THE SCHEDULE
Match #9
vs. Hawai'i Pacific (6-6, 2-1)
Wednesday, Sept. 28 • 7 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. • Special Events Center 
Live Stats • Video
 
Match #10
vs. California Baptist (9-3, 4-0)
Saturday, Oct. 1 • 3 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. • Special Events Center 
Live Stats • Video
 
UPCOMIMG PROMOTIONS
Wednesday, Sept. 28 – Faculty Appreciation Night
Saturday, Oct. 1 – First Responders Day
 
WEEKLY RECAP
The Sunbirds are coming off a five-set victory over Point Loma last Friday at home. FPU received a double-double of 22 kills and 19 digs from Karah Mitchell in the win, while freshman Hailey Hilvers delivered 13 kills on .550 hitting. Bissie DenHartog added 56 assists and Chelsea Speaks totaled 23 digs. The Sunbirds also faced Dominican last week, which resulted in a five-set setback.
 
FANTASTIC FRESHMAN
For her efforts against Point Loma, FPU's Hailey Hilvers was awarded the PacWest Freshman of the Week on Monday. It marked the first such distinction for Hilvers. Her 13 kills were a career high, besting her previous high of five in the season opener against Concordia (Ore.). More
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Three Sunbirds have recorded double-doubles this season, with Bissie DenHartog and Karah Mitchell leading the team with three on the year.
- DenHartog – 32 assists, 10 digs at SF State (9/9)
- DenHartog – 45 assists, 12 digs vs. Simon Fraser (9/9)
- DenHartog – 60 assists, 11 digs vs. Dominican (9/19)
- Mitchell 11 kills, 10 digs vs. Simon Fraser (9/9)
- Mitchell – 22 kills, 13 digs vs. Dominican (9/19)
- Mitchell – 22 kills, 19 digs vs. Point Loma (9/23)
- Jasmine Phoolka – 13 kills, 11 digs vs. Simon Fraser (9/9)
 
MATCH HIGHS
Kills: Karah Mitchell (22) vs. Dominican (9/19), Point Loma (9/23)
Hitting Percentage (min. 12 kills): Hailey Hilvers (.550) vs. Point Loma (9/23)
Assists: Bissie DenHartog (60) vs. Dominican (9/19)
Digs: Chelsea Speaks (38) vs. Dominican (9/8)
Aces: Chelsea Speaks (4) vs. Concordia (Ore.) (9/8); Carley Bock (4) vs. Concordia (Ore.) (9/8)
Blocks: Hailey Hilvers (5) vs. Simon Fraser (9/9)
 
ROSTER NOTES
- The Sunbirds return eight student-athletes from last season, including starters Gabriela Macedo (All-PacWest, 2.90 K/S), setter Bissie DenHartog (9.84 A/S), Sarah McCann (1.77 K/S) and Montana Lowe (2.29 K/S, .303). In addition, FPU returns Chelsea Speaks, Carley Bock, Madison Pierce and Alyshia Bier as key contributors.
- The Sunbirds also welcomed back Karah Mitchell, who last competed in 2012 as an outside hitter, and Jasmine Phoolka, who took a redshirt season a year ago.
- FPU added four newcomers on the roster this season: Christina Tran, Sierra LeBeau, Hailey Hilvers and Halle Neher.
- Morghan Williams and Hannah Butler, both All-PacWest performers, graduated after stellar careers with the Sunbirds.
 
PACWEST PRESEASON POLL
FPU was picked to finish eighth in the 2016 PacWest standings, as voted on in the preseason poll by the league's 14 head coaches. California Baptist was voted to top the poll with 189 points and eight first-place votes, while defending champion Dixie State was second with 180 points and five first-place votes. Point Loma (158 points), Concordia (131), Azusa Pacific (127), Chaminade (121) and BYU-Hawaii (116, one first-place vote) rounded out the top seven ahead of FPU. Hawaii Pacific (92), Hawaii Hilo (68), Academy of Art (60), Dominican (51), Notre Dame de Namur (41) and Holy Names (21) landed in the final six spots of the poll.
 
