#12 Fresno Pacific took control of the NCCAA west region and guaranteed at least a second place finish in the PacWest on Friday night, defeating California Baptist (16-7, 9-4 PacWest) 3-1 in Riverside.

After dropping the first set 25-23, FPU (20-2, 11-2 PacWest) responded with three strong sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-17) for the victory. Fueled by 23 kills from Rupia Inck (.302 hitting percentage), the Sunbirds avenged the straight set loss to CBU in 2010; a match that snapped a 122 home match winning streak for FPU.

“We were able to slow them down after getting to see them and make our adjustments in the first set,” said head coach Kelly Winter. “They had some unconventional hitters, the approaches and the arm strength was different from what we have seen in awhile. The girls did a great job of slowing them down on the blocks and playing defense behind them.”

Early action saw California Baptist taking set one 25-22, a set where both teams struggled offensively with FPU hitting .206 to CBU's .154. 

The Lancers jumped out to a 11-8 lead before the Sunbirds responded with four straight points. Fresno Pacific was propelled by kills from Kathleen Anderson and Inck, followed by a service ace from Karah Mitchell and a CBU error to tie the score at 12-12.  

With the Sunbirds up 21-19 late in the set, CBU rattled off four straight points to grab the lead by two 23-21. Erica Adachi would bring the Sunbirds within one following a kill, but two late errors by FPU would close the set out for the Lancer win.

Fresno Pacific responded in the second set, jumping out to a 13-10 lead following kills by Inck and Adachi. The teams would exchange points before FPU was forced to call a timeout as CBU took a 19-18 lead.

Coming out of the timeout, Fresno Pacific regrouped and used a 7-1 run to take set two 25-20. Sparked by a Mitchell kill and finished off by an Anderson ace, mixed in with two Inck kills in-between two CBU errors, finished off the set two victory.

Set three witnessed the scorching run by Fresno Pacific continue, jumping out to a 10-2 lead before CBU responded with a 5-0 run of their own to jump back in the set. The Lancers continued to cut the FPU lead, but never managed to climb all the way back. 

As CBU cut the deficit to one at 18-17, Fresno Pacific responded with a kill from Mitchell leading to an ace from Anderson a few points later to force a CBU timeout at 22-19. Three Inck kills sealed the set three victory for FPU 25-22.

Fresno Pacific was firing on all cylinders in set four, hitting an impressive .480 in the 25-17 match clinching victory.  

The Sunbirds led 13-8 following a Mitchell kill and never looked back, finishing off the set with kills from Alcorn, Anderson, Mitchell and Inck for the 3-1 victory.

“I was really pleased with our offense tonight,” said Winter. “We improved each set and stayed consistent. Our attacking and our attackers were very efficient, it was just the serving and the passing that got away from us a little bit tonight.”

Alongside Inck on offense for FPU, Mitchell totaled 10 kills on .444 hitting, Adachi nearly missed a triple double with eight kills, 18 assists and nine digs and Anderson added seven kills. Emily Carroll had a double-double of her own totaling 18 assists and 10 digs while Hannah Butler played stellar defense with 18 digs to lead the Sunbirds. 

Ingrid Carmona led the Lancers with 14 kills, the only player in double digits for CBU.

“Being able to take control of the west region is huge,” said Winter. “We wanted another match at home and the girls knew going in if we won another match we could get to host a region. The girls are really pumped and looking forward to the NCCAA playoffs and regions.”

The Sunbirds travel to San Diego tomorrow to take on Point Loma at 1 pm in a PacWest matchup.