FRESNO, Calif. – #1 Fresno Pacific (19-0, 11-0 GSAC) came out on top after three sets, but #14 Azusa Pacific (16-6, 6-4 GSAC) kept the Sunbirds on their toes the final two sets.  The Sunbirds managed to win 25-11, 25-21, 25-23 to remain undefeated.

Coach Dennis Janzen remarked, “We came out strong.  Everyone was ready to play.”  The Sunbirds opened up the first set early, scoring four in a row to lead 10-5, and managed to finish the set with a 12-1 run to win 25-11.  The Sunbirds hit 0.519 with 16 kills on 27 attempts and only 2 errors.  #Keke Wang and Thais Julio# both had 5 kills as well as hitting percentages over 0.600; both girls ended the night with team-high 12 kills.

The second set was much tighter; the Sunbirds trailed most of the set with their first lead coming at 8-7.  The set remained close through 16-16 until the Sunbirds went on a 4-0 run.  The Sunbirds carried the lead to win 25-21.  #Fabiana Leomil# and Julio had 4 kills apiece, while Shu Liu# put up 3 kills with her 15 assists, finishing with 42 assists.

The Sunbirds controlled the final set, but the Cougars refused to go away.  Fresno Pacific led 10-6, but Azusa fought back to tie it at 11.  Wang pulled the Sunbirds ahead by six with two straight kills 20-14, and again the Cougars crawled back to trail by only one 23-22.  Fortunately, the Sunbirds closed out the match as Brittany Pierce hit her seventh kill of the night.

The Sunbirds finished the night hitting 0.363 with 53 kills on 113 attempts and 12 errors, holding Azusa Pacific to only 0.193.  Defensively, Tiffany Marinos, Leomil and Lisa Shilling led the Sunbirds in digs with 14, 12 and 11, respectively.  Coach Janzen concluded, “It was a quality win over a quality opponent.”

The Sunbirds played well on the net, getting 12 blocks to Azusa's 3 blocks.

Saturday, October 18, the Sunbirds head to Riverside to face #3 Cal Baptist (18-4, 7-3 GSAC).  Last month the Sunbirds swept the Lancers in Fresno, and will look to play just as well on the road.  The match will begin at 3:00 p.m.