Fresno State Athletics
Bulldog Volleyball Entertains San Jose State and Tulsa in WAC Action
10/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 9, 2000
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FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State Set For Four-Date Homestand
Fresno State (9-9, 2-2 WAC) is back in action this week with a pair of Western Athletic Conference contests in the North Gym. The Bulldogs will look to improve upon its .500 level in overall and conference play. This week, the Bulldogs host San Jose State on Wednesday, Oct. 11 and Tulsa on Friday, Oct. 13 for a pair of 7:00 p.m. match ups.
Home Flavor
Fresno State plays four of its seven conference matches at home this month. After traveling to Texas last week, the Bulldogs will enjoy a four-match home stand beginning this Wednesday. The four-date home slate includes San Jose State and Tulsa this week and TCU (Oct. 20) and SMU (Oct. 21) next week. The 'Dogs close out October on the road at San Jose State (Oct. 28).
October & November Full of WAC Action
For the next two months, the Bulldogs have nothing but a solid run of conference matches. Fresno State is currently tied for fourth place in the WAC standings with San Jose State and UTEP at 1-1.
Bulldogs Rank Second in WAC Attendance
Fresno State ranks second in the conference in total and average attendance. The Bulldogs, who have played nine matches at home this season, have drawn 4,278 fans for an average of 475 per match. In 10 matches to date, Hawai'i has drawn more than 70,000 fans (70,147) and is averaging 7,015 per match. Right behind Fresno State is San Jose State which has drawn 1,378 fans for an average of 459 per contest .
On the Web
Still looking to broadcast is first-ever volleyball match on its official athletic web site at www.gobulldogs.com, fans can listen to the "Lindy Vivas Show" and watch highlights form the 1999 season on the school's website. Fans need to click on the audio icon on the Bulldogs' front page to hear Vivas and watch the video.
2000: WAC Expansion
After just one year as an eight team league, the WAC has expanded to nine teams for the 2000 season with the addition of Nevada. All nine teams will play each other, home and home, giving each team a 16-match conference schedule. Next fall, Boise State and Louisiana Tech will join the WAC while TCU will leave for Conference USA.
2000 NCAA Region Alignment
For the NCAA Division 1 Volleyball Region purposes in 2000, the WAC will be aligned in the West Region with the Big West and the Mountain West conferences. For NCAA Tournament purposes, the West Region will be joined by the Central Region, which consists of the Big 12, Mid-Continent, Missouri Valley and Southland conferences.
Head Coach Lindy Vivas
In her tenth season as head coach of the Bulldog volleyball program, Lindy Vivas (UCLA, 1980) picked up her 250th career win in the season opener against Siena. Now 14 wins shy of capturing her 200th win at Fresno State, Vivas has directed the 'Dogs to five postseason appearances in the last nine years. The two-time WAC Coach of the Year honoree has led the Bulldogs to two NCAA Tournament showings (1991-98) and three NIVC appearances (1995-94-92) since her arrival in 1991. Averaging 20 wins a year with an 81-42 (.661) home court record, Vivas has coached three all-region and 15 All-WAC picks. Vivas, who led the Bulldogs to three straight WAC Volleyball Tournaments (1996-98), owns a 14-year career record of 258-182 (.587) and a ten-year school record of 186-122 (.605).
WAC Week in Review: Week 2
Fresno State is coming off a 1-1 Western Athletic Conference record last weekend ... The Bulldogs, who made their first WAC road trip on the year by going to Texas, picked up a four-game win over UTEP before falling in five to Rice ... The victory over UTEP pushed the 'Dogs series hold to 14-0 over the Miners while Rice got its first win over Fresno State with the Bulldogs still leading the series, 4-1 ... On the weekend, junior middle blocker Shauna McQuaid (San Diego, Calif.) collected her first career double-double against Rice with a team-best 18 kills and a career-high12 digs ... Against UTEP, she shared match-high honors in kills with 19 and hit .378 (19-5-37) while picking up four total blocks ... She led the team with 37 kills (4.11 kpg) and hitting efficiency (.289, 37-15-76) and was second in total blocks (9, 1.00 bpg) while fifth in digs (16, 1.78 dpg) in nine games ... In WAC action, McQuaid is hitting .300 and is averaging 3.71 kills per game (63 kills) and 1.08 blocks per game (20 total blocks) ... Freshman outside hitter Kara Verwey (Kerman, Calif.) tallied 33 kills (3.67 kpg) and had three aces, three blocks and was third in digs (20, 2.22 dpg) ... Verwey, who has notched double-figure kills in six of her last seven outings, is averaging 19 kills a match since posting a career-high 24 kills against Nevada on Sept. 30 ... Verwey, who is averaging 3.76 kills per game in WAC contests, has 10 double-figure kill matches and six double-doubles on the season ... Freshman outside hitter Stefanie Taelman (Gavere, Belgium) provided a spark off the bench last weekend against Rice ... She had 15 kills and 11 digs in the five game loss and notched her first career double-double ... Sophomore middle blocker Lindsay Closs (Spokane, Wash.) led the Bulldogs in blocks with 14 in nine games for an average of 1.56 blocks per game while adding 26 kills (2.89 kpg) last weekend.
