FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Pacific (32-0) completed their regular season perfect for the second straight year, and in the same fashion as last. The Sunbirds swept NCAA Div. I CSU Bakersfield (16-13) for the third time in the last three meetings, and second time in a row to finish the regular season. The Sunbirds took the match in straight sets, 25-13, 25-16 and 25-21.
After finishing the 2008 season undefeated with a sweeping victory over the Roadrunners, the Sunbirds took the National Championship. This season, the Sunbirds look to repeat their performance with another undefeated season as well as a No. 1 ranking in every poll this season.
Keke Wang led the Sunbirds over Bakersfield with 12 kills and 7 blocks on the match.
Lisa Shilling also put up 7 blocks as well as going five-for-six with no errors hitting an amazing .833 for the night.
The Sunbirds out-blocked the Roadrunners 13-to-4 and outhit them .286 to .089.
Martina Gregusova had 12 kills along with Wang, but led the Sunbirds with 11 digs. Erika Adachi led with 23 assists.
Senior
Tiffany Marinos had a balanced match on senior night with 3 kills, 2 blocks, 9 digs and 3 aces. Marinos was recognized as the Sunbirds' sole senior among a young, talented team.
“It was a great way to end the season; we played well as a team, and really looked good as we prepare to go into the National Tournament,” commented coach Dennis Janzen.
The Sunbirds earned an opening round bye as one of the top-11 teams, and will most likely earn the No. 1 seed after being the only team to complete the season undefeated. Seedings will be announced on Sunday afternoon.
The tournament will begin on December 1 as the final 24 teams will be placed into six pools and will play a round robin pool play, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the single elimination bracket starting December 4.