Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Rice
Volleyball Drops Second WAC Match on Season
10/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 7, 2000
HOUSTON, Texas - Fresno State (9-9, 2-2 WAC) could not overcome erratic play, poor passing and untimely errors as the Bulldogs dropped a five-match Western Athletic decision to Rice (4-15, 15-8, 2-15, 15-10, 8-15).
The loss put the 'Dogs at the .500 level for the second time overall this season while the loss also dropped the Bulldogs to the .500 level in WAC play after taking a 2-1 record into Houston.
Fresno State was handled in game one, three and five. The Bulldogs made a match out of it by controlling the Owls in game two and came back from a 9-2 deficit in game four to push the conference match up to five games.
Hitting .194 in the match, Fresno State had four players record double-digit kills and digs in the loss. Junior middle blocker Shauna McQuaid had a team-high 18 kills and added 12 digs for her first career double-double. She also collected four blocks.
Coming off the bench and providing a spark was freshmen outside hitter Stefanie Taelman. Also posting her first career double-double, Taelman finished with 15 digs and 11 digs. She, along with McQuaid, were the only 'Dogs to notch a double-double.
Freshmen outside hitter Kara Verwey chipped in 14 kills and nine digs while sophomore middle blocker Lindsay Closs added 12 kills and five blocks. Seniors Malia Malu and Leilua Satele each had double-figure digs. Malu had a team-high 17 digs while Satele had 13.
Rice was led by Karolina Zelinka's 21 kills and six blocks. Leigh Leman had a match-high 22 digs along with four blocks while being held to 11 kills for a .171 hitting percentage.
When comparing the teams, the Owls won the battle at the net as they stuffed the Bulldogs 15 to nine in total blocks. With nine aces, Rice also had 28 blocks assists in the victory and the Owls were led by Briana Cook's eight blocks. Also outhiting Fresno State (.293-.194), the Bulldogs did tally more digs (76-73).
Fresno State will be back in the North Gym for the next two weeks. The Bulldogs will enjoy a four-match homestand that will feature San Jose State on Wednesday, Oct. 11, Tulsa on Friday, Oct. 13, TCU on Friday, Oct. 20 and SMU on Saturday, Oct. 21.
