Park men’s volleyball fell 3-0 against a solid Grand View University team on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Breckon Sports Center.

The No. 4 ranked Park University Pirates went up against the No. 1 ranked Grand View University Vikings on Tuesday night. This was their first matchup this season.

Both teams went into the game with impressive records. The Pirates were 9-1 while the Vikings were 8-1. The lone loss for each team came during conference play this season.

However, their current rankings would stand true as the Pirates were dealt their second loss of the season. A neck-and-neck first set fell in favor of the Vikings 25-23. The following two sets were similar, as Grand View would go on to win them 25-20 and 25-22.

The Pirates have fallen to the Vikings in their last seven matchups. This changes their all-time record to 6-14 in favor of Grand View.

This was also the Pirates’ first time getting swept this season. Their first loss to William Penn University was not nearly as one-sided, as it ended 3-2.

Despite the loss, the Pirates had a solid offensive performance. As a team, the Pirates average 12.12 kills per game. In this match with Grand View, sophomore Joao Friedrich had 12 kills and senior Felipe Guirau contributed eight kills.

Senior Luciano Bucci was also a major contributor, tallying 27 assists on the night.

The next matchup for Park men’s volleyball will be away against the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats on March 1. In an effort to redeem themselves against the Vikings, the Pirates will also play Grand View again on March 15.