FRESNO, Calif.-In a fitting showdown between a pair of PacWest teams fighting for separation atop the conference standings, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (9-4 overall, 8-1 PacWest) fended off a hard-charging comeback attempt from the Point Loma Sea Lions (11-5 overall, 6-2 PacWest) in five sets (25-18, 25-21, 13-25, 15-25, 16-14) Friday night at the Special Events Center.

In a game that had a little bit of everything, Fresno Pacific rode behind double-digit kill performances from Corinne Acosta and Makena Ogas. But it was sophomore middle Madison Girnius that provided three straight points in the fifth set to help overcome the late deficit and net the win.

Fresno Pacific consistently charged ahead after the opening stanza of the first set, as the teams were tied at seven different points before the Sunbirds closed the frame with five straight points to win 25-18, going up 1-0 in the match.

The Sunbirds rolled the momentum into the second set, leaping in front 16-6. But Point Loma found its rhythm behind the serve of Macy Reynolds, surging ahead with 11 consecutive points.

Somehow, the Sunbirds rallied to score six of the last nine points and take a commanding 2-0 lead behind a 25-21 victory.

That proved vital as Point Loma recaptured the offensive momentum they found in the 2^nd set, quickly winning sets three and four 25-13 and 25-15.

Point Loma built another lead in the fifth set at 8-4, maintaining the advantage until 12-8 when Girnius' sequence of a block, kill, and another block helped FPU crawl back into the conversation.

But PLNU forced match point at 14-12, Fresno Pacific delivered a resounding block that spun the momentum and turned into the Sunbirds converting the final four points of the match to take sole possession of 2^nd place in the PacWest.

FPU will have little time to rest as they turn around to play Concordia-Irvine, Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Special Events Center.