FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Pacific (27-0, 16-0 GSAC) begins their difficult stretch off matches with a decisive win over No. 4 Concordia (24-5, 11-5 GSAC). The Sunbirds were pushed in the final set trailing by their largest margin of the match 3-8, but fought back to tie the set at 8-8 with a 5-0 run. The Sunbirds ended up outscoring the Eagles 25-20, 25-20, 25-19 to take the sweep.
Martina Gregusova led the Sunbirds with 12 kills and 4 service aces with 2 of the aces coming in the Sunbirds 5-0 run in the third set and 2 straight kills to give the Sunbirds their first lead in the final set as well. Gregusova also had four digs and two blocks for the match.
Michelle Johnson followed Gregusova with 10 kills and 3 blocks while
Lauren Albertson led the Sunbirds with 5 blocks.
Erika Adachi finished with 19 assists while
Mariah Mandelbaum had 19 digs.
The Sunbirds only trailed early in the second and third sets, but used a 6-1 run in the second set to break away, and again in the third set with their 5-0 run to tie the set and a 5-1 run to pull ahead before closing out the match.
Coach Dennis Janzen commented, “I was really pleased with how we played today. I look forward to see how the girls will perform in the next few tough matches after today’s win [over Concordia].”
Next Tuesday, November 3 the Sunbirds will face No. 5 Azusa Pacific for the second of three top-five teams they will face this week. Fresno Pacific will remain home for Azusa before they travel to Riverside on Saturday, November 7 to take on No. 2 Cal Baptist. Tuesday’s match will begin at 7 p.m. at the Fresno Pacific gym.