Box Score PHOTO GALLERY
SAINT GEORGE, UT -- It took all five games, but Dixie State defeated #15 Fresno Pacific 19-25, 25-19, 25-16, 24-26, 15-11 on Saturday at the Student Activities Center in front of a rowdy 332 fans.
DSU (8-3/5-0 PWC) remained unbeaten in five tries in the Pacific West Confernce and picked up its first win over a ranked opponent in the DII era.
The Red Storm needed that strength after a first set in which the Sunbirds dominated. Dixie State looked overwhelmed in that game, as the taller Fresno Pacific front line effectively shut down the Red Storm offense with their blocking.
That is when DSU setter Shelby Sorenson (Lehi, UT/Lehi) took over. Sorenson's setting, serving and even attacking helped the Red Storm turn the game around and cruise to wins in Games 2 and 3.
"Shelby's just growing up a lot this year," head coach Robyn Felder said of her sophomore setter. "She serves the ball so well, and she's a great setter. She's starting to see the whole court, and she knows when that little dump-off is going to be open."
Twice in the second game, Sorenson faked like she was setting and instead dumped the ball over the net. The unexpected nature of the play cooled the Sunbirds' aggressive blocking scheme.
In both the second and third, Dixie State broke open close games by going on 5-0 runs when Sorenson served to build leads of 21-14 and 20-14, respectively.
In each of those rallies, the blocking tandem of Kendahl Weiland (Albany, OR/West Albany) and Makenzi Bird (Saint George, UT/Snow Canyon ) came up with key blocks, as they began to shut down the Sunbird offense. The DSU defense had 24 block assists in the match, with Bird (9) and Weiland (6) tallying 15 of those.
After the Red Storm dropped a close fourth game, Sorenson said that Weiland and Bird's blocking was a key reason why the fifth game opened with the Sunbirds making four straight errors.
The Sunbirds never recovered from those initial missteps as Dixie State cruised to the victory.
It took all five games and stellar hitting from senior OH Shannon Young (Whittier, CA/St Paul) who led the Red Storm and the match with 18 kills. Maddie Rex (Tucson, AZ/Sabino) and Weiland added a dozen each. Alex Anderson (Prescott, AZ/Prescott) earned 30 digs.
Jessie Alcorn and Rupia Inck had 18 kills to lead Fresno Pacific (6-5/1-3 PWC).
The Red Storm host Dominican, the only other conference foe to take them to five games this season, at 6 p.m. Monday.
