AZUSA, Calif. – The FPU volleyball team wrapped up the SoCal Freeway Challenge in Azusa, Calif. on Saturday, playing matches against Northwest Nazarene and CSU Dominguez Hills. The Sunbirds bounced back from being swept by the Nighthawks to sweep the Toros.
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"We are pumped to finish pre-season with a win. Chantel Montayre passed incredibly well and facilitated our defense nicely with 17 digs, Corinne Acosta and Anastassiya Barakhoyeva both earned double-doubles, and Makena Ogas and Lauren Wamsley were efficient offensively hitting .320 and .314 respectively, both notching double-digit kills." – head coach Shasta Millhollin.
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Sunbirds battled the Nighthawks down to the wire in the first set, but NNU closed the door with a short 3-1 run to take it 25-23.
- A long run in the middle of the second set lifted the Nighthawks to a 21-11 lead in the second set.
- From there, FPU pieced together a 10-1 run that put them within one.
- NNU led 24-21, but the Sunbirds were once again able to tie the set at 24.
- The Nighthawks found the final two points of the second set to take it 26-24.
- The Sunbirds trailed early and couldn't put together the comeback they needed, falling 25-20 in the third set.
STATS FROM THE MATCH:
- Acosta and Wamsley led the Sunbirds with 10 kills each, while Acosta added 22 digs for an impressive double-double.
- Makena Ogas was efficient, racking up eight kills on a .240 hitting percentage.
- Chloe Melis added eight kills of her own.
- Catie Speas led the Birds with 17 assists and was followed closely by Barakhoyeva who had 16 assists.
GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Sunbirds opened the first set with an 8-3 run that featured two kills from Izzy Bandy and Acosta each.
- FPU used the early momentum to cruise to a 25-13 set win.
- Speas had a kill that capped an 8-4 run that came at the beginning of the second set.
- The set was tied at 22 when the Blue and Orange found a way to close it out with a 3-0 run to take the set 25-23.
- The Toros scurried found themselves with a 20-16 lead in the third set.
- The Sunbirds were clutch down the stretch, using a 9-3 run to take the set 25-23 and the match 3-0.
STATS FROM THE MATCH:
- Acosta was incredible, leading everyone with 16 kills and had another game-high with 23 digs.
- Wamsley was efficient, smashing home 13 kills on a .314 hitting percentage.
- Barakhoyeva led the way with 22 assists.
- As a team, the Birds hit .254 for the match.
- Chantel Montayre was solid, adding 17 digs to the 74 total digs the team had.
UP NEXT:
- The Blue and Orange turn their attention toward PacWest Conference play, with the conference opener happening on Friday at 6 p.m. against Point Loma in San Diego.
SUNBIRD SOCIAL:
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