LEXINGTON, Ky. – Moving up the rankings! From No. 19 all the way to No. 15, the Fresno Pacific volleyball team climbed higher in the AVCA national poll on Monday afternoon. On top of that, the undefeated 'Birds reign supreme in conference with their upstanding 5-0 record and latest PacWest Team of the Week honor for the third straight week.
Last week, the Sunbirds secured their first national ranking since 2013, earning the 19th spot in the Top 25. Since then, Fresno Pacific added two more wins to their belt, sweeping past Menlo and defeating Vanguard in a thrilling four-set battle. Menlo marked the 'Birds' eleventh sweep of the season and Vanguard challenged FPU significantly at the start, making them drop the opening set of the match for the first time this season. The Sunbirds performance this last week solidified them as the 15th ranked team in the nation.
Cambria Waites hit her 100th career service ace in the clean sweep over Azusa Pacific, capturing 5 aces in total. She also had a double-double in the four-set win over Vanguard (11 kills and 10 digs). Graduate setter
Mikayla Weiss captured two double-doubles, one against Azusa Pacific (34 assists and 10 digs) and another against Vanguard (40 assists and 10 digs). Thus marking her ninth double-double of the season.
Makayla Smith led the rallying cry that brought the Sunbirds back in the second set against Vanguard. She had an impressive double-double (15 kills and 10 digs) and tallied two service aces.
The Blue and Orange stand 17-0 overall and 5-0 in the PacWest. The Sunbirds jumped past the No. 5 Point Loma Sea Lions in the PacWest standings, despite both teams being 5-0 in conference. Fresno Pacific is one among the two undefeated teams in the Top 25, the other being top-ranked University of Tampa (FL).
Recently, ABC30 Sports Reporter Sydney Berger interviewed head coach
Kelsee Montagna and two student-athletes on the team, featuring them on the ABC30 "Good Sports", a weekly segment sharing unique sports stories about Central Valley student-athletes. For a team with 10 Valley natives on the roster,
Madelyn Feramisco, Weiss, and Montagna discuss the chemistry, bond, and shared determination that has made this year's team so special and set up for the incredible success they've had on the court.
CLICK HERE for the full story and video of the segment as it aired.
NEXT UP: The No. 15 'Birds are on a roll! FPU volleyball takes on Menlo on Wednesday, Oct. 22nd at 6pm.
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