Taking Notice
McQuaid has been the Bulldogs top gun the last two seasons. McQuaid, who finished fourth in the WAC in hitting efficiency last year with a .301 average, is currently hitting a team-high .305 with a team-best 231 kills (3.79 kpg). She is second to Closs in block solos (11), block assists (52) and total blocks (63) for a 1.03 block per game average in 61 games. Having opened the season with seven consecutive matches in double-digit kills, McQuaid is averaging 18 kills a match in her last three outings and has had 10-plus kills in 13 of 15 matches this year.
San Jose State (12-5, 3-1 WAC)
San Jose State is coming off a pair of WAC road wins after defeating Rice in five games (12-15, 11-15, 15-12, 15-6, 15-11) and UTEP in four (5-15, 15-13, 15-8, 15-6). The Spartans have gone 11-3 in their last 14 matches and have strung together a season-best eight wins after opening the year with a 1-2 mark. San Jose State, which has been on the road in 14 of its first 17 matches to date and will open its season by playing 16 of its first 19 matches on the road before enjoying a four-match home stand next weekend, is hitting .224 while averaging 16.03 kills, 2.00 blocks and 17.00 digs per game on the season. SJSU, which is 0-2 against the top 25 this season, is led by senior middle blocker Joslynn Gallop. With 364 kills on the year, Gallop leads the WAC with an average of 5.69 kills per game. Hitting .278, she also leads the team in digs with 184 for an average of 2.88 digs per game and total blocks with 56 for an average of 0.88 blocks per game. Gallop captured ASICS All-America honors and was a 1999 Honorable Mention All-American as well as being the WAC's co-player of the year. Gallop, who moved into fifth place on the WAC's all-time career kills list last week with 1,700 career kills, needs just 105 kills to become the WAC's all-time career kill leader. Averaging 4.28 kills per game during her career which ranks fifth all-time in the WAC, Along with Gallop, junior outside hitter Brianna Blair has tallied 235 kills (3.67 kpg) and has collected 142 digs (2.22 dpg) and 33 total blocks (0.52 bpg). In the series, San Jose State owns a 35-16 series lead over Fresno State. The Spartans and Fresno State are even in WAC play with the meetings tied at four wins a piece in conference action. SJSU has won the last four match ups (swept in 1999 and 1998) after the Bulldogs won the previous four (swept in 1997 and 1996). Prior to these recent meetings, Fresno State and San Jose State had not played each other since 1993 (Fresno State won 3-2).
Tulsa (15-3, 1-3 WAC)
Off to its best start in school history with a 15-3 record, the Golden Hurricane has already surpassed their win total from last season after posting a 10-18 worksheet. Tulsa is coming off a 4-0 mark after picking up four victories on the road at the Long Island Tri-Match tournament. Tulsa collected victories over St. Francis, NY (15-0, 15-3, 15-4), Long Island (15-4, 15-4, 15-4), Fairleigh Dickinson (12-15, 15-0, 15-7, 15-8) and Wagner (15-2, 15-9, 15-1). Tulsa, which is tied for fifth place in the league standings with UTEP, will play Nevada on Wednesday, Oct. 11, before traveling to Fresno for Friday's match. The Golden Hurricane is hitting .258 on the season while averaging 15.35 kills, 16.34 digs and 2.15 blocks per game this season. TU opened its season with a 10-match win streak, went 1-3 after that, and has since gone 4-0. The Golden Hurricane is spearheaded by a pair of outside hitters. Senior Kristien Van Lierop broke the school's career records in kills, attempts, digs and aces as a junior and picked up second team all-WAC accolades last season. Leading the team in kills (249), service aces (18) and digs (185) while third in total blocks (29) this season, she is averaging 4.29 kills and 3.19 digs per game and is hitting .296 on the year. Junior Kara Hidinger is second to Van Lierop in kills (164) and digs (176) and is averaging 2.78 kills and 2.98 digs per game. In the series, Fresno State is 4-0 against the Golden Hurricane overall and in WAC action. The two teams first met in 1997, missed each other in 1998 due to divisional play, and resumed again in 1999.
In the WAC
In the overall statistics in the WAC, Fresno State ranks in the lower one third but in WAC games, only, the Bulldogs are fairing much better.
2000 Bulldog Volleyball Capsules
So., OH, Christy Burnett Has 10 double-figure kill matches & 14 double-figure dig matches ... has 10 double-doubles ... first career 20-kill match vs Central Michigan ... opened year with 7 straight double-figure dig matches, including season-high 16 vs CMU ... career-best 3 aces vs George Mason ... career-high 4 assists against Denver ... career-high 4 block assists & total blocks vs UTEP ... has at least one block in 9 matches ... leads team in digs (184) & third in kills (195)... 2000 Fresno State Invitational all-tourney.
