FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 13 'Birds triumphed over Hawaii Pacific in one of the final home matches of the regular season, sweeping past the visiting Sharks to secure their twentieth straight win. Just before the match, women's volleyball celebrated their five seniors, highlighting and recognizing each student-athletes journey as a Sunbird. 

In a heartfelt pregame ceremony, Fresno Pacific volleyball celebrated five remarkable seniors, Geneva Elliott, Yajaira Gahagan, Mikayla Weiss, Cambria Waites, and Sydney Hancock, honoring their dedication, leadership, and lasting impact on the Sunbird program. Each senior's journey may be unique, but together they've helped shape the culture, competitiveness, and spirit of FPU volleyball.

Fresno Pacific began the first set with an early challenge, trailing 3-0 before senior middle Elliott secured the team's first point with a kill assisted by Weiss. The home team found momentum with a sequence that included a service ace and multiple kills from Hancock and Itzel Aguayo, leveling the score at 5-5. The momentum shifted decisively in the Sunbirds' favor as the set progressed, with libero Devyn Castaneda delivering a series of impactful plays, including multiple service aces. This run extended their lead from 7-7 to 19-7, establishing a significant advantage. The No. 13 'Birds maintained control, closing the set with a dominant stretch of plays, including kills by Madelyn Feramisco and a kill by Elliott that ricocheted off the block.

Despite a the close start, the Sunbirds found momentum in set two from a series of errors made by HPU and a critical block by Aguayo and Waites, pushing the score to 7-4. The set reached a pivotal moment when Feramisco contributed two key kills, helping to extend the advantage to 9-6. Waites then buried a ball down the line, followed by another booming Feramisco kill to give FPU the edge in the set. Without hesitation, Hancock brought it to a four-point lead with a deep shot to the back corner. Moments later, HPU mistakenly overpassed a ball and Weiss was there in an instant, smashing it back down on the Sharks, boosting the score to 16-10. Weiss wasn't the only fierce Sunbird at the net! Hancock didn't give the sharks a chance to retaliate as she buried ball after ball down the line. Whereas, senior duo Elliott and Gahagan blocked the Shark's advances and brought the heat, effectively making it 22-11. HPU was able to get a few more points in, but the No. 13 'Birds won the set 25-15.

The Sharks opened set three with a daring run, but graduate setter Weiss responded with a setter dump to get the momentum back. Despite the Sharks' newfound determination, Waites and Weiss were clever with their placements, giving FPU the advantage slowly but surely. The Sharks middle was springy and nearly stopped the Sunbirds progression, but Gahagan's resilience on the outside kept the ball rolling in FPU's favor. Two back-to-back blocks by the pair, Hancock and Aguayo, and senior pair Gahagan and Elliott, had an incredible impact on the team's energy on the court. Soon after, Castaneda captured a jaw-dropping service ace, bringing it to 8-9. With Weiss on the serving line, the Sharks struggled in serve-receive, allowing FPU to take the lead, 15-10. Soon after, an impressive back-row kill by Waites pushed through the block and disrupted Hawaii Pacific's tactics. The visiting team rallied and nearly tied the score back 17-16, but Waites and Aguayo stopped them in their tracks with another block on the right side. The set concluded with Gahagan's final kill, securing a 25-20 win for Fresno Pacific.

Libero Castaneda delivered a strong performance with five service aces and 21 digs. Weiss facilitated the offense with 25 assists and added eight digs. Feramisco led the Sunbirds' attack, recording nine kills on 18 attempts with a .444 hitting percentage. Elliott contributed defensively with three total blocks, including one solo block.

The Sunbirds hold an overall record of 20-0 and an 8-0 mark in the PacWest.

NEXT UP: No rest for the ranked! The No. 13 Sunbirds are back in action Monday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. as they host Hawai'i Hilo. Come down to the Special Events Center and cheer on your ranked 'Birds! 

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