FRESNO, Calif.-After being in a two-set deficit in the third set, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (7-8 overall, 4-3 PacWest) forced a fifth set and held an 10-9 lead, before falling to the Chaminade Silverswords (16-2 overall, 5-2 PacWest) Saturday afternoon in the Special Events Center.

Both defenses came in ranked in the top two of limiting opponent kills and flexed its strength at opposite stretches of the match.

Chaminade raced out in front during the first set and eventually took the set 25-14. FPU had just 5 kills in the set.

The Sunbirds quickly rebounded and went back and forth throughout the second set, amassing more kills than CUH in the frame. But one more error and one less ace were enough to tilt the razor thin margin in favor of the Silverswords, 25-23.

Fresno Pacific was just as efficient in the third set with another 14 kills while benefitting from an extra couple of errors by Chaminade and flipped the 25-23 score to force a fourth set.

Neither team hit the ball well in the fourth, but Chaminade's 13 errors set FPU out in front and helped the Sunbirds withstand a late surge from the Silverswords, 25-20.

Corinne Acosta was all over the court for FPU as the 'Birds came back to tie the match at two sets. The senior finished the afternoon as the team leader in kills with 11 while committing just three errors. She also finished with 11 digs.

The 'Birds also excelled on the block over the third and fourth sets with Madison Girnius and Makena Ogas partaking in 4 blocks a piece.

Freshman Rachel Plantinga was also strong in the back recording a team high 16 digs.

For all the progress that FPU made to force the fifth set, the final game was back and forth with the Sunbirds holding a 11-10 lead before Chaminade scored the final five points.

It was the first time Chaminade had been pushed to five sets since September 8^th while it was the fourth time the Sunbirds have played five sets in their last five matches.

Fresno Pacific will conclude the homestand next weekend when they host Azusa Pacific Friday at 3:00 p.m. and Point Loma Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

SUNBIRD SOCIAL 

• Twitter - @fpusunbirds 
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUsunbirds