Box scores
IRVINE, Calif. – #1 Fresno Pacific (29-0, 20-0 GSAC) defeated #4 Concordia (26-5, 15-5 GSAC) in three sets to finish the season undefeated in the GSAC. 20-0 is a rare accomplishment; only the 2002 and 2005 Sunbirds managed to go undefeated in the GSAC in their respective seasons. The Sunbirds finished off the Eagles with a 20-6 run to comeback and win set three 25-21, winning the first two sets 25-20 and 25-15.
Lisa Shilling, Thais Julio and Keke Wang led the Sunbirds to their final conference victory of the season. Julio and Wang both helped the Sunbirds with 5 total blocks apiece, as well as leading the Sunbirds with 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Shilling led the Sunbirds with a 0.615 hitting percentage with 9 kills on 13 attempts and only one error, and she also led with 6 total blocks, two of which were solo blocks. Fresno Pacific finished with 18 team blocks, each involving at least one of the three girls.
Tiffany Marinos also led the Sunbirds with 16 digs, while Shu Liu contributed 39 assists to lead the Sunbirds and had 3 total blocks, 9 digs and a kill.
The beginning of the match was competitive through 9-9 in the first set. The Sunbirds hit three kills in a row to take control of the set, and carried the control in the second set to win both sets. However, Concordia came out strong to start the third set. The Eagles jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, and extended it to as much as a 15-5 lead over the Sunbirds, but Fresno Pacific fought back from the ten point deficit. The Sunbirds evened the set after two great runs, a 5-1 run to bring the score to 10-16 and an 8-1 run to tie the set 19-19. Trailing 20-21, the Sunbirds took their first lead and eventually the set with a 5-0 finish, ending with a block from Julio and Shilling.
Coach Dennis Janzen praised his team, “It was a great win on the road. This is the kind of volleyball we need to play to have a successful run at the national tournament.”
The Sunbirds have been the #1 ranked team most of the season, but more impressively, they showed their strength in holding the #4 ranked team in the NAIA to a 0.040 hitting percentage on the road in Irvine. These two teams could meet up again in the national tournament due to the strength of the Golden State Athletic Conference, maintaining seven ranked teams and three of the top four spots in the NAIA.
The Sunbirds will finish their regular season at home against NCAA DI competitor CSU Bakersfield. Last month the Roadrunners took the first two sets from the Sunbirds, only to have the Sunbirds comeback with three straight to win the match 3-2. It should be a great match for the final home match for the seniors of Fresno Pacific. The senior night match will begin at 7:00 p.m.
