Tournament Central (Schedule, Directions, Tickets, etc.)
Live Stats
Following an impressive start to the season in Hawaii where Fresno Pacific collected three wins, the Sunbirds look to continue their early season success this weekend as they travel to the first annual Route 92 Showdown on Friday. The tournament, hosted by Cal State East Bay and Notre Dame de Namur, will feature 10 teams playing 40 matches over the span of two days.
The Sunbirds are scheduled to play two games on Friday, the first at 9 am against Holy Names followed by the second at 4:30 pm against San Francisco State, and two games Saturday, beginning at 9 am against Northwest Nazarene before capping off the weekend at 4:30 pm against Humboldt State, giving FPU a final tuneup before Pac West Conference matches start on September 13.
FPU enters the second week of the season looking to improve upon their 3-1 record, after displaying great depth and fight over the first four matches of the season.
After being named the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Invitational MVP, Rupia Inck leads the Sunbird offense. She has totaled 59 kills on the season averaging 3.47 kills per set. Alongside Inck, FPU has six players with 20 or more kills giving multiple attack options for setters Erica Adachi (86 assists) and Emily Carroll (76 assists).
On the defensive side of the net, Hannah Butler was named the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Invitational top libero after recording 69 digs in the tournament. Along with Butler, the Sunbirds displayed depth with seven players recording 20 or more digs. At the net, Kathleen Anderson was a nightmare for opposing attackers recording 29 total blocks, giving FPU four players with 10 total blocks or more through the first four matches.
Here's a closer look at the teams on the tournament schedule for FPU:
Holy Names (1-3)
Location: Oakland, CA
Nickname: Hawks
Colors: Black, Red, & White
Conference: Pacific West Conference
Head Coach: Dwight Combs
All-Time Series vs. FPU: HNU is 0-7 all-time vs. the Sunbirds.
About the Hawks: Holy Names is coming off an impressive 2011, finishing 10-0 in the NAIA's California Pacific Conference and 16-10 overall. As the school transitions into NCAA Division II, HNU joins the Sunbirds in the Pacific West Conference. This match-up will be the first of three between the two schools in 2012. The Hawks enter with one win on the year against Dominican and three losses to California Baptist, Chico State and Humboldt State.
HNU keys to success: After losing Cal Pac Player of the Year Ashley Nickel and top libero Kayla Coleman, the Hawks look to reload in 2012. Returners Kathleen Murushich (OH) and Rachel Vartanian (OH), who were named second team all conference in 2011, lead the team. Vartanian is tied for the team lead in kills (29), while Murushich leads HNU in total blocks (13). Sophomore Katie Lopez has been a consistent threat for the Hawks as well, totaling 29 kills and 38 digs on the season.
San Francisco State (3-0)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Nickname: Gators
Colors: Purple & Gold
Conference: CCAA
Head Coach: Michelle Patton
All-Time Series vs. FPU: This marks the first ever meeting between the two schools.
About the Gators: SFSU enters the tournament on a three game winning streak after defeating Maryville 3-0, Alaska-Anchorage 3-0 and Seattle Pacific 3-1 in impressive fashion (FPU fell to Seattle Pacific 3-2 in Hawaii). The Gators are coming off a 15-12 season where they finished .500 (11-11) in the CCAA. SFSU returns nine players in 2012, a season that marked the first time since 1986-88 that the program put together three consecutive seasons above .500.
SFSU keys to success: The Gators return three time All-CCAA setter Iris Tolenad, outside hitter Megan Johnson, and outside hitter Kelly Ostello in 2012. Tolenad has totaled 104 assists on the year, averaging 10.4 per set. Ostello (36 kills), Johnson (25 kills), and freshman Megan Wright (26 kills) lead an offense that is hitting .293 as a team.
Northwest Nazarene (3-1)
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Nickname: Crusaders
Colors: Red & White
Conference: GNAC
Head Coach: Jared Sliger
All-Time Series vs. FPU: NNU is 1-3 all-time vs. the Sunbirds.
About the Crusaders: Northwest Nazarene enters with a 3-1 record on the year after defeating Cal State Stanislaus 3-1, Point Loma 3-0 on its home floor, and Cal State Dominguez Hills 3-0 before falling to Azusa Pacific in straight sets at the Seaside Invitational Tournament. NNU finished 2011 with a 17-8 record and returns four starters from a team that placed fifth in the GNAC (12-6).
NNU keys to success: The strong suite for the Crusaders is experience, as honorable mention all-conference selection Kaitlyn Tuholski returns on the outside, along with starters Michelle Terpstra at setter and Becky Flores in the middle. On the offensive side, Flores is leading NNU in hitting percentage (.343) and kills (50), Tuholski is leading in service aces (9), and Terpstra has recorded 132 assists on the year totaling 10.15 per set. On the defensive side, senior Heather Allen has recorded 13 blocks in the middle and freshman Linnea Phillips has totaled 51 digs to lead the Crusaders.
Humboldt State (1-2)
Location: Arcata, CA
Nickname: Jacks
Colors: Green & Gold
Conference: CCAA
Head Coach: Sue Woodstra
All-Time Series vs. FPU: HSU is 0-1 all-time vs. the Sunbirds.
About the Jacks: Humboldt State is entering 2012 looking to improve upon an 8-18 season from a year ago. The new year has brought new faces to the Jacks, as the program has brought in seven newcomers and two new coaches. HSU is currently 1-2 on the year, coming off a five set victory over Holy Names on September 1. Despite the two losses, HSU was one set away from defeating Dominican and played tough against California Baptist before falling in four.
HSU keys to success: The Jacks are most experienced in the middle, with senior Allison Drobish (110 total blocks in 2011) and sophomore Mary Ellen Ackema (70 total blocks in 2011) retuning in 2012. The two have combined for 19 total blocks through three matches. Alexa Rosendale (3.71 K/set) leads the Jacks on the outside for a team that his only hitting .115 on the year. Sarah Wilber is leading the Jacks in assists (99) and service aces (9), while Tiffany McCray is the teams top libero with 52 digs.
