Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
SMU
Volleyball Snaps Streak With Sweep Over SMU
11/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2000
DALLAS, Texas - Fresno State broke its six-match losing streak with a sweep over SMU in Western Athletic Conference play on Monday evening in Dallas, Texas. The Bulldogs (13-16, 6-9 WAC) also notched their second WAC win on road and created a potential logjam for fourth place in the conference standings. Fresno State, which travels to TCU tomorrow evening, could wake up tomorrow morning tied with UTEP in the conference race pending the outcome at Nevada. The Bulldogs, whose last victory came against SMU at home on Oct. 21, picked up its fourth three-game win on the year after hitting .351 (55-9-131) against the Mustangs.
In the win, Fresno State was led by freshman outside hitter Kara Verwey who posted a match-high 18 kills while hitting a career-high .515 (18-1-33). Junior middle blocker Shauna McQuaid added 16 kills and two blocks while hitting .382 (16-3-34) on the evening. Sophomore outside hitter Christy Burnett chipped in 12 kills and had a match-high 16 digs for her 15th double-double on the season. She also hit a season-high .310 (12-3-29). Freshman defensive specialist Annie Eropkin collected a season-best 14 digs while sophomore middle blocker Lindsay Closs netted a match-high five total blocks.
SMU was led by Melissa Godwin's 15 kills. Shelley Bredewater was the only other player in the match to collect a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs. SMU hit just .182 (54-25-159) in the match.
Game 1 recap
Fresno State jumped out to a 2-0 lead and then found itself tied with SMU for the next four points at 6-6. After that, the Bulldogs took the lead at 7-6 and never relinquished it as the Mustangs got no closer than three points and the `Dogs claimed a 15-9 victory. The Bulldogs hit .364 (22-2-55) in the first game and was led by Verwey and McQuaid. Verwey hit .500 after posting seven kills with no errors in 14 attempts. McQuaid also hit .500 with seven kills with one error in 12 attempts. Defensively, Eropkin collected eight digs. As a team, Fresno State netted three blocks, led by McQuaid's block solo and block assist. SMU's Godwin led the way for the Mustangs with seven kills while hitting .700 (7-0-10). In addition, Sara Warner already notched 10 digs after just one game. As a team, the Mustangs hit .224 (19-6-58).
Game 2 recap
Fresno State picked up the pace in game two and jetted out to an 8-0 lead before the Mustangs got its first point on the board. The Bulldogs increased their leads to 11-2 and 13-4 before finishing off SMU, 15-4. In game two, Fresno State hit .424 (16-2-33) and held SMU to .120 (18-12-50). With Verwey and McQuaid each tallying five kills a piece, the `Dogs were spearheaded by Burnett who stayed perfect in the match after going 4-0-10 in game one to 8-0-16 after game two. Defensively, the Bulldogs collected three more total blocks to lead 6-3 statistically and totaled 18 digs to SMU's 13 for the difference. SMU's Godwin picked up six more kills to lead the Mustangs with 13.
Game 3 recap
Fresno State sealed its sweep over SMU after darting out to a 7-2 lead. The Mustangs chipped away at the Bulldogs lead and closed it to 12-9. However, Fresno State answered back with freshman setter Chelsey Duley who notched a kill for a 13-9 lead and then aced the Mustangs at 14-9. She served out the final point as SMU committed a hitting error for the Bulldogs final point and victory. In the third game, Verwey hit .600 (6-0-10).
