Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Travels to Second-Ranked Hawai'i
10/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 21, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. -
The Fresno State volleyball complete Release in PDF Format
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Credentials for 2002 WAC Volleyball Championship in PDF Format
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Bulldogs Take to the Road at No. 2 Hawai'i
After opening Western Athletic Conference season on the road the first two weeks, the Bulldogs are coming off a two week league homestand and will travel again in WAC action the next two weeks. Fresno State will face No. 2 Hawai'i on Friday, Oct. 25, 7:00 p.m. (HST). With a 10-1 road record, the 'Dogs are coming off a pair of home league victories versus Rice and SMU. Owning a current 18-2 overall record and a 6-1 WAC mark, the 'Dogs will be looking to extend their six-match win streak. Overall, Fresno State has won 18 of its first 20 matches and 13 have come via three-game sweeps. The Fresno State vs. Hawai'i match can be caught live via Hawai'i radio at www.hawaiisportsnetwork.com.
WAC Notes
The Bulldogs are winless against No. 2 Hawai'i as the Rainbow Wahine have dominated the 'Dogs with a 28-0 all-time series mark. With the series first starting in 1983, UH has swept the Bulldogs 25 times with Fresno State losing in four games to the Rainbow Wahine in 1997 and 1998 at home. Fresno State and Hawai'i met in non-conference action in 1983 and 1984 with UH posting a 3-0 series lead. The Bulldogs and Hawai'i then met in Big West Conference play from 1986-1991 as the Rainbow Wahine posted a 12-0 league mark. In WAC play, Hawai'i is 13-0 versus Fresno State.
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). When the Bulldogs went 16-2, the 'Dogs officially recorded the best start in the program's history.
'Dogs Get National Votes for Fifth Straight Week
Fresno State received national recognition from around the country for the fifth straight week and is ranked 28th in the 2002 USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs had been ranked 33rd for the last two weeks (Oct. 14, 21 votes; Oct. 7, 18 votes). They appeared at No. 36 their first two weeks (Sept. 30, #36, 7 votes; Sept. 23, #36, 10 votes).
Publication Ranking
Fresno State made its second consecutive appearance in the 2002 Volleyball Magazine's Top 20 poll by receiving votes and checked in at No. 33 after appearing at No. 36 last week. This is the second straight week in which the 'Dogs have appeared in both polls.
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, she notched her 100th home court victory against the Owls on Oct. 14, 2002. 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 101-48 (.678) home court record and a 55-27 (.671) 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 294-202 (.593) and a 12-year school record of 222-142 (.610).
Week 8: Bulldogs Wrap Up Cross-Division Play at 5-0
Fresno State posted a pair of conference victories over Eastern Division members Rice (3-0) and SMU (3-1) ... Both teams led the Eastern Division race when they came to Fresno ... Fresno State wrapped up cross-division play with a perfect 5-0 mark ... Against Rice, Fresno State picked up its 13th sweep of the season as Vivas notched her 100th home court win ... Against SMU, Fresno State concluded its October homestand and closed out cross-division play with an undefeated mark (5-0) ... Serving up 12 aces against SMU, the Bulldogs recorded their third six-match win streak of the season ... On the weekend, the 'Dogs outside hitters led the way in sophomore Kristen Fenton (Marysville, Mich.) and senior Christy Burnett (Fallbrook, Calif.) ... Fenton led the way 27 kills (3.86 kpg) and 34 digs (4.86 dpg) while hitting .282 (27-7-71) ... Burnett had 21 kills (3.00 kpg) and 20 digs (2.86 dpg) with four service aces ... Vivas is six wins shy of recording her 300th career win.
