Fresno State Athletics
Bulldog Volleyball Opens Western Athletic Conference Play at Home
9/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 25, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Fresno State Opens Conference Play
With the non-conference regular season behind them, the Bulldogs begin Western Athletic Conference play this weekend at home with second-ranked Hawai'i on Friday, Sept. 29 and Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 30, in the North Gym. UH, a three-time defending WAC champion, is favored to capture the league title again this season. Fresno State finished third behind the Rainbow Wahine and San Jose State. Competing in the WAC for the first time, Nevada is picked fourth in the preseason coaches' poll. Fresno State is 66-48 (.579) in eight years of WAC action since 1992. Fresno State is 0-8 in league play and 0-23 overall against Hawai'i. The Bulldogs are meeting Nevada for the first time in WAC action and hold an 11-3 series advantage over the Wolfpack.
Bulldogs on the Web
Fresno State will look to broadcast its first ever volleyball match live on the web. In conjunction with AT&T Broadband - The Home Team and KFIG/ESPN 1430 AM, Fresno State will showcase the 'Dogs home match against Hawai'i live on the school's official athletic web site at www.gobulldogs.com. Fans just need to go to www.gobulldogs.com and click on the icon on the top of the main front page. Fresno State is also planning to broadcast live on the web four other matches with San Jose State (Oct. 11), Tulsa (Oct. 13), TCU (Oct. 20) and Rice (Nov. 10). In addition, the "Lindy Vivas Show" can also be heard at www.gobulldogs.com. Fans need to click on the audio icon on the Bulldogs' front page to hear the coach's weekly show with KFIG's operation director Rob Emler.
'Dogs Set Top 30 Mark
Fresno State had 725 fans turn out for its match against No. 19 Santa Clara last Friday. That mark was good enough to rank 26th all-time in school history. The Bulldogs, who were ranked nationally in attendance in 1996 and finished No. 22 with an average of 996 per match, is averaging 443 fans in seven dates this season. That average currently ranks second in the WAC behind Hawai'i which is averaging nearly 6,800 per match. For six straight seasons UH has been the nation's top drawer while eclipsing 100,000 fans in the last five consecutive seasons. Fresno State's top two attendance marks have come against the Rainbow Wahine with a school-record mark of 1,982 in 1996 and 1,692 in 1997. These marks were set before the North Gym added chairback seating as the official size of the North Gym is now 1,551.
WAC Expands to Nine
After just one year as an eight team league, the WAC expanded to nine teams for the 2000-01 season. The Nevada Wolfpack joined the conference July 1, 2000. In volleyball, all nine teams will play each other home and home, giving each school a 16-match conference schedule. Next academic school year, Boise State and Louisiana Tech will join the WAC while TCU departs. The WAC will have 10 teams after July 1, 2001.
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 16 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 80-41 (.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 256-180 (.587) and a ten-year school record of 184-120 (.605).
Underclassmen Leading the Way
Fresno State is 2-6 in its last eight appearances but the Bulldogs' youth has shown brightly this season. Freshman setter Chelsey Duley (Tollhouse, Calif.) is averaging 10.38 assists per game while hitting .281 on the season -- the second highest hitting efficiency among the starters. After going 0-3 at home last week, it was Duley who led the offense again after hitting .263 in 10 games. She also averaged 13.00 assists per game after dishing out 130 assists and had nine total blocks for a 0.90 block per game average in 10 games last week. Duley had a season-high seven total blocks to go along with 46 assists against No. 19 Santa Clara in the four-game loss. She followed that with a season-high eight kills and 53 assists in the four-game loss to Southeast Missouri State. Sophomore middle blocker Lindsay Closs (Spokane, Wash.) only hit .183 in 11 games but she was a force at the net after collecting 16.0 total blocks for a 1.45 block per game average. Closs is tops on the team in blocking with 14 block solos, 44 block assists and 58 total blocks for a 1.09 block per game average in 53 games. Sophomore outside hitter Christy Burnett (Fallbrook, Calif.) only managed a .167 hitting percentage but she led the Bulldogs with a 4.00 kill per game average after collecting 36 kills in nine games. She leads the team in digs this season with 153 for nearly a 2.00 dig per game average (2.94 dpg). Burnett also has notched 10-plus digs in every match but two this season. Freshman outside hitter Kara Verwey (Kerman, Calif.) also averaged 4.00 kills per game last weekend in 11 games after collecting a team-high 44 kills. Verwey notched her first career 20-kill match with 20 against Southeast Missouri State. With three straight double-figure kill matches and averaging 14.67 kills a match last week, Verwey posted a season-high 15 digs against No. 19 Santa Clara and added 11 kills for her third double-double on the year.
