SEATTLE – The Fresno Pacific volleyball team opened the 2018 season on Friday at the Falcon-Wildcat Invite in Seattle. FPU fell to host Seattle Pacific 3-1 in the opener before dropping the nightcap against 11th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino 3-0.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
Final: Seattle Pacific 3, Fresno Pacific 1
Set Scores: 26-24, 13-25, 17-25, 26-28
Records: SPU (1-0), FPU (0-1)
Location: Seattle, Wash. | Royal Brougham Pavilion
Series: The Sunbirds trail 3-2
 
Final: #11 Cal State San Bernardino 3, Fresno Pacific 0
Set Scores: 12-25, 15-25, 9-25
Records: CSUSB (2-0), FPU (0-2)
Location: Seattle, Wash. | Royal Brougham Pavilion
Series: The Sunbirds trail 9-2
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Match One
• The Sunbirds opened the season with a 26-24 win in the opening set against SPU. The 'Birds trailed 21-17 in the frame before storming back and ending the set with a kill from Caroline Bodziak.
• The Falcons answered, however, winning the next three sets to earn the match victory. FPU had a chance to win set four on two different occasions, but couldn't capitalize on game points.
 
Match Two
• Cal State San Bernardino proved to be too much to handle in the evening game, as the nationally-ranked Coyotes swept the Sunbirds while hitting .271.

STATS OF THE MATCH:
Match One
• Bodziak led the Sunbirds with 12 kills against the Falcons, while Carley Bock added 10. Christina Tran added nine kills and 10 digs, Greta Dobenecker amassed 33 assists and 15 digs and freshman Jaalyn Sotoa-Stuebing put down seven kills in her collegiate debut.
• The Sunbirds hit .188 for the match, while SPU countered at .243.
 
Match Two
• Chantel Montayre led FPU with 15 digs against the high-powered offense of the Coyotes.
• The Sunbirds were held to .010 hitting in the match.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Sunbirds had three freshmen make their collegiate debuts on Friday – Montarye, Sotoa-Studebing and Mikayla Kennedy.
 
UP NEXT:
• FPU continues the Invite on Saturday with two more games. The 'Birds will travel to Ellensburg, Wash. to face Metro State at 10 a.m. and Central Washington at 2 p.m.