The Eagles Open Up Season with Park Tournament

PARKVILLE, Mo. — Reinhardt opened its 2026 men's volleyball season with a challenging first day at the Park Tournament on Friday, falling in straight sets to both Westcliff (25-20, 25-10, 25-19) and host Park (25-23, 25-17, 25-18). The Eagles showed stretches of competitive play in both matches, particularly in the openers, but were ultimately outpaced in efficiency at the net.

In the first match of the day, Westcliff's balance and efficiency proved decisive in a 3-0 victory. The Warriors hit .400 as a team and finished with 37 kills and 7.0 total blocks, while Reinhardt tallied 28 kills and hit .120. The Eagles stayed close early, battling to 25-20 in the opening set before Westcliff's serve and block began to take control.

Reinhardt trailed just 21-20 late in the first set before Westcliff closed on a 4-0 run, capped by a service ace from Rodolfo Biegelmeyer to seal the frame, 25-20. The second set swung heavily in Westcliff's favor, as the Warriors used pressure from the service line and quick offense to pull away for a 25-10 win. Westcliff finished the set on a kill from Gabriel Pizza, who led their attack with 10 kills and 11 digs on the match.

The Eagles attempted to respond in the third, pushing Westcliff in longer rallies and forcing more defensive plays, but the Warriors maintained control of the net and closed out the match 25-19. A service error on match point ended the set and completed the sweep. Tom Dempsey led Westcliff with 13.5 points on nine kills, three blocks and two aces, while setter Nikos Kalagasidis directed the offense with 24 assists.

Reinhardt's second match of the day featured another strong offensive opponent in Park, which hit .377 with 34 kills and 13.5 total blocks in a 3-0 decision. The Eagles produced 31 kills and a .122 attack percentage against the Pirates, showing improved attacking numbers but running into one of the tournament's most physical blocking units.

The opening set against Park was Reinhardt's closest of the day. The Eagles traded points deep into the frame and were within striking distance at 24-23 before a service error on the final point handed Park a 25-23 win. Park used that momentum to tighten its block and extend rallies in the second set, pulling away 25-17 on a closing kill by outside hitter Murillo Silva.

Silva remained a key factor in the third set, finishing with 10 kills and 12.5 points, including the final kill of the match to lock in a 25-18 result and complete Park's sweep. For Reinhardt, outside hitter Gabriel Gutierrez provided a bright spot in the nightcap, leading the Eagles against Park with 12 kills on 22 swings (12-4-22) and 12.5 points while adding three digs. Reinhardt also totaled 6.0 blocks in the match as the Eagles continued to battle at the net against the tournament hosts.

The two losses marked a demanding start to the season for Reinhardt, which opened its campaign with back-to-back matches Friday and will conclude its stay at the Park Tournament with another contest on Saturday. The Eagles will look to build on the offensive contributions from Gutierrez and stretches of competitive play in the opening sets as they continue to adjust and gain rhythm early in the 2026 schedule.

Up next, the Eagles will be playing in their home opener this Friday, January 30th, at 4pm.