FRESNO, Calif. — In the 2026 Sunbird Classic opener, No. 11 Fresno Pacific volleyball kicked off its season with a commanding 3-0 sweep over Jessup University on Thursday evening. The Blue and Orange didn't hold back in the season opener with scores 25-14, 25-20, and 25-14.
"It's always exciting to get that first win of the season, especially at home," said Head Coach
Kelsee Montagna. "There were definitely some first-match moments, but I was really proud of how we stayed composed, competed together, and continued to find ways to get better as the match went on."
In the first set, the Sunbirds quickly established dominance with a 7-3 lead, thanks to key kills from pins
Madelyn Feramisco,
Morgan Castaneda, and
Amanda Lauer. Despite service errors from both sides, the Sunbirds extended their lead to 15-6, capitalizing on Jessup's attack errors. As the game advanced, contributions from middle blockers
Itzel Aguayo and
Rylee Pitney, along with Castaneda's swinging power and Pitney's decisive final point, captured the first set, 25-14.
The second set saw an exchange of early points, with Feramisco and Castaneda spearheading Fresno Pacific's offense with 10 kills a-piece. Jessup countered with crucial kills, but a service ace by
Julia Nicolet shifted momentum back to the 'Birds, leading to a 10-8 advantage. A late surge, highlighted by setter
Mikayla Weiss's strategic plays, extended the lead to 21-16. Despite Jessup's efforts, Fresno Pacific clinched the set 25-20 following an insane block by Aguayo and
Addisen Hamilton.
In the third set, the Blue and Orange wrapped up with a 25-14 win. Jessup struggled with consistency, allowing the Sunbirds to pull ahead. Weiss contributed significantly with 31 assists and three kills overall. The set concluded with a resounding attack by
Lola Highstreet and a Jessup attack error, sealing the Sunbirds' season-opening victory.
"We know there's a lot of growth ahead of us, but this was a great first step and something we can continue to build on."
So far, Fresno Pacific has earned recognition across the board in preseason rankings, coming in at No. 11 in the AVCA National Poll, No. 4 in the CCAA Preseason Poll, and No. 8 in the first-ever FloCollege volleyball rankings.
NEXT UP: The Blue and Orange head into the second day of the Sunbird Classic. FPU will match up against Western Oregon on Friday, Aug. 28 at 6pm. Come down to the Special Events Center to support your Sunbirds!
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