SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific volleyball team opened the 2017 season on Friday with two games at the Cal State San Marcos Volleyball Classic. The Sunbirds impressed in the opener against Adelphi, a perennial East Region power, with a 3-1 victory before falling to Saint Martin's 3-0.

Set scores in game one were 23-25, 25-22, 25-19 and 25-19 in favor of the Sunbirds. Game two featured scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 25-14 with the Saint's coming out on top.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Game One: Fresno Pacific 3, Adelphi 1
Records: FPU (1-0), AU (0-1)
Location:  San Marcos, Calif. | The Sports Center
Series: The Sunbirds lead 1-0 over the Panthers
 
Final Game Two: Saint Martin's 3, Fresno Pacific 0
Records: FPU (1-1), SMU (1-1)
Location:  San Marcos, Calif. | The Sports Center
Series: The Sunbirds trail 1-0 against the Saints

Get Social: Twitter - @fpusunbirds | Instagram - @fpusunbirds | Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
QUOTABLE
• "It's disappointing to be 1-1 at this point, but we have shown some signs of encouragement through our first two matches. Our passing has been solid, and our defense is improving. The work needs to be done on the offensive side of the ball. Most importantly, we need to be more competitive mentally." – head coach Tracy Ainger-Schulte

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Sunbirds rebounded from a set one loss in the opener against Adelphi. FPU held a 21-16 lead in the first frame after a kill from Karah Mitchell, but the Panthers closed the set on a 9-2 run to take the opener.
• Set two was tight throughout, before AU committed four attack errors with the score 20-20 to give FPU the advantage. The Sunbirds then held the Panthers to a .000 hitting percentage in the final two frames (25-19, 25-19) to win the match.

• The Sunbirds struggled in the nightcap and were swept in straight sets for the first time in 2017.
• The opening set went back and forth until each team reached 21. The Saints closed the frame on a 4-1 run to jump ahead in the match. SMU's momentum carried into the final two sets to earn the sweep.

STATS OF THE GAME:
• Caroline Bodziak led the team with 14 kills on .281 hitting in the opener. She added seven digs.
• Greta Dobenecker facilitated the offense with 31 assists, while adding 15 digs and an ace for her first career double-double.
• Mitchell picked up right where she left off last season, recording a double-double of 11 kills and a team-high 18 digs, while also amassing three service aces. She recorded 14 double-doubles in 2016.
• Kylei Dewar totaled nine kills and four blocks in the middle, while Sierra LeBeau added 12 digs.
• The Sunbirds held Adelphi to .000 hitting for the game and totaled 10 service aces in the match.

• In game two, the Sunbirds received a team-high nine kills from Dewar, while Malerie Crenshaw added seven.
• LeBeau totaled a career-best 18 digs for FPU.
• Christina Tran led the way at setter with 14 assists and Dobenecker dished out 13.
• FPU was held to .067 hitting as a team, while Saint Martin's countered at .236.
• SMU's Rachel Gondrezick took control of the match and totaled 16 kills on .364 hitting. Teammate Nicolette Nesbitt led the offensive attack with a game-high 31 assists.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• FPU is 5-1 in season openers since joining the PacWest in 2012. The lone loss came in 2015 against San Francisco State.
• Six Sunbirds made their debut for FPU in the season opener.  
• Adelphi has made the NCAA East Regional for the last six seasons, a stretch that has featured 130 wins as a program.
• FPU, who also started the year 1-1 last season, previously started the year 2-0 in 2013 when the Sunbirds rattled off five wins to open the campaign.

UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds continue action at the Cal State San Marcos Classic on Saturday with two more matches. FPU faces host CSUSM at noon before wrapping up the tournament at 4 p.m. against St. Cloud State.