Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
SMU
Volleyball Collects Sweep Over SMU
10/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 8, 2001
DALLAS - Fresno State didn't wait long to get back to its winning ways as the Bulldogs swept SMU (30-26, 30-24, 30-17) in their three-match Western Athletic Conference road finale this evening.
The Bulldogs, who finished playing crossover matches with the Eastern Division and tallied a 4-1 mark, bounced back brilliantly after taking a three-game loss on the chin to Rice yesterday in Houston.
Winning 10 of its last 11 matches, Fresno State hit a season-high .352 (54-10-125) and had three players with double-figure kills in the win tonight. Senior middle blocker Shauna McQuaid and junior outside hitter Christy Burnett shared match-high honors with 14 kills a piece. McQuaid added three blocks while Burnett had nine digs and three blocks.
Sophomore outside hitter Kara Verwey was the only player in the match to notch a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. In addition, freshman outside hitter Kristen Fenton collected a match-high 16 digs while adding two blocks.
Still further, the 'Dogs had two players who did not commit a single hitting error. Burnett hit .560 (14-0-25) while junior middle blocker Java Johnson hit .667 (8-0-12).
As a team, Fresno State won the fight in all the statistical categories as it outhit (.352-.142), outkilled (54-45), outdug (62-53) and outblocked (8-5) the Mustangs.
In game one, Fresno State rallied back from as much as an eight point deficit and proceeded to finish the game with an 11-0 run to win, 30-26. In games two and three, the Bulldogs dominated from beginning to end as SMU was held to a .182 hitting percentage in game two and a .000 hitting percentage in game three.
"It was a good win," said head coach Lindy Vivas, who picked up her 200th win at Fresno State. "We need to remember how hard we worked and carry that momentum into our next matches. I thought we did a nice job blocking, playing defense, and serving tough. We were able to take SMU out of its offense."
Fresno State will come back home to host Western Division leader Nevada on Friday, Oct. 12, 7:00 p.m. Nevada, which ranks No. 26 in this week's USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll, will bring in an 11-1 record and a perfect 5-0 mark in conference play. The Wolf Pack, who own a nine-match win streak, is off to their best start under fifth-year head coach Devin Scruggs as they swept through Eastern Division play with a 5-0 record.
The Bulldogs will put an 8-0 home court record on the line this Friday. Fresno State, which already has shattered the school's record for consecutive home wins, holds a 12-4 series lead against Nevada. Last season both teams won on their home court.
