LA MIRADA, Calif. – No. 1 Fresno Pacific (24-0, 13-0 GSAC) continued its domination over Golden State Athletic Conference competitors Tuesday, defeating No. 11 Biola (16-8, 7-6 GSAC) in straight sets.
The Sunbirds never trailed in a 25-7, 25-21, 25-18 victory over the Eagles.
The victory over Biola marked the third straight match in which the Sunbirds held their opponents to under .100 hitting percentage. Biola struggled with a .062.
The first set the Sunbirds opened up an 8-1 lead and finished with a 6-0 run to win 25-7. The second and third sets were similar; the Sunbirds jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second and broke away with a 7-1 run in the third after being tied at 8-8.
"We came out on fire in the first set, and executed at a high level," Fresno Pacific coach Dennis Janzen said. "Then we just carried that the rest of the match.”
Martina Gregusova, Erika Adachi,
Lauren Albertson and
Mariah Mandelbaum were the key players for the Sunbirds. Gregusova had 11 kills while Adachi contributed 22 assists. Defensively, Albertson contributed to 8 of the Sunbirds’ 11 blocks, and Mandelbaum came up with 14 digs.
“The girls are showing a new level of play,” Janzen continued, “and we are really coming together and beginning to look like a great team.”
The Sunbirds are spending their 31st straight week on top of the NAIA polls, the only unbeaten team in the Top 25.
Fresno Pacific will return home on Thursday (Oct. 22) to face Vanguard. The first time around, the Sunbirds swept Vanguard. The first serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Fresno Pacific.