Fresno Pacific Sunbirds
| Fresno Pacific Sunbirds | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Fresno Pacific University |
| Conference | PacWest (primary) WWPA (water polo) |
| NCAA | Division II |
| Athletic director | Kyle Ferguson |
| Location | Fresno, California |
| Varsity teams | 17 (8 men's, 9 women's) |
| Basketball arena | Special Events Center |
| Baseball stadium | FPU Diamond |
| Mascot | Sunny the Sunbird |
| Nickname | Sunbirds |
| Colors | Navy blue and orange[1] |
| Website | www |
 | |
The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (also FPU Sunbirds) are the athletic teams that represent
History
NAIA
During their days in the NAIA, the Sunbirds boasted one of the top programs, finishing in the top five of the NACDA Directors' Cup in each of their last five seasons as a member (2007–2012). FPU has won a total of 58 conference titles and 13 national titles. Within the last five years, FPU has won national titles in Volleyball, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Tennis and Women's Tennis. They've also taken home conference titles in Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer and Men's Track & Field, and garnered national attention in Men's Water Polo, Women's Soccer, Baseball and Women's Track and Field. The university has hosted a number of NAIA special events, including the Track & Field National Championships, Men's Soccer Nationals and a round of the NAIA World Series.
NCAA
On June 1, 2011, the university announced that it had accepted an invitation to join the
On July 11, 2011, Fresno Pacific along with fellow conference mates, Azusa Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene, learned that their application for
On January 13, 2014, Fresno Pacific named Leslie Schuemann its director of athletics.
Varsity teams
Fresno Pacific competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field and water polo; while women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball and water polo.
National championships
Team
| Sport | Association | Division | Year | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's swimming and diving (2) | NAIA | Single | 2010 | California Baptist
|
659.5–488.5 |
| 2011 | California Baptist | 698.5–582 | |||
| Women's swimming and diving (1) | NAIA | Single | 2012 | Oklahoma Baptist | 780–578 |
| Men's tennis (2) | NAIA | Single
|
2009 | Auburn Montgomery
|
5–3 |
| 2011 | Embry–Riddle
|
5–1 | |||
| Women's tennis (1) | NAIA | Single[5] | 2010 | Auburn Montgomery | 5–2 |
| Women's volleyball (6) | NAIA | Single
|
1989 | Hawaii Pacific
|
2–0 |
| 2003 | Columbia (MO)
|
3–1 | |||
| 2007 | California Baptist
|
3–1 | |||
| 2008 | Concordia Irvine
|
3–2 | |||
| 2009 | Georgetown (KY)
|
3–0 | |||
| 2010 | Columbia (MO) | 3–0 |
Individual programs
Women's volleyball
The Women’s Volleyball program was dominant at the NAIA level, winning a national title in 1989, and four consecutive national titles from 2007–2010[6] including an undefeated 38–0 season in 2009. FPU won the 2010 title without dropping a single set in the entire national tournament. The Sunbirds have consistently defeated crosstown institution NCAA Division I rival Fresno State of the Mountain West Conference, with a 7–1 all-time record against the Bulldogs.
Men's tennis
The Men's Tennis program dominated their last five seasons as a member of the NAIA's Golden State Athletic Conference, winning the league title in each season (2009–2014). In the same stretch, FPU played for five straight
Olympic trials & professional athletes
Fresno Pacific has a reputation for turning out an extraordinary number of professional athletes for a school of its size. FPU currently has close to 50 alumni playing professionally in numerous sports, with the highest number coming from women's volleyball, men's soccer, men's basketball and baseball.
FPU had four alumni competing between the 2012
Since 2006, FPU has had seven players selected in the
FPU has had four alumni go on to reach
The FPU men's basketball program has continuously put out professional athletes both overseas and in the United States. In 2010, alum James Lewis became the first FPU player to be selected in the
FPU has had a number of alumni achieve a professional world tennis ranking in either the WTA or the ATP. Including, the ITA National Small College champion Jelena Pandžić.[14]
Mascot
The athletics mascot is Sunny the Sunbird.
References
- ^ "Fresno Pacific Sunbird Athletics - Quickfacts". March 27, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- ^ a b Staff (June 1, 2011). "Sunbirds accept PacWest invite". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ a b "FPU to join Pacific West Conference". Fresno Pacific University. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ "Schuemann named Director of Athletics". Fresno Pacific University. January 13, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
- ^ "NAIA Women's Tennis Championship Results" (PDF). NAIA. NAIA.org. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Three-peat nets national award". Fresno Pacific University. June 6, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ "Fresno Pacific Announces Return Of Men's Tennis Program". The PacWest. PacWest. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ Press, Release. "FPU Athletics Announces Return of Men's Tennis". FPU Athletics. Fresno Pacific University Athletics. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "Schwinden Gets Big League Call".
- ^ "Dbacks select Darrah in MLB Draft".
- ^ "Islas selected in MLS Draft by Chivas USA". FPUathletics.com.
- ^ "FPU's Lewis selected in NBA D-League draft for second straight year". FPUathletics.com.
- ^ "Taylor declares for NBA Draft, will forego senior season". FPUathletics.com.
- ^ "Past Champions". ITA Tennis. Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
