FRESNO, Calif. –  Fresno Pacific volleyball swept past the Hawaii Hilo Vulcans on Monday evening with the following scores: 25-19, 25-13, and a close 27-35. The No. 12 'Birds boosted their overall record to 21-0 and 9-0 in conference, effectively battling one of the teams that gave them trouble earlier in the season.

In the first set, the teams remained neck and neck at the start. On an overpass, a team scramble to pass the ball ended in it bobbling to Cambria Waites who rolled it down the line to capture the 11-10 lead. Both teams struggled to get their serve in until Sydney Hancock entered the serving line, getting two back-to-back aces to boost the score to 17-13. Hawaii Hilo responded with some crucial blocks, but Madelyn Feramisco and Mikayla Weiss stopped the Vulcan's momentum. Geneva Elliott made it difficult for the Vulcans with a pair of kills, then teamed up with Waites at the net for a crucial block, making the score 21-16. Despite the Vulcan middles' attempts to rally, an incredible out of system set from Castaneda to Hancock on the outside made it 23-19, allowing the birds to claim it 25-19.

There is no better way to start a set than with a block. Elliott and Feramisco were ready at the net and made the Vulcans restrategize. Soon after, Waites kept the Vulcans on their toes with a cross shot that sunk just before the ten-foot line, tying it 2-2. The Sunbirds relied on one another to execute. Itzel Aguayo got in on the action with a solo block in the middle and Hancock sent it down the line where no one was expecting. On the serving line, Malia Edwardson forced a timeout after the Vulcans repeatedly struggled in serve-receive, gaining a 6-2 lead. The Vulcans did everything they could to close the gap, effectively tooling the block and utilizing their middles. Hancock took advantage of a great set from Weiss in the back row and Waites was relentless on the right side, while libero Devyn Castaneda, the PacWest Defender of the Week, got a free ball kill in the back corner, giving FPU a seven-point lead. The Sunbirds broke ahead in the second set, winning it from a back row kill by Hancock, 25-13.

The third set was a true battle between the two teams. Neither one conceded more than two points in the tight set. Weiss did a remarkable job setting up opportunities for Aguayo, Waites, and Hancock at the net. The dynamic duo of Weiss and Aguayo blocked the ball straight down to bring it 13-11. Despite an impressive service ace by Castaneda and a buried ball by Feramisco, the Vulcans stayed in the match, only trailing by three points. The Vulcans came back from a 18-23 deficit and tied it up 25-25, but a combined effort from every Sunbird clinched it all. Waites brought the house down with a big swing on the right side, tooling the Vulcan's block and taking the set 27-25.

Waites offensively led the team with 17 kills, six digs and two block assists. Hancock was nipping at her heels with 10 kills of her own with a .429 hitting percentage. Weiss orchestrated the 'Birds offense with 35 assists and six digs overall.

NEXT UP: The No. 12 'Birds compete at home for the last time as they host Chaminade on Friday, Nov. 8 at 6 pm.

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