McQuaid Top 'Dog
Despite missing the last three matches with an abdominal strain but listed day to day, junior middle blocker Shauna McQuaid (San Diego, Calif.) 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 .307 with a team-high 168 kills (3.82 kpg). She also has 43 total blocks for a 0.98 block per game average in 44 games.
#2 Hawai'i (10-0, 0-0 WAC)
Having played its first 10 matches at home in tournament play, second-ranked Hawai'i will make its first trip off the island this week when it visits Fresno State and San Jose State, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 29 and 30, respectively, in conference action. The Rainbow Wahine have recorded six sweeps of their 10 wins this year. With three players totaling 100 or more kills, UH's offense boasts a .288 hitting percentage while its defense at the net is averaging 3.04 blocks per game. Hawai'i leads the conference in hitting and kills per game (16.14) while second in blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Lily Kahumoku leads UH with 158 kills (4.65 kpg) and is hitting .322. She is third on the team in digs (81, 2.38 dpg) and blocks (28, 0.82 bpg). Kahumoku picked up WAC Player of the Week honors on Monday after spearheading the Rainbow Wahine to a pair of victories over eighth-ranked Pepperdine. The 6-2 left side hitter recorded 43 kills (4.77 kpg) and hit .319 (43-12-97) and added 21 digs (2.33 dpg) and eight blocks for the weekend. In the first meeting against the Waves, Kahumoku tallied career-highs with 23 kills and six blocks while chipping in12 digs for her sixth double-double on the year in the five-game victory (12-15, 15-5, 15-2, 4-15, 15-7). She followed that match with another 20-kill performance with 20 kills and nine digs in the four-game decision over Pepperdine (14-16, 15-3, 15-5, 15-7). In the WAC stats, the 1999 AVCA District VII Freshman of the Year is third in kills per game (4.65) and sixth in hitting. Hitting .244 on the year, senior outside hitter Jessica Sudduth is second on the team in kills (115, 3.29 kpg) and digs (85, 2.43 dpg). Junior middle blocker Veronica Lima has 100 kills (2.86 kpg) and is hitting .340 while leading the team in digs (86, 2.46 dpg) and second in blocks (38, 1.09).
Nevada (4-7, 1-0 WAC)
The University of Nevada is currently a top the WAC standings with a 1-0 league mark after sweeping Rice (15-3, 15-4, 15-10) at home last weekend in its conference opener. Also picking up a four-game win over Sacramento State at home (15-7, 8-15, 15-11, 15-5), Nevada is 3-3 in its last six matches after opening the year at 2-4. The Wolfpack, who are 1-5 on the road this season will travel to San Jose State on Friday, Sept. 29, before coming to Fresno on Saturday, Sept. 30. Nevada is led by junior outside hitter Suzanne Stonebarger and sophomore middle blocker Michelle More. Stonebarger is tops on the team with 132 kills (3.30 kpg), 12 aces (0.30 sapg) and 155 digs (3.88 dpg) while tied for fifth in blocks with 13 (0.32 bpg). She also leads the conference in digs per game. More has notched 116 kills (2.90 kpg) and is tops on the team with a .226 hitting percentage. She also leads the Wolfpack in blocks with eight solo, 38 block assists and 46 total blocks for a 1.15 block per game average. More is seventh in the WAC in block per game average.
1999 WAC Play In Review
Fresno State concluded its WAC season at home with a pair of three-game sweeps over SMU and TCU on Nov. 18 & 19, 1999 ... Fresno State solidified third place in the league standings with a 10-4 mark ... The ten wins marked the fourth time under Vivas that the Bulldogs have posted at least ten conference victories (the school record for league wins are 11 in 1984, 1992 and 1997) ... The Bulldogs swept through conference play (10-4) but were caught short twice with a pair of losses to Hawai'i and San Jose State ... UH won its fourth-straight WAC regular-season title and received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament ... Missing 12 matches on the season with a stress fracture and the flu, Lindsay Closs did not compete in a WAC match until the final two on the year against SMU and TCU ... Fresno State closed out the WAC season by winning its last four conference matches and 10 of its last 12 ... Fresno State picked up four all-WAC selections in first team honoree Anamie Buckelew and a trio of second team picks in Diann Aufdermaur, Adrienne Sankey and Leilua Satele ... The four all-conference selections tied the 1992 school record for most picks in a year.
