Box Score FRESNO, Calif.- A close fought match failed to go the Sunbirds way Thursday night as they fell 3-1 in their season opening match to the Stanislaus State Warriors. 

The Warriors and Sunbirds traded points and leads throughout the first half of the first set. 

Tied at 7-7, the 'Birds scored three straight points off a blocking error on the Warriors and kills by Rachel Plantinga and Madison Girnius to take a 10-7 lead.

Stanislaus State countered back with a run of their own scoring four straight points to take back the lead. 

The Warriors extended their lead even further and eventually took the set 25-15. 

The second set continued much like the beginning of the first with both teams trading points to start the set. 

Fresno Pacifc jumped ahead early with a five straight point run off errors on the Warriors and kills by Makayla Smith and Girnius as well as an ace by Devyn Castandea to go up 8-3. 

The Sunbirds maintained their lead scoring points with kills from Mia Gilcrest, Cambria Waites, and Girnius. 

Stanislaus State managed to sneak back and tie it seven more times, but the 'Birds fought back with three straight points off a kill from Claire Corippo, an ace from Waites and an error on the Warriors to take the second set 26-24. 

To open the third, the Warriors took the early lead.

The 'Birds managed to fight back tying the score seven times before Stanislaus State extended their lead taking six out of the last 11 points to take the set 25-20.

The back-and forth continued into the fourth as the Warriors again took an early lead. 

Fresno Pacific managed to tie the match at 9-9 after three striaght points off three kills from Gilcrest. 

The Warriors fought back however winning eight out the ten next points to 15-11. 

The Sunbirds managed to get back within five points but it was as close as they would come as the Warriors ran away with the fourth to take the set and the match 3-1. 

Seven Sunbirds recorded one kill or more with Gilcrest leading the way for the 'Birds with 14 kills, with Corippo right behind at 11. 

Fresno Pacifc will continue with day two of the Sunbird Classic tomorrow with a pair of games against Chico State at 2pm and Academy of Art at 7pm. 

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