PARKVILLE, Mo. — Park University overcame a slow start to earn a 3-1 victory over Baker University on Tuesday night, dropping the first set before taking control of the match with three consecutive wins, 16-25, 25-20, 25-18 and 25-18.
The Pirates found their rhythm after the opening frame, improving their attacking efficiency and putting greater pressure on Baker at the net. Park finished with 47 kills, a .219 hitting percentage and 13 total blocks, compared with 44 kills, a .119 hitting percentage and eight blocks for the Wildcats.
Indi Zetic led Park with 10 kills, while Isadora Dias and Teodora Tasic added nine apiece. Elisa Dalla Pozza delivered a major defensive performance with nine total blocks, and Claire Bingham contributed four service aces as Park improved to 21-8 overall and 12-5 in conference play.
Baker Takes Control in the Opening Set
Baker established the early advantage and maintained its offensive consistency to take the first set 25-16.
Park briefly kept pace in the opening exchanges, with Zetic recording a kill off a Silvia Albani assist to tie the score at 1-1. But Baker answered with timely kills and a service ace from Macy Bishop to build an early cushion.
The Pirates remained within reach through the middle portion of the set. Trinity Iverson recorded a kill off an Albani assist, and an attack error by Baker's Aby Widhalm helped Park stay close. However, Baker gradually created separation, using a combination of kills from Brie Weiler-Reedy and Bishop and a service ace from Widhalm to move ahead 11-7.
Park called a timeout after Baker extended its lead to 12-7. Tasic responded with a kill off another Albani assist, but the Wildcats continued to find openings in the Pirates' defense and limited Park's ability to string together points.
Baker ultimately closed out the set with a 25-16 win. The Wildcats hit .276 in the opener, while Park managed just a .083 hitting percentage after committing eight attack errors.
Bingham's Serving Helps Spark Park's Response
Park responded in the second set, winning 25-20 and evening the match at one set apiece.
The teams traded points early, with Baker briefly holding a narrow lead before Park worked back into the set. The score was tied at 5-5, and neither side immediately gained lasting separation.
The Pirates then began to build momentum through their attack and serving. Tasic delivered a kill off an Albani assist, and Elisa Dalla Pozza followed with a kill to help Park pull even at 8-8.
Bingham then changed the complexion of the set from the service line. She recorded back-to-back aces against Widhalm, giving Park consecutive points and forcing Baker to call a timeout with the Wildcats trailing 10-8. Park added another point after a Baker attack error, stretching the run to four straight points and pushing the lead to 11-8.
Although Baker stopped the run and continued to compete, Park maintained its advantage by spreading the offense among multiple hitters. Albani directed the attack, while Zetic, Tasic and Dalla Pozza provided important finishes.
Park's efficiency was a major difference in the set. The Pirates recorded 14 kills against just two errors, hitting .300. Baker managed nine kills and six errors, finishing with a .097 hitting percentage.
The 25-20 victory gave Park the momentum heading into the third set.
Pirates Overcome Early Deficit to Take the Lead
The third set was another test for Park, as Baker initially moved in front before the Pirates worked their way back into control.
Baker built an early 7-3 advantage, putting Park under pressure to respond. The Pirates chipped away at the deficit with contributions from several players, including a kill by Visnja Canak off an Albani assist and a block that helped turn a Baker attack into an error.
Park continued to apply pressure at the net. Iverson helped disrupt Baker's attack, while Tasic and Dalla Pozza contributed to a block that forced another Wildcat error. The defensive plays helped Park turn the set around and prevent Baker from extending its early lead.
As the set progressed, Park became more effective at converting its opportunities. The Pirates continued to distribute the ball across the front line, making it harder for Baker to focus its defense on a single hitter.
Baker struggled to find the same attacking consistency it had shown in the opening set. The Wildcats committed 10 attack errors in the third and finished with a .000 hitting percentage. Park recorded 10 kills of its own and took advantage of the errors to secure a 25-18 win.
The result gave Park a 2-1 lead and put the Pirates one set away from the match.
Park Finishes Strong in the Fourth
With the match on the line, Park delivered another 25-18 victory to complete the comeback.
Baker initially stayed close, and the teams were tied at 5-5. The Wildcats continued to get production from Bishop and Alyssa Reichard, but Park answered with timely kills and blocks to keep the score tight.
The Pirates began to gain separation around the middle of the set. After Baker moved ahead 12-10, Park responded with a kill from Tasic and a point from Dalla Pozza to pull even at 12-12.
Mila Karadjova then helped fuel the decisive stretch. Her service ace tied the set, and a Baker attack error gave Park another point. Dias followed with a kill off an Albani assist, and another Wildcat attack error extended Park's advantage to 15-12.
That sequence proved pivotal. Rather than allowing Baker to regain control, Park continued to capitalize on defensive pressure and attacking opportunities. The Pirates stayed composed through the closing points and secured the 25-18 set victory, completing their three-set comeback after losing the opener.
Park hit .345 in the fourth set, recording 12 kills with only two errors. Baker finished the frame with a .135 hitting percentage.
Balanced Offense and Net Defense Carry the Pirates
Zetic led Park with 10 kills on 28 attempts, while Dias and Tasic recorded nine kills apiece. Dalla Pozza added eight kills and was especially influential defensively, finishing with nine total blocks, including two solo blocks.
Iverson and Tasic each contributed four blocks, helping Park finish with a 13-8 advantage in total blocks. The Pirates also matched Baker with eight service aces, with Bingham leading the way with four. Karadjova added two aces.
Albani orchestrated Park's offense with 32 assists. Bingham also contributed 12 digs, while Zetic added nine and Canak recorded seven.
Baker was led by Bishop's 10 kills, while Reichard added nine and Widhalm finished with eight. Reichard also led the Wildcats with 20 digs, and Widhalm recorded 15.
Despite Baker's 66-54 advantage in digs, Park's more efficient attack and stronger blocking proved decisive. The Pirates committed 17 attack errors to Baker's 28, a difference that helped them take control after the first set.
The Takeaway
Park's victory was defined by its ability to adjust after a difficult opening set. The Pirates responded with a .300 hitting percentage in the second, overcame an early deficit in the third and finished the fourth with their most efficient attacking performance of the match.
Bingham's serving helped shift momentum, Dalla Pozza anchored the blocking effort, and the combined production of Zetic, Dias and Tasic kept Park's offense moving throughout the comeback.
The four-set win moved Park to 21-8 overall and 12-5 in conference play, giving the Pirates a valuable victory after Baker took the opening set. Rather than letting the early setback dictate the match, Park improved its execution and closed out three straight sets to secure the win.
Park has clinched one of two wins they need to be a first-round host in the Heart of America Conference Tournament. Park needs a road win over Benedictine on Saturday.
