Box Score (PARKVILLE, Mo., March 21)—Opening the final road trip of its inaugural season, the McKendree University men's volleyball team was swept Friday evening at Park University. The host Pirates, ranked No. 3 in the NAIA, rolled to the sweep by scores of 25-13, 25-23 and 25-17.
 
The loss sends McKendree to 8-20 on the year. The Bearcats and Pirates will wrap up their two-game weekend series with a noon first serve on Saturday in Parkville, Mo.
 
Freshman outside hitter Dustin Borenstein (Highland Park, IL/Highland Park) put down a match-high 13 kills to pace McKendree. Freshman outside hitter Mike Polizzi helped out with eight attacks, while freshman libero handled a team-best six digs. Freshman setter Jack MacLean distributed 32 assists against Park.
 
In the first set, McKendree led in the opening moments before Park (21-4) scratched out a lead then pulled way with an 8-1 run to close the set. As a team, Park hit .600 in the opening set, converting 14 kills with just two errors on 20 total attacks.
 
Park built a seven-point lead late in the second set before McKendree staged a furious rally. A kill by Polizzi sparked a run of five straight points to bring the Bearcats within 22-20. The Pirates rebounded to score two of the next three points and held serve for the set when a kill from Borenstein and a hitting error by Park slashed the deficit to 24-23. But the Pirates were able to register the next point to build a two-set lead on the Bearcats.
 
McKendree stayed within striking distance of Park for most of the third set, and trailed by a point at 14-13 midway through the contest. From there, the Pirates pulled away, scoring 11 of the final 15 points of the set to seal the home victory. The win marked the third consecutive triumph for Park.
 
Daniel Arteaga paced Park with 14 kills and a .591 hitting percentage. Fabricio Toledo added 11 kills while Murilo Pereira had 10. Rob Cordero handed out a match-high 39 assist for the Pirates.