Sunbird Family,

As we come out of the Thanksgiving holiday and step into the final stretch of the fall semester, I want to pause and reflect on the many reasons we're grateful this season. Our student-athletes, coaches, alumni, and supporters continue to make Fresno Pacific a special place, and this season has given us a lot to celebrate.

Our fall sports finished strong, and volleyball continues their truly historic run, defeating Point Loma Nazarene in an epic 5-set match for the PacWest Tournament title. The fifth set finished 27-25 and featured 18 ties and 11 lead changes. It was the best volleyball match I have ever watched. Additionally, Coach Kelsee Montagna was named PacWest Coach of the Year, and multiple Sunbirds earned postseason honors for their incredible seasons. Most notably, our team captured the PacWest regular season title and is headed to the NCAA West Regionals for the first time in program history. To put it simply: this group has been remarkable. We are currently ranked 8th in the nation, and their commitment, chemistry, and competitive fire have been inspiring to watch. Men's water polo capped its season with a fourth-place finish at the WWPA Championships, highlighted by the program's first-ever trip to the semifinals and strong performances throughout tournament play.

As mentioned, our women's volleyball program enters the NCAA Tournament and will enter as the No. 3 seed and will face No. 6 seed Western Washington on Thursday, December 4 at 11 a.m. PST in San Diego. You can watch the match live and free on the PacWest Network as we continue this historic season.
 
Basketball is also underway, and it has been great to see energy building around both programs. We had a fantastic night connecting with alumni and friends at the Save Mart Center when we played Fresno State. Thank you to everyone who showed up to support our teams and represent FPU so well.

As we look ahead to Giving Tuesday, I want to highlight a meaningful opportunity to support our student-athletes. We are in the final stages of completing new team rooms for men's and women's basketball, volleyball, cheer, and men's and women's swim. These spaces are essential for film study, team culture, leadership development, and creating a first-class experience that reflects the excellence our athletes strive for every day. We are close to the finish line, and Giving Tuesday provides a chance for our community to help us complete this project. Every gift—large or small—moves us one step closer to serving these teams with the facilities they deserve. You can donate here.

As we continue to grow the momentum around Sunbird Athletics, I also want to highlight an opportunity to get even more involved. We have launched the Sunbird Advisory Board, a small group of dedicated supporters who receive an inside look at FPU Athletics and partner with us to elevate key events such as the Golf Classic and the Hall of Fame ceremony. We are in the process of adding new members, and if you would enjoy contributing to the long-term success of our programs, I would love to connect.

This time of year always reminds me that our work is about far more than wins and losses. It's about the people God has entrusted to us, the joy of seeing our student-athletes grow, and the community that rallies together to support them. Thank you for being part of that community. Your encouragement, generosity, and prayers fuel everything we do.

On behalf of our entire department, I wish you and your family had a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving.
 
Soli Deo Gloria,

Kyle Ferguson