The Pirates started the 2026 Parkville Invitational with a dominant win over the University of St. Mary Spires in three sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-13). Visnja Canak and Trinity Iverson led the way with nine kills apiece, and the setting duo of Calire Langer and Sarah Fernandez Villaverde handled the assists, with a combined 29. Claire Bingham had a phenomenal match at the service line, with five service aces.
How It Happened
Set one started even for the first 12 points at 6-6, but the Pirates went on a four-point rally to take a lead and force a Spires timeout. Park maintained the lead at 18-15, and a late four kills from four different Pirates combined with a service ace from Claire Bingham put the set away 25-19.
The Pirates continued to spread the ball around in set two, with four different players scoring the first 14 points to take a massive 11-3 lead. After a timeout and one kill from the Spires, Park extended the lead farther with back-to-back kills from Trinity Iverson and a service ace from Visnja Canak. However, the Spires didn't back down, and with the set on the line, St. Mary tallied four straight points from 24-15 to 24-19 before Park University star sophomore Indi Zetic ended set two with a kill, giving the Pirates a 2-0 match lead.
The University of St. Mary raced out to an early 7-6 lead in set three, but any momentum the Spires built was crushed when Park went on an eight-point run behind three service aces from Calire Bingham. From there, the Pirates took the lead and momentum and closed out the set with ease, 25-13.
The Pirates are set to play Doane University next as they look to continue to dominate as the host of the 2026 Parkville Invitational.
