SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — On Day One of the Gator Classic, the Fresno Pacific volleyball team defeated Western Oregon in four sets, securing a 3-1 win with scores of 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, and 25-18. Riding the momentum as the PacWest Co-Team of the Week, the Sunbirds will enter Saturday with their 4-0 winning streak.

The Sunbirds were in cruise control at the start, but as the game progressed, the Wolves applied more pressure. Despite service errors from both teams, Fresno Pacific held tight to the lead, benefiting from several attack errors by Western Oregon and pivotal blocks from returning attackers Geneva Elliott and Sunbird of the Week, Cambria Waites.

With renewed energy, the Wolves made an effective comeback in the second set. Despite a strong mid-period rally that saw FPU shift the score from eight-all to a 13-8 advantage, the 'Birds were overrun by the wolves, as Western Oregon capitalized on late errors to clinch the set.

The Blue and Orange rallied in the third set, thanks to the combined efforts of Feramisco, Smith, and middle blocker Itzel Aguayo. The Sunbirds sailed past the Wolves with a score of 25-20, changing the energy of the game back in their favor.

Fresno Pacific clinched the fourth set with a 25-18 victory, highlighted by a dominant stretch that included two service aces from Smith. Weiss facilitated the offense efficiently, assisting on consecutive kills to Feramisco that pushed the Sunbirds ahead late in the set. Even with a short-lived surge from the Wolves, the Sunbirds capitalized on four service errors to gain momentum and secure the game winning point.

Impressive offensive performances from Makayla Smith and Madelyn Feramisco led to the 'Birds victory. Smith had a field day against the Wolves, hitting a season-high in kills (14), aces (3), and assists (3). Feramisco matched Smith with 14 kills and added nine digs. Setter Mikayla Weiss recorded 36 assists and hit a season-high 10 kills. Devyn Castaneda anchored the defense with 16 digs over the course of the match.

NEXT UP: The Sunbirds are just getting started! Day Two of the Gator Classic kicks off with the Cal State East Bay match at 11 am, followed by the match against tournament host, San Francisco State at 6 pm.

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