10/22/09

Sunbirds Retain Perfect Record

Fresno, Calif. – The NAIA’s top-ranked volleyball team, Fresno Pacific University, remained perfect this volleyball season with a 3-1 victory over tenth-ranked Vanguard University. The Sunbirds earned a 25-17 victory in the first set before the Lions tied the match with a 25-21 decision in set number two. FPU completed the victory with 25-15 and 25-18 scores in the final two sets, beating the Lions for the second time this season.

Leading 9-8, the Sunbirds pulled away from the visiting Lions with a strong offensive attack and only three errors in the first set. Taking advantage of six attacking errors by the Lions, the Sunbirds out-scored Vanguard 6-3 to end the set with a dominating 25-17 victory.

However, the Lions never trailed in the second set, responding with a 25-21 decision in the second set. Led by senior Heather DeJongh’s five kills in eight attacks, the Lions slammed 16 balls to the ground as they pulled even with the Sunbirds in the match.

With an errant attacking game by the Lions and a smothering block by the Sunbirds, Fresno bounced back with a pair of lopsided wins to secure its 25th win of the season. The Lions had 19 attacking errors in the final two sets and the hosts finished with a total of 16 blocks in the match.

Led by Martina Gregusova’s 12 kills, the Sunbirds improve to 25-0 and remain in first place in the GSAC standings with a 14-0 conference record.

The Lions were led by DeJongh with 12 kills and Jamie Heenan and Kelsey Wirt with 10 kills apiece. Wirt and libero Ariel Strickler topped the team with 17 and 16 digs, respectively, and setter Meghan Walsh tossed up 32 assists for the Lions who drop to 15-8 overall and 9-5 in GSAC.

Vanguard returns to action next Tuesday when the Lions travel to Riverside to take on the California Baptist Lancers at 7:00 p.m.

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