PARKVILLE, Mo. — Fans and players on Monday celebrated the Park University volleyball team's national championship title.
At a victory rally on campus, each member of the championship team was called on stage as Pirates' fans cheered and applauded, giving the team a standing ovation.
Head coach Mike Talamantes said the NAIA Championship game against Columbia (Missouri) College was one of the most difficult games in his career.
“We set our goal back in August to get back to Dec. 1 and give ourselves a chance to win,” Talamantes said.
When Park University scored the winning point in a 3-2 victory on Saturday, the Lady Pirates raced toward each other, hugging and cheering in their moment of triumph.
“When we scored I just fell and I started crying so much because I could not believe that we made it. It was amazing,” senior center Danna Gomes said.
Sophomore outside hitter Nada Meawad, who delivered the game-winning kill, said the team's victory made a year of sacrifices worth it.
“All the hard work and all the practices and all the classes that we have to miss because we want to take the national title...It was really hard to score that point but that feeling was really amazing," she said
Talamantes said Monday that his team is savoring the victory and already hoping for a repeat performance next year.
It was the second national title in the program's history.
