Point Park volleyball closed its 2025 season on Friday evening with a win over Salem to break a 14-game losing streak.
The non-conference win at home marked the Pioneers’ first win since Sept. 30.
“After a really mentally and physically challenging year, it felt good to end with a win, especially since it was my last game as a college athlete,” graduate student Alex Koontz said.
After falling 25-23 in the first set, the Pioneers secured three straight sets to defeat the Tigers 3-1.
Point Park led the entire second set to tie the match with a 25-12 set victory. The team maintained this momentum through the final two sets, concluding with wins of 25-19 and 25-13.
“Reminding ourselves and each other that at the end of the day our goal is to put everything out on the court and to leave it there definitely helped us push til the end,” Koontz said.
The comeback was fueled by double-double performances from three Point Park standouts. Outside hitter Koontz recorded 11 kills and 14 digs, setter Nicole Reasbeck contributed 11 kills and 11 assists, and outside hitter Avery Budrys Rini finished with 10 kills and 11 digs.
Setter Marianna Oyola-Rivera also contributed to the Pioneers’ success with 27 assists.
Point Park outperformed Salem on every front, leading in kills, aces, blocks, assists and digs.
“I think that we all needed that win, not only for us but for the seniors too,” Oyola-Rivera said.Point Park’s final match was also “Senior Day,” giving the team a chance to celebrate its senior class, including Koontz, libero Lily Marchand and outside hitter Marcella Erichsen.
Point Park closed its second season of NCAA Division II play in the Mountain East Conference with a 4-23 overall record and a 2-12 conference record.
“This season was definitely tough,” Koontz said. “It wasn’t the season any of us hoped for by any means.”
The Pioneers finished slightly higher in the standings last season, concluding their 2024 campaign 7-20 overall and 4-10 in conference play.
Point Park has recorded below .300 in winning percentage each season since 2022. The 2025 team recorded its most losses in at least 20 seasons, with data tracing to 2005.
“I feel like no matter what division you play, you still want to give your best as an athlete, and that was my mentality coming from NAIA to DII,” Oyola-Rivera said.
Oyola-Rivera transferred this season from WVU Tech competing in the NAIA River States Conference, Point Park’s former conference.
“As for the team, we work hard every time we step on the court,” Oyola-Rivera said. “And even though we didn’t get the results we wanted this season, we will work harder starting this offseason for next season.”
The Pioneers are led by coach Bridget Bielich, who just concluded her eighth season as head coach.
“I think the talent and mindsets we had on the team [were] definitely DII caliber,” Koontz said. “It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t showcase that this year. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that my teammates will continue to build on that through their college careers and have more success in the future.”
