AZUSA, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds put up a fight but ultimately fell 3-0 to the Azusa Pacific Cougars Tuesday night at the Felix Event Center in Azusa.
 
Fresno Pacific started the match with a strong four point run behind errors on the Cougars, a kill by Corinne Acosta, and a team block by Mia Gilcrest and Madison Girnius.
 
The Cougars answered quickly with a nine-point run of their own to take the lead 9-4.
 
The Sunbirds struggled to come back from the early deficit, failing to come within five points after their initial lead to drop the first 25-18.
 
Both teams traded points to open the second set.
 
Tied at 9-9, the 'Birds went on a three-point run off a pair of kills by Acosta and an error on the Cougars to take their first lead since early in the first set 12-9.
 
Late in the second tied at 21-21, the Cougars took four of the last five points to take the second set 25-22.
 
The third set proved to be all Cougars as they opened the set with a ten point run the Sunbirds never recovered from.
 
At 14-6, the 'Birds strung together four points behind kills from Acosta, Makena Ogas, and Presley Hamilton and a service ace from Ogas to bring themselves back within four 14-10.
 
That was as close as the Sunbirds would get however as the Cougars won eleven of the next sixteen points to take the set 25-15 and the match 3-0.
 
Fresno Pacific will continue its Southern California road trip with a match against the Concordia University Irvine Golden Eagles Thursday at 7pm at CU Arena.