Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Final: #1 Sunbirds sweep #3 Azusa Pacific 30-26, 31-29, 30-19

Box score

Azusa - The Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds passed another road test tonight, but the ride was a bit bumpy.

The top-ranked Sunbirds notched a 30-26, 31-29, 30-19 sweep of No.15 Azusa Pacific in Azusa tonight, but looked less than impressive in the process.

The Sunbirds trailed 27-26 in Game 2 before breaking a 29-29 tie with a kill by Thais Julio and an attack error by APU's Jenny Brickner.

Julio led FPU with 18 kills, but committed 10 hitting errors for a .178 efficiency. Lorena Zuleta added 10 kills and five blocks, while Marin Shilling and Brittany Pierce each added eight kills. Shilling was also in on six blocks at the net.

Samantha Weatherly and Lira Xavier each had 12 digs. Julio also reached double figures with 10.

Brickner led APU (19-6, 10-5) with 12 kills.

"Get them credit," said FPU coach Dennis Janzen of the Cougars. "They came out strong and played well. I don't think we were looking ahead to Saturday, but when was the last time we made 23 hitting errors? We will have to play much better on Saturday."

The Sunbirds, now 25-0 overall and 15-0 in GSAC play, host 3rd-ranked California Baptist this Saturday. The Lancers (23-2, 15-1) are the defending NAIA National Champions.

The first ball will be swerved in the Special Events Center at 3:00 p.m.

Updated Records
#15 Azusa Pacific: 19-6, 10-5 GSAC
#1 Fresno Pacific: 25-0, 15-0 GSAC

Updated Series Record
FPU leads the all-time series with the Cougars 51-8... APU's last win came on September 17, 1994, in the Special Events Center... since the Sunbirds have run off 28 wins in a row over the Cougars.

Fresno Pacific University offers undergraduate and graduate programs that stress solid academic preparation and a strong ethical foundation. Each year more than 2,000 traditional and adult students attend classes on the 42-acre main campus in southeast Fresno or centers in Visalia and Bakersfield. The university also reaches 12,000 students across the nation and around the world through professional development studies programs. The only four-year Christian university in the Central Valley, FPU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and ranked in the top quarter among Western universities master's category by U.S. News & World Report.