Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Wraps Up October Homestand With Rice and SMU
10/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Bulldogs Wrap Up October Homestand with WAC Play
After opening Western Athletic Conference play on the road for the first two weeks, the Bulldogs wrap up their two week homestand in league action and they also make their final home appearance this week for the month of October. Fresno State hosts Rice this evening at 7:00 p.m. before entertaining SMU on Thursday, Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast live from the North Gym on KFSR 90.7 FM and can be heard live on gobulldogs.com. Fresno State, which improved to 6-1 at home, posted a four-game victory over Louisiana Tech last week. Owning a current 16-2 overall record and a 4-1 conference mark, the Bulldogs will be looking to string together a trio of wins. Overall, Fresno State has won 16 of its first 18 matches and 12 are three-game sweeps.
Pack the Gym
Drawing 1,010 fans in paid attendance last Friday against Louisiana Tech, Fresno State will look to pack the gym 1,000 strong tonight when the Bulldogs battle the Owls in WAC action. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to win $200. Upon entry, each person will be given a ticket and, if 1,000 fans are present, the attendance will be announced at intermission and a lucky ticket holder will win $200. To claim the prize, the individual must be 18 years or older and must be present at the time of the drawing.
WAC Notes
The Bulldogs are 12-3 all-time against the current WAC opponents. Tangling with Rice for the ninth time and SMU for the eighth, Fresno State holds a 5-3 series over the Owls and is 7-0 against the Mustangs. Fresno State and Rice last met at the 2001 WAC Volleyball Championship in San Jose, Calif., and the Bulldogs collected a 3-2 victory. The two teams are 1-1 in the last two match ups and 3-3 in the last six. Fresno State and SMU last met in Dallas last year and the 'Dogs swept the Mustangs.
Good Starts - It's Official
When Fresno State opened the year at 4-0 it marked the 11th time overall and sixth time under 12th-year head coach Lindy Vivas that the Bulldogs won their first four contests. In the previous 4-0 years under Vivas, three of those were 20-win campaigns (1991, 1995, 1996) with three postseason showings (1991 and 1998 at NCAA's; 1995 at National Invitational Volleyball Championship ). When Fresno State raced out to a 6-0 start, it marked the sixth time in the program's history and third under Vivas (1972, 1973, 1976, 1995, 1998, 2002); the 6-0 start via sweeps is a first in history. When the Bulldogs opened at 9-1, they won nine of their first 10 for the third time overall (1976, 1998, 2002). At 12-1, Fresno State won 12 of its first 13 for the first time since 1998 and for the third time overall in school history (1976, 1998, 2002). At 13-2, the Bulldogs still tied for the best start in school history with the 1976 and 1998 teams. At 15-2, the 'Dogs still remained tied for the best start in school history (1976 and 1998). Now at 16-2, the Bulldogs officially have recorded the best start in the program's history.
Head Coach Lindy Vivas
In her 12th season as head coach of the Bulldog volleyball program, Lindy Vivas (UCLA, 1980) captured her 200th win at Fresno State on Oct. 8, 2001 with a sweep over SMU. Leading the Bulldog volleyball program to its 450th win in the five-game decision over Rice in the quarterfinal round of the WAC Volleyball Championship on Nov. 16, 2001, Vivas has directed the 'Dogs to five postseason appearances while leading the Bulldogs to six 20-win campaigns. The two-time WAC Coach of the Year honoree has led the Bulldogs to two NCAA Tournament showings (1991, 1998) and three NIVC appearances (1995-94-92) since her arrival in 1991. Averaging 19 wins a year with a 99-48 (.673) home court record and a 53-27 (.663) WAC mark at home, Vivas has coached three all-region/all-district and 19 all-WAC picks (22 overall). Vivas, who has led the 'Dogs to all four WAC Volleyball Tournaments (1996-98, 2001), owns a 16-year career record of 292-202 (.591) and a 12-year school record of 220-142 (.608).
Week 7: Bulldogs Get WAC Win in Home League Opener
Fresno State played its first Western Athletic Conference home match last week and picked up a four-game victory over Louisiana Tech ... With the win, Fresno State improved to 16-2 overall and 4-1 in league play ... The victory also gave the 2002 Bulldogs the sole distinction of posting the best start in school history ... With 12 of the team's 16 wins coming via sweeps, the Bulldogs improved to 6-1 at home and are now 16-3 in the North Gym since last season ... Fresno State picked up its first 1,000-fan match on the year against Louisiana Tech with 1,010 ... Its first "one grand" match in five years, the paid attendance mark against the Lady Techsters ranks No. 15 in school history ... Vivas is eight wins shy of recording her 300th career victory.
