SAN RAFAEL, Calif.- Despite excellent competition all weekend, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (1-3 overall) found statistical improvements in each of their four matches before delivering a sweep of Chico State (2-5 overall) to earn their first win of the season Saturday evening in the Conlan Center at Dominican University.

FPU lost their early morning contest against Northwest Nazarene (7-1 overall) who were dominant in a 4-0 showing in Northern California. But the Sunbirds rebounded in the last game of the weekend, quieting Chico State's explosive offense in straight sets.

Fresno Pacific could not derail the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks despite jumping out to an early lead. FPU led 7-3, holding the Nighthawks' explosive offensive in check to start.

While the momentum swung back and forth from there, NNU was able to close out the set with 6 of the final 9 points to take set one 25-19.
NNU hit just .093 in the first set, one of their lowest totals of the season.

While FPU's defense started strong, the Nighthawks broke through in the 2^nd set with 17 kills. NNU committed just 2 errors in the set, defending FPU 25-17 and putting the Sunbirds in a 2-0 deficit.

FPU dropped set three 25-19 as the Nighthawks improved to 7-1 on the year while completing a 4-0 trip to Northern California.

Four different Nighthawks registered at least 6 kills in the three sets, but FPU forced them to adjust. The Sunbirds held NNU to a .093 hitting percentage.

Fresno Pacific was led by Makena Ogas' 8 kills while Kaiessa Sounart delivered 6 kills without committing an error.

The Sunbirds had a few hours to regroup and came back firing against Chico State. Chloe Melis led a powerful start with 4 of FPU's first 7 points to establish a 7-1 lead.

Fresno Pacific maintained the lead throughout the first set, expanding to 18-10 before Anastassiya Barakhoyeva stepped to the service line, delivering a pair of aces and putting FPU in position to eventually wrap up the set 25-11.

Four different Sunbirds registered multiple kills in the set and FPU hit an incredible .433 with just 2 errors in the frame.

While FPU was not that perfect in set two, the Sunbirds had more than enough firepower in the 2^nd set as Sounart delivered five kills while Corinne Acosta and Ogas delivered key moments as well.

FPU's defense also stifled Chico State again, this time forcing 8 errors and holding the Wildcats to a paltry .065 hitting percentage.

The Sunbirds limited the opportunities for their opponents more in the 3^rd set, keeping Chico State in the negative while long service runs from Ogas and Barakhoyeva maintained a five-point lead for most of the set.

Fresno Pacific was not nearly as efficient offensively in the third, but the defense dominated and forced 12 errors by the Wildcats.

FPU continued to spread the ball offensively, enough to seal the set 25-17.

It was the best match of the weekend for the Sunbirds by many numerical standards. FPU hit .277 with just 11 errors. In fact, FPU committed less errors progressively throughout the weekend, culminating in their cleanest effort of 2022.

5 aces from the service line are also a new season high, with Barakhoyeva leading the way with three.

Fresno Pacific will have their official home opener and their PacWest opener on Thursday night when they welcome Holy Names University to the Special Events Center at 6:00 pm. Free live state and a free live stream are available for anyone unable to attend.