So., MB, Lindsay Closs
Has 12 double-figure kill matches ... has at least one block in every match ... leads team in block solos (18), block assists (61) & total blocks (79) ... career-best 9 total blocks vs George Mason, including career-high four block solos... season-high 16 kills vs Southeast Missouri ... season-best 5 digs against Denver ... in career, has at least one block in 33 of 34 matches played ... has 19 double-figure kill & two double-figure dig matches ... all-tourney at Brion's Grille/Patriot Invite (2000) & USF/Golden Gate Classic (1999) ... first career triple-double vs. Nevada (13k-11d-10tb) in 1999.
Fr., S, Chelsey Duley
Has season-high 61 assists vs CS Fullerton ... season-high 8 kills vs. Southeast Missouri ... season-best 16 digs vs. #19 Santa Clara ... has at least one block in 13 of 16 matches (seen significant time in 15 matches), including season-high 7 vs #19 Santa Clara ... averaging 10.47 assists per game ... in career, has two double-figure dig matches.
Sr., OH, Malia Malu
Has double-figure digs in 10 matches, including a season-high 20 vs #19 Santa Clara ... has 3 double-figure kill matches, including season-best 13 vs UTEP ... season-high 6 total blocks vs Nevada ... has at least 1 block in 16 matches ... has 3 double-doubles on year ... in career, ranks No. 10 in career assists (471) ... in career, has 10+ digs in 40 matches & 10+ kills in 12 with 10 double-doubles ... career-high 21 kills vs Sacramento State & set career-high 25 digs vs San Francisco in 1999 ... first career 20/20 match against Sac State as a junior ... received the team's Best Defensive award in 1999 ... 2000 Denver Invitational all-tournament (first career pick).
Jr., MB, Shauna McQuaid
Opened the year with 7 consecutive double-figure kill matches ... has at least 12 kills in her 13 double-figure kill matches out of 16 matches played ... season-best 20 kills (second career 20-kill match) vs George Mason ... career-best 9 blocks vs Nevada ... career-high 12 digs vs Rice (first career double-double: 18 k, 12 d) ... career-high 5 assists vs CS Fullerton ... has at least 1 block in all 16 matches played ... leads team in kills (231) & second in blocks (63) ... in career, has at least 1 total block in 41 of 45 matches ... 2000 Brion's Grille/Patriot and Fresno State Invitational all-tourney ... 1999 USF/Golden Gate Classic MVP ... has 10+ kills in 23 matches, 2 20+ kill, 1ten+ dig & 1 double-double.
So., S, Brittney Pearson
Career-high 61 assists vs UTEP ... career-best 8 kills vs Denver ... career-high 3 aces vs Siena ... tied career-high 10 digs vs Central Michigan ... career-best 4 block assists & total blocks vs UTEP ... has at least one block in 5 matches ... averaging 7.53 assists per game ... in career, has 2 double-figure dig matches.
Jr., OH, Kristin Pierpont
Missed first 11 matches (44 games) ... season-high 2 assists & 4 digs vs San Diego ... got first kill on year against #2 Hawai'i before collecting second kill vs Nevada ... in 1999: first career double-double vs UTEP (10 k, 10 d) & second vs. Rice (11 k, 17 d) in 1999 ... season-best five total blocks vs Nevada ... career-best 17 digs vs San Diego State & Rice ... set career-high 14 kills vs Rice ... had 5 matches in double-figure kills ... in career, has 10+ kills in five matches & 10+ digs in nine.
Sr., DS, Leilua Satele
Third on the team in digs (151) ... season-best 15 digs , 3 assists & 3 aces vs Southeast Missouri ... has 6 double-figure dig matches ... has a kill vs San Diego, Southeast Missouri , Nevada & Rice ... in career, 1999 Fresno State Invitational all-tourney ... team awards in Academic Excellence, Most Improved and the Sally Adley Coaches Award ... 1999 second team all-WAC ... has 10+ digs in 16 matches.
Fr., OH, Stefanie Taelman
First career double-double vs Rice with career-best 15 kills to go along with 11 digs ... has at least one dig in 13 of 14 matches played ... in career, has 2 double-figure dig matches & 1 double-double.
Fr., OH, Taneisha Tilque
A reserve who collected her first collegiate kill vs Maryland-Baltimore County ... season-best 7 kills vs Denver, 12 digs vs Butler and 4 assists & 2 aces vs Nevada ... in career, has 2 double-figure dig matches.
Fr., OH, Kara Verwey
Has double-figure kill matches in 6 of last 7 outings... has 12 double-figure kill & 6 double-figure dig matches ... has 6 double-doubles ... season-high 24 kills vs Nevada ... season-best 15 digs vs #19 Santa Clara, 5 total blocks vs George Mason, 3 assists vs Denver & 2 block solos vs Marshall ... has at least 1 block in 13 matches ... second on team in kills (205) & fourth in digs (139) ... Brion's Grille/Patriot Invite all-tourney.