'Dogs Get National Votes for Fourth Straight Week
Fresno State received national recognition from around the country for the fourth straight week and stayed No. 33 for the second straight week with 21 votes in the 2002 USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 33 (18 votes) last week after appearing at No. 36 the first two (Sept. 30, #36, 7 votes; Sept. 23, #36, 10 votes).
Back in Form
Senior outside hitter Christy Burnett (Fallbrook, Calif.) guided the Bulldogs to a four-game Western Athletic Conference victory over Louisiana Tech. Tallying her first 20-kill match of the year, Burnett posted a match-high 21 kills and 10 digs for her ninth double-double on the year. Hitting .474 (21-3-38) against the Lady Techsters, Burnett also recorded her fifth career 20-kill match and her 36th career double-double. In her first two games alone she already had notched her 12th double-figure kill match of the season with 10 and hit .450 (10-1-20). On the season, Burnett has hit .300 or better six times and .400 or higher four times. In WAC play, she is averaging nearly 4.00 kills per game (3.94) and nearly 3.00 digs per game (2.71). Overall, Burnett is averaging 3.44 kills per game and 2.98 digs per game. In the school's career list, she ranks No. 9 in career attempts (2,438) and No. 9 in career digs (911). Serving up 93 service aces, she is 10 shy of cracking the school's all-time Top 10 in career service aces. With a career-high 38 aces on the year, Burnett is three shy of tying Nicole Chen's No. 10 single-season mark of 41 aces (1993).
WAC Opponents
Rice (10-8, 2-2 WAC):
The Owls, who are playing their first extended road conference matches, went 0-1 last weekend away from home after dropping a tough five-game decision to San Jose State (30-23, 27-30, 30-25, 17-30, 10-15) this past Saturday. Tied for first place in the Eastern Division with SMU, Rice outhit (.298-.263) and outblocked (17-4.5) the Spartans and four players record a double-figure kill match in the loss. Sophomore outside hitter Rebeca Pazo tallied a match-high 24 kills and had a team-high 17 digs with four blocks against San Jose State. Pazo has spearheaded the Owl's offense and has a team-high 245 and is averaging more than 4.0 kills a game (4.45). Named WAC Player of the Week last Monday, Pazo also is tops in digs (149, 2.71 dpg). Sophomore outside hitter Catherine DuPont (114 kills, 2.15 kpg) and sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Carter (104 kills, 2.12 kpg) are the other Owls with 100 or more kills on the season. With a 6-7 mark away from home, Rice is 4-2 in its last six and 10-4 in its last 14 after opening the season at 0-4.
SMU (8-10, 2-2 WAC):
The Mustangs went 0-1 last week after losing a four-game decision to San Jose State (18-30, 30-19, 21-30, 36-38) last Friday. SMU's senior middle blocker Leslie Lasiter had a match-high 25 kills and hit .419 (25-7-43) while sharing match-high honors in blocks with five. Lasiter has led the Mustang offense and has totaled 200 kills for a 3.28 kill per game average. Hitting .277 on the season, she also leads SMU in blocks with 51 for a 0.84 block per game average. The Mustangs also have four other players with 100 or more kills in sophomore outside hitter Beth Karasek (159, 2.56 kpg), junior outside hitter Katy Moffett (144, 2.57 kpg), junior middle blocker/outside hitter Allison Holder (143, 2.23 kpg) and sophomore outside hitter Jacky Niederstadt (121, 2.42 kpg). Holder has a team-high 22 service aces (0.34 sapg) while senior outside hitter Kristen Peterson is tops in digs (270, 4.03 dpg). With a 6-6 road mark, SMU is 3-3 in its last six and 4-6 in its last 10 after opening the year at 4-4.
Bulldogs in the NCAA Stats
Fresno State has been ranked as a team as well as having individuals ranked the past five weeks in the NCAA statistics. As a team, the Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 13 in win/loss percentage (.882, 15-2), No. 23 in hitting (.272), No. 24 in aces per game (133, 2.33 sapg) and No. 26 in kills per game (928, 16.28). Individually, Burnett is ranked 24th in service aces per game (35, 0.67 sapg).
