Box Score Box Score

Playing its second five-set match in as many nights, #23 Fresno Pacific rose to the occasion behind phenomenal defensive play, efficient team volleyball, and a career night from Rupia Inck to pick up a huge 3-2 road victory over a talented Hawaii Pacific team (25-18, 16-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13).

The Sunbirds (11-8, 6-6 PacWest) put on a defensive clinic, as four players finished with double-figure digs to effectively slow down a dangerous HPU attack. Inck, meanwhile, put a relentless assault on the Sea Warrior defense, finishing with 30 kills on 66 swings with a .303 attack percentage. She also led the team with 19 digs.

"I'm really proud of the way we played tonight," said head coach Kelly Winter. "We played together and the defense stepped up in a major way. We also really executed at the end when we needed to. At times this season we've struggled in crunch time but they brought a different mentality tonight and were really aggressive down the stretch."

After winning sets one and three, but narrowly dropping set four, the Sunbirds found themselves in yet another decisive fifth set. Despite having delivered hard-hitting attacks all night, Inck continued to come through for the Sunbirds with six kills in the Sunbirds' first nine points of the set.

As the teams traded points and the set drew to a close, junior outside hitter Toni Murphy would come through in the clutch for the Sunbirds with three kills in a short span, the last of which tied the match 12-12. HPU took a 13-12 lead but Morghan Williams delivered a big kill to tie it up and then Bissie DenHartog found Inck once again for her 30th kill of the night making the score 14-13. The Sunbirds wisely let the next HPU attack fall out of bounds to claim the match 15-13. FPU saved its best set for last, hitting a match-high .417 as a team in set five.

"Everyone stepped up tonight," said Winter. "Rupia played one of the best matches we've seen her play. Morghan was so efficient and reliable. Rachel really stepped up. Toni had a great match and was crucial down the stretch. Bissie came through big-time and did a great job of finding our hitters. Amy gave us quality minutes as a middle blocker and Hannah did a great job passing and showcasing her versatility."

Williams hit a sizzling .406 to lead the team and complemented Inck by finishing with 15 kills. Murphy joined Inck with a double-double, finishing with 11 kills and 14 digs. Hannah Butler had 14 digs and Rachel Brown added 13. DenHartog dished out 55 assists and had eight digs to finish just two shy of a double-double. Amy Siemens had three blocks to tie with Inck for a match high.

Pomai Recca led the Sea Warriors (13-8, 7-6 PacWest) with 14 kills. FPU completed a season sweep of HPU, having defeated them in Fresno 3-1 earlier this season. The Sunbirds will look to do the same to Hawaii Hilo, who they face on Monday night on the big island.