Fresno Pacific set the tone early in the first set with a high-powered offense and strong defensive play.

The 'Birds attack was particularly efficient, recording a hitting percentage of .353 with only two errors on 34 attempts.

Mia Gilcrest led the charge with several well-placed kills, allowing Fresno to establish a lead early on.

Cambria Waites orchestrated the offense effectively, distributing assists that set up kills for various hitters, keeping Dominican's defense guessing.

The Penguins struggled to counter Fresno's well-rounded play, and their attack errors added to their difficulties.

Fresno Pacific took advantage of Dominican's mistakes, using blocks from players like Geneva Elliott and Amanda Lauer to shut down Dominican's attempts to rally.

Additionally, Fresno's strong serving pressured Dominican's serve receive, allowing Fresno to dictate the pace of the set and secure a convincing 25-16 win.

The second set saw a shift in momentum as Dominican made adjustments and started pushing back.

Fresno Pacific's attack success dipped due to increased pressure from Dominican's blockers and tighter defense.

The Sunbirds committed six attack errors on 44 attempts, which allowed Dominican to stay competitive and eventually pull ahead.

Although the 'Birds kept the score close, Dominican's defense at the net and Fresno Pacific's attack errors prevented the Sunbirds from building sustained scoring runs.

Despite strong individual efforts from players like Makayla Smith, who managed key kills late in the set, the 'Birds couldn't close the gap and lost the set 22-25.

Fresno Pacific regrouped in the third set, showing resilience and improving their offensive efficiency.

Their hitting percentage soared to .355 as they minimized errors.

Gilcrest continued to lead the offense with powerful kills, while Lauer and Madison Girnius provided crucial points to build an early lead.

The Sunbirds also tightened their defense, with McKenna Hughes leading the back row and digging effectively to extend rallies and keep Dominican from capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

Blocks from Elliott and Lauer frustrated Dominican's attackers, who found it challenging to break through the 'Birds' defense.

Dominican tried to stay in contention with kills, but Fresno Pacific's consistent pressure on both offense and defense gave them control of the set, ultimately winning 25-20.

The fourth set was the most competitive, as Dominican battled to extend the match.

Both teams exchanged points in a tense set with several lead changes and ties.

The Sunbirds continued to demonstrate offensive strength, hitting .304 with 17 kills, but the Penguins elevated their play and responded with critical kills and solid defense.

Gilcrest, who had been consistent throughout the match, played a crucial role, recording multiple kills that kept the Sunbirds in the fight.

Waites also made a significant impact with well-timed assists and even added service aces that pressured Dominican's defense.

On the defensive end, Hughes and Lauer provided crucial digs, helping Fresno maintain stability in long rallies.

Dominican did their best to match the 'Birds intensity, managing kills and serves that kept Dominican within reach.

However, the Sunbirds' composure in key moments, along with effective blocking from Elliott and Lauer, proved decisive.

After several intense points, the 'Birds managed to pull ahead to secure a nail-biting 30-28 victory, winning the set and the match.

The Sunbirds will head back to Fresno for their last home match of the season and Senior Day against the Academy of Art, Saturday at 2pm at the Special Events Center. 

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