More Top 'Dog Performances
Sophomore outside hitter Kristen Fenton (Marysville, Mich.) had her fourth consecutive double-figure kill match and has seven double-digit kill performances in her last eight outings ... Hitting a match- and career-high .609 (15-1-23), she also had 15 kills and 10 digs with two blocks against Louisiana Tech ... Fenton, who also had her sixth double-double on the year, has been the top 'Dog in the last seven matches ... Hitting .360 (85-17-189) with six double-figure kill and three double-doubles in her last seven, Fenton is averaging 3.54 kills, 2.50 digs and 0.75 blocks per game ... Junior middle blocker Carrie Hartt (Manteca, Calif.) picked up her third straight double-digit kill match against the Lady Techsters after recording 14 kills while adding four digs and three blocks ... She has had 10-plus kill matches in nine of her last 12 contests and is averaging 13.83 kills (166) a match in this span ... Senior middle blocker Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) picked up her third consecutive 10-plus kill match after chipping in 14 while hitting .324 (14-3-34) with two service aces, four digs and a match-high four blocks versus Louisiana Tech ... Johnson has had five 10-plus kill matches in her last six and is averaging 12.0 kills (72) a match ... Sophomore setter Whitney Arena (West Linn, Ore.) set a season-high 60 assists and tied a season-best three blocks against Louisiana Tech ... Senior defensive specialist Heather Farr (Cameron Park, Calif.) posted her 11th double-figure dig match while sophomore libero Tina Brennan (Woodinville, Wash.) had her ninth double-figure dig match on the season ... Brennan has recorded 10-plus digs in five of her last six matches and is averaging 10.67 digs (64) a match.
Seeing Double
Johnson, who has appeared among the nation's best in hitting this season, and Hartt, who ranks as the WAC's top blocker, have teamed up for a formidable one-tow punch in the middle. Johnson was the hottest hitter in the month of September with a .336 (121-29-274) hitting efficiency. Averaging 3.18 kills per game, Johnson led the Bulldogs in block solos (10), was second in block assists (32), total blocks (42) and blocks per game (1.11) while third overall in kills (121). Hartt was next in hitting with a .333 (141-39-306) hitting efficiency in September. She led the Bulldogs in kills (141), kills per game (3.81), block assists (42), total blocks (48) and blocks per game (1.30). In the last 14 matches, Johnson is hitting .345 (157-36-351) while Hartt is hitting .324 (184-53-404). Hartt is leading the Bulldogs in kills (184), kills per game (3.91), total blocks (60) and blocks per game (1.28). Johnson is leading the Bulldogs in hitting (.345) and block solos (12) while second in service aces (14), total blocks (54) and blocks per game (1.13).
No Quibbling Here
Fresno State posted a 9-2 record in the month of September - its only blemishes were four-game losses to then No. 19 UC Santa Barbara at home and Nevada on the road - and is off to a 3-0 start in October after opening the season with a 4-0 mark in August. Both UCSB and Nevada both advancing to the NCAA Tournament last season. This year, the Gauchos cracked the Top 10 three weeks ago in the USA Today's/AVCA Top 25 and are currently ranked No. 7 while Nevada received votes for two weeks. Fresno State has received votes in the coaches' poll for the last three weeks and currently checks in at No. 33. With two tournament titles, a runner-up finish and a quadrangular crown this season, Fresno State has been nationally-ranked in hitting efficiency, service aces per game, kills per game, digs per game and win/lost in September and October.
Home Success
The Bulldogs have enjoyed success in the North and South Gyms over the years and own an all-time home record of 165-116 (.587) since 1978; the Bulldogs are 121-82 (.596) since 1987 in the North Gym. The 'Dogs went 10-2 at home in 2001 and shattered the school record for consecutive wins (9). Fresno State is 99-48 (.673) overall and 16-3 at home, dating back to last season, under Vivas.
Statistically Speaking
Fresno State ranks in the top five in all eight WAC statistical categories. The Bulldogs are second in the WAC in hitting (.280), opponent hit percentage (.130), blocks per game (155, 2.54 bpg), won-lost percentage (16-2, .888) and service aces (138, 2.26 sapg). The 'Dogs are third in kills per game (1,002, 16.43), digs per game (1,005, 16.48) and assists per game (869, 14.25 apg). Individually, Johnson is third among all conference participants in hitting (.369) and is fifth in blocks per game (64, 1.07 bpg). Arena is third in assists per game (593, 11.86) while Hartt leads the WAC in blocks per game (73, 1.24) and eighth in kills per game (219, 3.71). Burnett is second in service aces per game (38, 0.62) while Fenton is eighth (22, 0.38). Farr is fifth in digs per game (190, 3.28).
USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Competition
The Bulldogs have four schools on their calendar that were either ranked in the Top 25 or received votes during the regular-season poll of the 2002 USA Today/AVCA Top 25. Fresno State will meet No. 2 Hawai'i on Oct. 25 and Nov. 15. The 'Dogs tasted their first Top 25 competition at home against then No. 19 UC Santa Barbara before hosting then No. 26 University of San Diego. The Bulldogs lost at then No. 32 Nevada.
Publication Ranking
Fresno State made its first appearance in the 2002 Volleyball Magazine's Top 20 poll by receiving votes this morning and checked in at No. 36. This is the first time on the year that the Bulldogs have appeared in both polls.
2002 Bulldog Volleyball Capsules
So., S, Whitney Arena
Has season-high 6 kills & .750 (6-0-8) hit pct. vs. Southern Miss ... has season-best 60 assists vs. La Tech ... has career-high 18 digs vs. UNLV ... has season-best 2 aces vs. four teams (most recent vs. Sacramento State) ... has season-best 4 blocks vs. San Diego ... has 5 double-doubles ... in career, has 9 ten-plus dig matches & 9 double-doubles... 2001 second team all-WAC pick.
So., L/DS, Tina Brennan
Has career-high 20 digs vs. Montana State ... has career-best 4 aces vs. Denver ... tied career-high 3 assists vs. La Tech ... has 9 double-figure dig matches ... in career, has 14 10+ dig matches.
Sr., OH, Christy Burnett
Has season-best .476 (12-2-21) hit pct. vs. East Carolina ... has season-high 16 kills vs. USD ... has season-high 2 assists vs. four teams (most recent vs. Sacramento State) ... tied career-high 21 digs vs. USD ... set career-best 6 aces vs. UNLV ... has season-best 3 blocks vs. Air Force ... set career-high 5 block assists & total blocks vs. UTEP ... has 12 double-figure kill, 12 double-figure dig & 9 double-doubles on year ... MVP of William & Mary Hi-IQ Tournament ... all-tournament at Fresno State Invite and William & Mary tourney ... 2002 preseason all-WAC ... in career, has 43 double-figure kill & 54 double-figure dig matches, five 20+ kill, five 20+ dig matches, 36 double-doubles & two 20/20 matches ... 2001 second team all-WAC ... At FS, ranks No. 9 in career total attempts (2,438) & No. 10 in digs (911).
Sr., L/DS, Heather Farr
Has season-high 1 kill vs. Montana State & UNLV ... tied career-best 3 assists vs. UNLV... has career-high 24 digs vs. San Diego ... has 11 10+ dig matches ... in career, has 16 10+ dig matches.
So., OH, Kristen Fenton
Hit career-high .609 (15-1-23) hit pct. vs. La Tech ... has career-high 15 kills vs. William & Mary, UNLV & La Tech ... has season-high 2 assists vs. Radford & Sacramento State ... has season-best 17 digs vs. Nicholls State ... tied career-best 4 aces vs. Nicholls State ... tied career-high 7 blocks vs. UNLV ... has 12 double-figure kill, 7 double-figure dig & 6 double-doubles ... all-tourney at Fresno State & William & Mary Hi-IQ ... in career, has 19 10+ kill matches, 18 10+ dig matches, 11 double-doubles & one 20+ dig match.
Jr., MB, Carrie Hartt
Has career-high .577 (17-2-26) hit pct. vs. Denver ... has career-best 19 kills vs. San Diego ... has career-high 3 assists vs. Montana State .. owns career-best 6 digs vs. four teams (most recent vs. Tulsa) ... has career-high 4 aces vs. East Carolina & Radford ... has career-high 11 blocks vs. UNLV ... first career double-double vs. UNLV (17 kills, 11 blocks) ... has 10 double-figure kill matches ... MVP at Pioneer Classic ... all-tourney at Pioneer Classic & Fresno State Invite ... in career, has 12 10+ kill matches, 1 10+ block & 1 double-double.
Sr., MB, Java Johnson
Has career-high .588 (12-2-17) hit pct. vs. Radford ... has career-best 17 kills & 7 digs vs. San Diego ... has career-high 3 aces vs. Boise State ... tied career-best 2 assists vs. La Tech ... tied career-high 10 block assists vs. Montana State ... tied career-high 3 block solos vs. Nevada... has 10 double-figure kill matches & 1 double-double ... all-tourney at Pioneer Classic, Fresno State & William and Mary Hi-IQ ... 2002 preseason all-WAC ... in career, has 17 10+ kill, 2 10+ block & 2 double-doubles (kills & blocks).
