Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Hosts Nevada in a Western Division Showdown on Friday
10/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 11, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - Bulldogs Off and Running
Fresno State will host Nevada in a Western division match up on Friday, Oct. 12, 7:00 p.m., in the North Gym. Having won 10 of their last 11 matches, the Bulldogs will put an eight-match home win streak on the line against Western division leader Nevada. Owning a 10-4 overall record and 5-1 in Western Athletic Conference play, Fresno State wrapped up Eastern divisional play last weekend on the road. In Eastern division play, the Bulldogs notched wins over Tulsa, UTEP, Louisiana Tech and SMU and dropped one to Rice to finish with a 4-1 worksheet. The 'Dogs now play out the rest of their schedule against their own division opponents, beginning with Nevada on Friday night. Nevada, which boasts a nine-match win streak, is 11-1 overall and 5-0 in the WAC. Leading the Western division of the WAC, the Wolf Pack and Hawai'i (3-0) remain as the only two teams undefeated in the conference race.
Brief Homestand
The Bulldogs play just four matches at home this month, including Friday's contest against the Wolf Pack. The three remaining home matches are Saturday, Oct. 20 vs. Hawai'i (12:00 p.m.), Wednesday, Oct. 24 vs. CS Northridge (7:00 p.m.) and Saturday, Oct. 27 vs. San Jose State (7:00 p.m.).
The Last Time
Fresno State and Nevada are tangling for the 16th time since 1971 as the Bulldogs lead the series 12-4. In fact, based on won/lost records kept by Fresno State since 1971, Nevada was the very first program the 'Dogs played as they collected a 2-0 win. In conference play, the two schools are 1-1 against each other having met for the first time in WAC action last year (each team won at home). The two programs are 2-2 versus each other in the last four meetings since 1997.
WAC Championship Tickets On Sale
After a two-year hiatus, the Western Athletic Conference is sponsoring a volleyball tournament championship again and it will be held Nov. 15-18 at San Jose State's Event Center. All 10 teams will qualify for the postseason tournament. Tickets for the 2001 WAC Volleyball Tournament are on sale. Ticket prices are $30 for adults and $15 for children and students for an all-session pass (nine matches). Tickets can be purchased at the San Jose State Ticket Office or by calling (408) 924-SJTX. Fans can obtain a room rate at the San Jose Hilton & Towers by calling 1-408-287-2100 and request "WAC Volleyball Tournament" group rate.
Nevada Notebook
Nevada is taking to the road for just the third time this season. The Wolf Pack are coming off WAC wins at UTEP and Louisiana Tech. Nevada will wrap up its four-match road swing this weekend after playing Fresno State and San Jose State. The Wolf Pack are led by five of the WAC's top 10 hitters in senior middle blocker/outside hitter Kellie LaBossiere (.332), senior outside hitter Shannon Stemler (.315), senior outside hitter Suzanne Stonebarger (.298), senior outside hitter Navona Chambers (.307) and junior middle blocker Michelle More (.332). More and Stonebarger are preseason all-WAC selections. Owning a nine-match win streak, Nevada ranks 26th in this week's USA Today/AVCA Top 25 coaches poll.
Fresno State Notebook
The 2001 Western Athletic Conference season is half way over and Fresno State is coming off a 2-1 road record. With conference victories over Boise State, UTEP, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech and SMU, Fresno State is 5-1 in league play. Fresno State wrapped up Eastern division play with a 4-1 mark this past Monday. The Bulldogs' best start in WAC play through the first seven matches is 6-1 (1996 and 1992). The best start ever in WAC play is 8-1 in 1992. Head coach Lindy Vivas notched her 200th win at Fresno State with a three-game victory over SMU on Monday. The Bulldogs had their nine-match win streak snapped at Rice. The nine-match win streak is the longest since 1998 when the Bulldogs opened the year at 12-0. Having already shattered the school's record for consecutive home wins with eight (old record was five in 1998), the 'Dogs will put an 8-0 home court record on the line against Nevada.
In the NCAA Statistics
In the latest NCAA Statistics released on Wednesday (Oct. 10), Fresno State continues its national ranking in team blocking while senior middle blocker Shauna McQuaid remains ranked in the NCAA stats as well. Having appeared in the NCAA stats the last four weeks, Fresno State ranks No. 20 in team blocks (2.90) while McQuaid ranks No. 29 (1.47) in the latest release. These statistics do not include the Bulldogs' match against SMU this past Monday. The Bulldogs highest national ranking in blocks to date is No. 24 (3.07) on the Sept. 30. McQuaid, who was ranked No. 37 in hitting percentage (.385) in the second week of NCAA statistics on Sept. 16, has appeared as high as No. 20, twice (1.41, Sept. 23, 1.53, Sept. 30).
Bulldog Block Party at Home
Senior middle blocker Shauna McQuaid, who became just the eighth Bulldog to collect 200 or more career block assists three weeks ago, led the block party two weeks ago at home with 14 total for a 2.00 block per game average in the wins over Tulsa and UTEP ... McQuaid posted a match-high eight total blocks against Tulsa while sharing match-high honors with six versus UTEP ... Junior middle blocker Java Johnson was right behind with nine total for a 1.50 block per game average ... She shared match-high honors in blocks with McQuaid against UTEP ... Johnson and McQuaid are hosting the Bulldog block party as McQuaid has a team-high 55 total blocks (1.53 bpg) and Johnson has 53 total blocks (1.36 bpg) ... Currently, Fresno State has 148 total blocks to date and is averaging nearly 3.00 blocks per game (2.90).
Lawanson Selected to AVCA Board Position
Fresno State volleyball assistant coach Ruth Lawanson has been elected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Board of Directors. Lawanson, who is in her third season at Fresno State, has already taken office. Replacing Stanford's Denise Corlett, Lawnson's role entails representing all Division I assistant coaches. Lawanson also will be in charge of the assistant coaches' committee. In this role, the assistant coaches will discuss items pertaining to their positions and the game. "I'm looking forward in my involvement with both committee," said Lawanson, who is a 1992 Olympic bronze medalist and was a member of the 1991 World Cup Team and the 1990 World Championship bronze medaling United States team. "I feel it's always important to give back to your sport."