SUNBIRD NOTES
Bissie DenHartog currently ranks eighth all-time in career assists with 2,820 in the FPU record book….the senior also ranks eighth in single season assists with 987 in 2013, while her 895 from last season ranks 10th on the list….she also sits in eighth and ninth in assists per set at 10.81 (2013) and 9.84 ('15), respectively….DenHartog has totaled 30 or more assists in six out of eight games this season, with a season-high of 60….Karah Mitchell leads the Sunbirds in kills this year, as the junior has totaled 10 or more in six of eight games….the junior has put down a career high 22 kills twice this season and also added a career best 19 digs in a win over Point Loma….Chelsea Speaks ranks 29th in Division II in digs pet set (5.31)….the senior recorded a career best 38 earlier this year….four Sunbirds have made their college debuts this season: Jasmine Phoolka, Hailey Hilvers, Christina Tran and Halle Neher….the Sunbirds welcomed back three former players on the coaching staff this season: head coach Tracy Ainger-Schulte, lead assistant Brittany Henderson (Pierce) and assistant Michelle Gibson (Johnson).
 
ABOUT THE SHARKS
Hawai'i Pacific currently sits at 6-6 overall and 2-1 in the PacWest. The Sharks are coming off a five-set win at Notre Dame de Namur to start their four-game mainland trip. Pomai Recca leads the HPU offense and averages 4.21 kills per set, while Perla Esobar averages 3.00 K/S. Mahea Pescala and Sierra Dawson facilitate the offense and average 5.24 and 4.42 assists per set, respectively, and Amanda Acosta leads the defense with 4.23 digs per set.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's match will mark the 13th meeting between the two programs. FPU holds a 10-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Sunbirds defeated the Sharks 3-1 in Fresno in the only meeting last year.
 
ABOUT THE LANCERS
California Baptist, the PacWest favorite according to the league's preseason poll, sits at 9-3 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The Lancers, who are also currently receiving votes in the AVCA national poll, are riding a four-match win streak. The latest victory came on Saturday against Dominican 3-1. Lauren Hackett leads the Lancers on the offensive side with 4.76 kills per set, while Jenna Perry adds 4.00 K/S. Sydney Kraji facilitates the offense and averages a league best 11.38 assists per set.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The two teams will be meeting for the 81st time, as FPU holds a 59-21 all-time series advantage over CBU. The Lancers have won the last four meetings, including a sweep in Riverside earlier this season.
  
HEAD COACH TRACY AINGER-SCHULTE
Head coach Tracy Ainger-Schulte is in her first season at the helm of the Sunbirds. An FPU alum and Hall of Famer, Ainger-Schulte returns to her alma mater after nine seasons as the head coach at Fresno City College. Prior to coaching at FCC, Ainger-Schulte spent three years on staff at FPU (2003-05) where she worked her way up to associate head coach. She was an integral part of the coaching staff for the program's 2003 national championship team. Considered by many to be the greatest individual athlete in FPU Athletics history, Ainger-Schulte played at FPU from 1994-96 leading the Sunbirds to three straight GSAC titles and two NAIA Final Fours. She was a three-time First Team All-American with her career culminating in being named the 1996 NAIA National Player of the Year. Despite playing just three seasons, she ranks first in program history in career digs (2,618) and digs per set (6.84), second in kills per set (4.54) and third in overall kills (1,737). Her 1,032 digs (7.22 per set) in 1994 remains the single-season school record. She holds FPU records for most digs in a match with 61 and most aces in a match with 12 (twice). Her #11 jersey is the only number in FPU Athletics' history to be retired. She has been inducted into three Hall of Fames: the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003, the FPU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
 
SHOP FPU
The Fresno Pacific Department of Athletics is proud to announce the opening of a Team Store that can be accessed on ShopFPU.com. Fans and students can now purchase apparel for all 14 athletic teams, along with numerous other items, ahead of the 2016-17 season.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter
FPU Sunbirds
FPU Volleyball
 
Facebook
FPU Sunbirds
FPU Volleyball
 
Instagram
FPU Sunbirds
FPU Volleyball
 
YouTube
FPU Sunbirds