2000 Bulldog Volleyball Capsules
So., OH, Christy Burnett
Has 8 double-figure kill matches & double-figure dig matches in every match but two (12 of 14) ... has 8 double-doubles ... first 20-kill match vs Central Michigan ... opened year with 7 straight double-figure dig matches, including season-high 16 vs Siena ... career-best 3 aces vs George Mason & career-high 4 assists against Denver ... has at least one blocks in 7 matches ... leads team in digs (153) & second in kills (162)... 2000 Fresno State Invitational all-tourney.
So., MB, Lindsay Closs
Has 9 double-figure kill matches ... has at least one block in every match ... leads team in block solos (14), block assists (44) & total blocks (58) ... career-best 9 blocks vs George Mason, including career-high four block solos... has season-high 16 kills vs Southeast Missouri & 5 digs against Denver ... in career, has at least one block in 29 of 30 matches played ... has 16 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-best 61 assists vs CS Fullerton ... season-high 8 kills vs. Southeast Missouir ... season-best 16 digs vs. #19 Santa Clara ... has at least one block in 12 of 14 matches (seen significant time in 13 matches), including season-high 7 vs #19 Santa Clara ... averaging 10.38 assists per game ... in career, has two double-figure dig matches.
Sr., OH, Malia Malu
Has double-figure digs in 8 matches, including a season-high 20 vs #19 Santa Clara ... season-high 5 total blocks vs 3 different teams ... has at least 1 block in 12 matches ... has 2 double-doubles on year ... in career, ranks No. 10 in career assists (458) ... has 10+ digs in 38 matches & 10+ kills in 11 with 9 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 missed last 3 matches (11 games) ... has 10 double-figure kill matches in last 11 with at least 12 kills in those 10 matches ... season-best 20 kills (second career 20-kill match) vs George Mason ... has season-best 7 blocks vs George Mason, including career-high seven block assists ... has at least 2 total blocks in all 11 matches ... leads team in kills (168) & second in blocks (43) ... in career, has at least one total block in 37 of 41 matches ... MVP at 1999 USF/Golden Gate Classic ... 2000 Brion's Grille/Patriot and Fresno State Invitational all-tourney ... has 10+ kills in 16 matches with two 20+ kill matches.
So., S, Brittney Pearson
Has season-high 40 assists vs Central Michigan & George Mason ... career-best 8 kills vs Denver ... career-high 3 aces vs Siena ... picked up season-high 10 digs vs Central Michigan ... has at least one block in 2 matches ... averaging 6.03 assists per game ... in career, has one double-figure dig match.
Jr., OH, Kristin Pierpont
Missed first 11 matches (44 games) ... season-high 2 assists & 4 digs vs San Diego ... collected first career double-double vs UTEP (10 k, 10 d) & second vs. Rice (11 k, 17 d) last year ... season-best five total blocks vs Nevada ... career-best 17 digs vs San Diego State & Rice ... career-high 14 kills vs Rice ... had five matches in double-figure kills as a sophomore ... in career, has 10+ kills in five matches & 10+ digs in nine.
Sr., DS, Leilua Satele
Third on the team in digs (108) ... has season-best 15 digs , 3 assists & 3 aces vs Southeast Missouri ... has 3 double-figure dig matches ... has a kill against San Diego & Southeast Missouri ... 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 13 matches.
Fr., OH, Stefanie Taelman
Has season-high 9 kills & 12 digs vs CS Fullerton ... picked up at least one dig in all 12 matches ... has at least one ace in 4 of last 10 matches ... in career, has one double-figure dig match.
Fr., OH, Taneisha Tilque
A reserve who collected her first collegiate kill vs Maryland-Baltimore County ... has season-best 7 kills vs Denver ... has season-high 12 digs and two blocks vs Butler ... had one double-figure dig match.
Fr., OH, Kara Verwey
Has 7 double-figure kill & 4 double-figure dig matches ... has 4 double-doubles on the year ... season-high 20 kills vs Southeast Missouri ... season-best 15 digs vs #19 Santa Clara ... season-high 5 total blocks vs George Mason ... season-best 3 assists vs Denver & 2 block solos vs Marshall ... at least one block in 9 matches ... fourth on the team in kills (141) & digs (105) ... Brion's Grille/Patriot Invite all-tourney.
