MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Fresno Pacific volleyball team continued action at the West Region Showcase on Friday, as the Sunbirds dropped a pair of matches in Oregon. FPU fell to Cal State San Marcos 3-1 before suffering a five-set setback to Seattle Pacific 3-2.
 
Set scores in game one were 25-19, 24-26, 25-14 and 25-13 in favor of the Cougars. Game two featured scores of 18-25, 21-25, 25-14, 25-14 and 15-11 for the Falcons.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final Game One: Cal State San Marcos 3, Fresno Pacific 1
Records: FPU (1-5), CSUSM (3-3)
Location:  Monmouth, Ore. | New PE Building
Series: The Cougars lead 3-0 over the Sunbirds
 
Final Game Two: Seattle Pacific 3, Fresno Pacific 2
Records: FPU (1-6), SPU (4-3)
Location:  Monmouth, Ore. | New PE Building
Series: The Sunbirds lead 3-2 over SPU
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
• FPU couldn't overcome 42 attack errors against Cal State San Marcos. The Sunbirds managed to tie the game at a set apiece with a 26-24 win in the second frame, but CSUSM countered with two dominant sets (25-14, 25-13) to win the game.
• In the nightcap, the Sunbirds seemed to have the game under control after winning the opening two sets 25-18, 25-21. SPU stormed back, however, and hit above .300 in the final three sets to earn the win.
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Karah Mitchell was the only player with double digit kills for FPU, as the senior put down 14 to go along with 12 digs against Cal State San Marcos. Christina Tran added 23 assists and 15 digs.
• Gabriela Macedo and Sierra LeBeau played well defensively with 19 and 10 digs, respectively.
• CSUSM received 14 kills (.313) from Madi Anderson.
 
• Mitchell picked up a double-double with 17 kills and 18 digs for the Sunbirds against SPU, while Tran added 37 assists and 12 digs. Mitchell also finished with three aces.
• Malerie Crenshaw amassed four blocks, while Tiff Wong came up with a career-best 15 digs.
• SPU received 18 kills from Olivia Turner and 15 kills from Gabby Oddo.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Mitchell now leads the team with four double-doubles on the year, while Tran has three in her last three games.
• The Sunbirds and Cougars have now faced each other twice in the last two weeks, with CSUSM stealing both games from FPU.
• FPU was held to an .006 attack percentage against the Cougars, which was the lowest mark since 2014 (-.020).
• The Sunbirds are currently riding a six-game skid.
• SPU's assistant coach, Korrin Wild, is the sister of former FPU men's basketball standout Jordan Wild ('11).
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds wrap up the West Region Showcase on Saturday against host Western Oregon at 10:30 a.m.