Jordyn Anderson had 19 kills in the Pirates' 3-2 loss to College of Saint Mary.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Park University women’s volleyball team suffered a pair of heartbreaking defeats on the final day of the 2010 Grand View Invitational, falling in a tight four-game opener Saturday to host Grand View before falling in five to College of Saint Mary at the Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center in Des Moines.

Park (1-3) was led by Mariana Vogado’s two-match total 27 kills, including 17 kills in the five-set match against CSM, who improved to 2-2. Grand View’s win over Park was its fourth of the year.

“We’re so close,” said head coach Rick Mischka. “In the first match, our middles played great, and Ashley Robinson had a great match. Crystal Cole really spread the ball around, and the team passed much better. Grand View is a solid team, but we didn’t back down today. The energy and passion after each point is amazing and even players that come from the bench are making a difference. If we can continue to play consistent like this, we will have a great season."

Robinson led the Pirates in the opening match, putting down 13 kills, while Allie Nichols had 12. Crystal Cole posted a double-double from the setting position with 43 assists and 13 digs, while Ashley Reinert also helped the defense, recording 11 digs.

Grand View had to scramble to win the opening set, 28-26, and Park looked to be back in the match in the second frame, beating the Vikings 25-20. Grand View responded, though, claiming back-to-back 25-23 victories to end the match, 3-1.

In the day’s second match, the Pirates took a commanding lead, beating CSM 25-20 to open the match, but the Flames rallied, defeating Park 28-26 in game two. Park again fired back with a big win in the third set, beating CSM 25-17, but College of Saint Mary took the fourth frame, 25-21, before ending the match with a 15-12 win in the fifth and final game.

Jordyn Anderson led the Pirates offensively in the match with 19 kills, hitting .394 in the match. Vogado had 17 kills in the loss, recording a double-double with a team-high 12 digs. Crystal Cole finished with 49 assists to total 92 on the day, and the Park defense was led in the second match by Nichols and Reinert, who each had 10 digs.

“Jordyn was a stand-out for us, today,” Mischka said. “We’re spreading the ball around really well and doing really good things, but from time-to-time, we fall into some old habits we need to break. We have some consistency to work through, but the passion and intensity is there, and even after a mistake the team doesn't get rattled and keeps pushing. Today was a giant step for us.”

The Pirates will return to action Wednesday at Breckon Sports Center, hosting the Park Triangular which begins at 4 p.m., with a match between Park and the University of Saint Mary. USM will then square off against Avila University at 6, followed by Park and Avila at 8 p.m.