FRESNO, Calif.---  Stan State began its regular season with a four-set victory over Fresno Pacific in the first match of the Sunbird Classic this evening at The Special Events Center in Fresno, Calif.  Isabella Saucedo's first career double-double of 14 kills and 10 digs paced the Warriors.  Ellison Weaver recorded 11 kills to go with Shaelyn Pruiett and Haley Burdo who combined for 33 assists. 

FIRST SET:  The hosts took an early 10-7 lead in the first set.  Stan State rallied for four straight points keyed by three straight kills by Isabella Saucedo, Ellison Weaver, and Malia Tanksley to give the Warriors an 11-10 lead.  The guests six of the next nine points capped by a five-point rally gave the Warriors a 17-13 lead.  They increased their lead to 21-15 on a kill by Mariah Iosua off an assist from Haley Burdo.  Fresno Pacific (0-1) didn't go away as the Sunbirds cut the Warrior lead to 22-18.  Stan State finished off the set taking three of the final four points to take a 1-0 lead (25-19).

SECOND SET:  Fresno Pacific came out of the intermission taking an 8-3 lead.  Back-to-back kills by Weaver cut the deficit to 9-7.  Two service aces by Burdo surrounded by kills by Tanksley and Alex Byrd tied the set at 14-14 for the guests.  The set went back and forth until the Warriors took a 23-21 lead.  The Sunbirds recorded five of the set's final six points to take the second set, 26-24, and even the match at 1-1.

THIRD SET:  In the third set, Stan State took a 9-5 lead in thanks to a four-point rally keyed by a Saucedo ace and a Weaver kill.  Fresno Pacific tied the set at 12-12, but the Warriors took a 15-12 lead which was keyed by an Autumn Kirby block.  Weaver's kill gave Stan State its largest lead of the set, 22-17.  Once again, FPU didn't go away as the Sunbirds cut the Stan State lead to 22-20. Stan State finished the set off to take a 2-1 lead in the match, 25-20.  The final three points were keyed by a combined block by Byrd and Christallynn Tate and a Weaver kill.

FOURTH SET:  Stan State (1-0) took a 11-9 lead in the fourth set capped by a Burdo kill.  Three kills by Tate, Saucedo, and Byrd keyed a four-point rally by the visitors as they took a 15-10 lead.  A Shaelyn Pruiett service ace increased the Warrior lead to 18-12.  FPU cut its deficit to 20-15.  A Tate kill gave the Warriors a 24-16 lead.  The hosts scored the next two points, but it was a little too late as the Warriors finished the match off on a kill by Ellison Weaver to take the set 25-18 and the match 3-1.

FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE:  Isabella Saucedo recorded her first double-double of her career at Stan State with a career high 14 kills and 10 digs.  She hit for a .519 hitting percentage. 

33/45:  Isabella Saucedo, Ellison Weaver, and Malia Tanksley combined for 33 of the Warriors' 45 kills.  Saucedo had 14 kills while Weaver had 11 and Tanksley recorded eight in her first match in Warrior red. 

12 TEAM BLOCKS: Stan State had twelve team blocks with four solo blocks and 16 block assists.  Alex Byrd had six combined blocks followed by Autumn Kirby with five and Malia Tanksley with four.

51:  The Warriors had 51 digs in the four-set match led by Gabby Rawson's 12.  Isabella Saucedo added ten and Shaelyn Pruiett added eight.

OVER HALF:  Shaelynn Pruiett and Haley Burdo combined for 33 of the Warriors' 40 assists.  Pruiett had 17 and Burdo added 16.  Gabby Rawson recorded six for the visitors.

UP NEXT:  Stan State continues its play in the Sunbird Classic tomorrow morning for an 11:30 a.m. match with Jessup University.  The Warriors will wrap up play in the Classic this Saturday, Sept. 7 at 11:30 a.m. versus Academy of Art and at 4:30 p.m. versus Dominican.  They will have its home opener on Student Affairs Night, Thursday, Sept. 12 at 5:30pm versus UC Merced.