attack errors, forcing a fourth frame.
With momentum potentially shifting, Park needed one more strong finish to avoid a deciding fifth set.
Zetic, Tasic Lead the Offensive Charge
Zetic was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball, finishing with 15 kills, four service aces and 10 digs. Her four aces led all players and helped Park create pressure from the service line.
Tasic paced the Pirates with 17 kills, while Dias added 13 kills on an efficient .333 hitting percentage. Trinity Iverson also contributed 10 kills and made her presence felt at the net with six total blocks.
Setter Silvia Albani orchestrated the attack with 52 assists, helping Park distribute the ball across its primary offensive options.
Defensively, Claire Bingham recorded a match-high 36 digs, giving the Pirates a reliable presence in the back row. Visnja Canak added 12 digs, while Zetic chipped in 10 as Park finished with 89 digs.
Serving and Net Play Make the Difference
Although both teams finished with a .179 hitting percentage, Park found separation in other areas.
The Pirates recorded 12 service aces to Mount Mercy's five, creating a seven-ace advantage that helped distinguish the teams in an otherwise balanced statistical contest. Park also held a 7-5 edge in total blocks and finished with 59 assists compared with Mount Mercy's 52.
Mount Mercy received a strong performance from Hallie Bedier, who led the Mustangs with 14 kills and three service aces. Sam Schrage added 12 kills on a .423 hitting percentage, while Mary Kate Bendlage finished with nine kills and a team-high 22 digs.
Maddie Marquardt supplied 36 assists for the Mustangs, while Kate Wright contributed 21 digs. Mount Mercy matched Park with 89 digs, demonstrating that the difference came less from overall defensive volume and more from execution in key moments.
The Takeaway
Park's victory was built on balance and composure. The Pirates won the first two sets by a combined five points, absorbed Mount Mercy's third-set response and closed out the fourth, 25-23, to avoid a fifth-set decider.
The service game was a major separator, with Park's 12 aces helping compensate for the teams' identical hitting percentages. Combined with three players reaching double-digit kills and Bingham's outstanding defensive performance, the Pirates had enough contributors to finish the job.
The result moved Park to 20 wins on the season and kept the Pirates level with Mount Mercy at 11-5 in conference play. For Park, the four-set win offered a strong example of how balanced offense, serving pressure and timely execution can make the difference in a closely contested match.
