SAN DIEGO – The Fresno Pacific University volleyball team opened PacWest Conference play in San Diego on Friday night. The Sunbirds trailed 2-0 but came within a point from forcing a fifth set before falling 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 25-20, 26-24) to the Sea Lions.
QUOTABLE
"While we didn't get the result we wanted tonight, we played hard and battled. We are proud of the way we transferred our focuses from practice into the match tonight.
Chantel Montayre anchored our defense with an impressive 30 digs.
Corinne Acosta pounded out another double-double with 18 kills and 19 digs at a .203 clip.
Catie Speas stepped up big time with 21 assists while
Makena Ogas and Chloè Melis were fierce at the net." – head coach
Shasta Millhollin.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Early in the first set, Lauren Wamsley smacked a kill that put the Sunbirds up 10-9.
- PLNU used a late 7-2 run to take the opening frame 25-22.
- The 'Birds went up 10-7 in the second set before the Sea Lions rode a 10-3 run to go up 17-13.
- The Blue and Orange couldn't manage to get back into it and dropped the second set 25-19.
- FPU led 9-8 before bursting out a 13-6 run that helped them take the third set 25-20.
- Catie Speas crushed a kill that tied the fourth set at 11 in the early stages.
- The Sunbirds used a 10-4 run to go up 21-17 over the Sea Lions.
- PLNU pulled off a 7-1 run to close out the final set 26-24 and the match 3-1.
STATS FROM THE MATCH:
- Montayre was unbelievable for the Sunbirds, racking up 30 digs.
- Acosta was outstanding as well, smashing home 19 kills while adding 19 digs for the double-double.
- Wamsley (13) and Ogas (10) were the only other 'Birds to finish with double-figure kills.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Montayre scooped up her 200th dig on the season on Friday, moving her to 668 for her career at FPU.
- Acosta's fourth kill of the match was her 600th career kill for the Sunbirds.
- Wamsley also reached a milestone, racking up the 100th kill of her young career.
UP NEXT:
- FPU takes on Azusa Pacific on Saturday at 3 p.m. inside the Felix Event Center in Azusa, Calif.
SUNBIRD SOCIAL:
#TeamFPU
