Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
* Louisiana Tech
Volleyball Swings Past Louisiana Tech
10/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 11, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - A slight stutter step in the opening game didn't derail the Bulldogs as Fresno State posted a four-game victory (27-30, 30-17, 30-14, 30-24) over Louisiana Tech at home to improve to 16-2 overall and 4-1 in Western Athletic Conference play.
Hitting a phenomenal .400 as a team and drawing a paid attendance mark of 1,010, the Bulldogs had four players collect a double-figure kill and dig match as well as two who had a double-double.
Officially off to the school's best start, Fresno State improved to 6-1 at home while going to 16-3 in the North Gym since last season.
The Bulldogs' outside hitters led the offensive attack through out the match as senior outside hitter Christy Burnett and sophomore outside hitter Kristen Fenton combined for a .525 hitting percentage after tallying 36 kills with four errors in 61 total attempts. Burnett posted her fifth career 20-kill match after totaling a match-high 21 and hitting .474 (21-3-38) while adding 10 digs and two blocks. Fenton recorded her sixth double-double on the year and 11th career double-double after hitting a match-high .609 (15-1-23) with 11 digs and two service aces.
The 'Dogs middle blockers, who came alive after game one, combined for a .287 hitting percentage (28-9-66) as senior middle blocker Java Johnson and junior middle blocker Carrie Hartt each had 14 kills a piece.
Senior defensive specialist Heather Farr and sophomore libero Tina Brennan accounted for almost half of the team's total digs as they combined for 24 of the team's 62. Farr had a team-high 13 digs while Brennan chipped in 11.
Sophomore setter Whitney Arena, who had five kills, six digs and three blocks, had a season-high 60 assists.
Louisiana Tech (12-9, 0-3 WAC), which came out swinging in game one and could do no wrong by hitting .400 (17-1-40), was led by outside hitter Cristine Sant'Anna, who had 16 kills, 11 digs and two blocks, and outside hitter Brianna Sibley, who had 12 kills, six digs and two blocks. Libero Heather Anderson collected a match-high 17 digs.
In game one, Fresno State hit an admirable .271 (18-5-48) but the game went to the Lady Techsters. Looking for a consistent rhythm as a team in the opening game, Burnett was virtually a one-person show as she had eight of the team's 18 kills and hit .571. Louisiana Tech's Sant'Anna and Sibley were perfect from the floor and hit .455 (10-0-22).
In game two, the Bulldogs hit .433 and held La Tech below .100 (.059) after making key adjustments. The 'Dogs had five players with at least two kills in the game. Fenton, who had five, closed out the game with seven straight serving points.
In game three, Fresno State again held Louisiana Tech below .100 (-.037) as the 'Dogs swung at a .552 (20-4-29) clip. Burnett, who after two games already had a double-figure kill performance, hit .600 (7-1-10) from the floor while the team outblocked the Lady Techsters (4-1).
In game four, defense was the story. As Fresno State hit better than .400 for the third straight game in a row (.421) while the Lady Techsters hit .273 (17-5-44), the Bulldogs outdug La Tech, 17-9. Burnett closed out the game with her 21st kill of the match.
"The difference between game one and the rest of the match was our blocking," head coach Lindy Vivas said. "Louisiana Tech has some good hitters and they showed what they could do. We also had to adjust to a different line up that they put out on the floor. There was some strategy going on but you have to figure those things out.
"Everybody is solid in the WAC," Vivas continued. "There's a misperception about some programs being weak based on last year's win-loss but anyone can post an upset, and we've seen that happen this year along with a few that could have happen. We make sure we take nothing for granted.
"Whitney (Arena) had a terrific match," Vivas added. "Coming off an ankle sprain, she charged right back to take leadership on the floor. She's a tough, tough competitor. Everyone responded and we, despite not being very fluid in the opening game, found a way to get back in the match and take control."
The attendance for tonight's match ranks No. 16 all-time at Fresno State as the Bulldogs had their first "grand" match in five years.
Fresno State will look to add to its one grand club on Monday, Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m., when the Bulldogs host Rice. If there are 1,000 fans in the seats in the North Gym then one lucky winner will have the chance to win $200.
