BELMONT, Calif. - Fresno Pacific got off to a fast start but couldn't close it out down the stretch in a five-set loss at NDNU on Thursday. The Sunbirds (1-8, 1-3 PacWest) took the first set 25-12 while hitting .486 and later held a 2-1 lead in the match. FPU had match point on two occasions late in set four, but the Argos battled back to win in extra points 27-25 and force a fifth set.

In set five the teams traded points and were knotted up 10-10 late in the match. After a Sunbird service error, the Argos went on a 3-0 run to take a commanding 13-10 lead. FPU battled back to make it 13-12 but the Argos scored the final two points to seal the victory.

FPU dominated the numbers on paper, out-hitting NDNU .283 to .181. Five Sunbirds finished in double figure kills, led by Morghan Williams with 19 (.385). Bissie DenHartog dished out 54 assists to go with 12 digs. Hannah Butler had a match-high 28 digs and was strong in the service game.

"We had a rough week injury-wise," said head coach Matt Terra. "I thought the girls competed hard and were absolutely dominant at times, particularly in sets one and three. When you're as physically broken down as we are, it's tough to have to go to extra points or to a fifth set. We would have liked to have been able to close it out but things just didn't go our way tonight."

Montana Lowe (.409) and Madison Pierce (.320) added 12 kills apiece. Pierce finished with six blocks and Lowe added five. Sarah McCann had a strong all-around performance of 10 kills, eight digs and seven blocks. Chelsea Speaks and Gabriela Macedo each finished with 14 digs, with Macedo adding 11 kills as well.

Dominique Tarrant led the Argos with 16 kills and 10 digs as NDNU improved to 6-8, 2-3 in the PacWest.

The Sunbirds return home this weekend to take on Point Loma on Saturday at 3 pm. The Sea Lions are coming off a home sweep of Azusa Pacific.