Swinging Away
Fenton guided the Bulldogs to a 2-0 record in WAC play with a sweep over Rice and a four-game victory over SMU. Propelling the Bulldogs to a 5-0 mark against the WAC's Eastern Division, Fenton also helped the 'Dogs improve to 8-1 at home and extended Fresno State's win streak to six for the third time on the year. Fenton, who is hitting .307 while averaging 3.42 kills and 3.61 digs per game at home, was the Bulldogs' top kill and dig leader in both matches last week. She notched a match-high 13 kills, hit .270 (13-3-37) and had a team-high 17 digs to go along with two blocks in the sweep over then Eastern Division leader Rice. Fenton followed that up with a match-high 14 kills and a match-high 17 digs while sharing match-high honors in aces (4) and had two blocks over the then Eastern Division leader Mustangs. The 17 digs versus Rice and SMU tied her season-high marks. Fenton also tied her season-high mark of four aces versus SMU. In WAC play, she is hitting .314 while averaging 3.63 kills and 2.88 digs per game. On the year, Fenton has 14 double-figure kill matches, nine double-figure dig and eight double-doubles. In her last five matches, she is hitting .370 (66-12-146) and is averaging 3.88 kills per game with a team-best eight service aces while second in digs with (53, 3.12 dpg).
WAC Opponent
#2 Hawai'i (15-0, 5-0 WAC):
The Rainbow Wahine are coming off a pair of WAC road wins over UTEP (30-13, 30-21, 30-20) and SMU (30-24, 30-6, 30-17). Hawai'i, which has 13 sweeps on the year, is hitting .341 as a team while averaging 17.87 kills, 18.21 digs and 2.89 blocks per game. Junior All-America outside hitters Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku lead the way. Willoughby paces the Rainbow Wahine with a .377 hitting efficiency while averaging more than six kills a game (280, 6.09 kpg) and nearly four digs a game (162, 3.52 dpg). Kahumoku is hitting .352 while averaging 5.14 kills (216) and 3.05 digs (128) digs per game. Hawai'i will host Notre Dame tonight and Tuesday evening before facing San Jose State on Thursday, Oct. 24, and Fresno State on Friday.
WAC Point Standings
Tying for its second-best conference start overall (1984, 1992, 2001), Fresno State leads the league in points as of this morning. The Bulldogs check in with 11 points and they are followed by Hawai'i (10), Nevada (10), San Jose State (8), Rice (5), UTEP (4), SMU (3), Louisiana Tech (2), Tulsa (2) and Boise State (0).
Bulldogs in the NCAA Stats
Fresno State has been ranked as a team as well as having individuals ranked the past six weeks in the NCAA statistics. The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 13 in win/loss percentage (.889, 16-2), No. 16 in hitting (.280), No. 22 in kills per game (1,002, 16.43) and No. 27 in aces per game (138, 2.26 sapg). Individually, Burnett is ranked 29th in service aces per game (38, 0.62 sapg).
Shake it Up
Senior outside hitter Christy Burnett (Fallbrook, Calif.), who has been nationally-ranked in service aces the past four weeks, set the school's tenth-best single-season mark in service aces last week. Entering the two-match homestand with 38 aces on the season, Burnett served up four -- all against SMU -- and surpassed Nicole Chen's mark of 41 set in 1993. Burnett has been climbing the school's career charts while eyeing an elite list. With 45 career double-figure kill, 56 double-figure dig and 38 double-doubles, she ranks No. 8 in career attempts (2,507) and No. 9 in career digs (931) in the school's annals. With 97 career service aces, she is six shy of cracking the school's all-time Top 10 in career aces. In addition, Burnett has 885 career kills and needs 106 to tie for No. 10 all-time and 115 to become the ninth Bulldog to tally 1,000 career kills. Still further, she also will look to become the fifth 'Dog to collect 1,000 career digs as she is 69 shy. Burnett also is vying to become the fifth Bulldog ever to post 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
More Top 'Dog Performances
Burnett had a pair of double-doubles this past week and averaged 3.00 kills and 2.86 digs per game ... Burnett had 11 kills and 10 digs versus Rice while tallying 10 kills and 10 digs against SMU ... Against the Mustangs, she hit .391 (10-1-23) and tied for match-high honors in service aces (4) ... In addition, Burnett set the school's tenth-best single-season mark for service aces (42) ... Senior middle blocker Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) had a pair of double-figure kill matches ... She collected 11 kills and recorded a team-best six blocks in the win over Rice ... Johnson then chipped in 13 kills and hit a match-high .461 (13-1-26) and totaled a match-best eight blocks against SMU ... In the two matches played, she hit .364 (24-4-55) and netted 14 blocks (2.00 bpg) while averaging 3.43 kills per game ... Junior outside hitter Taneisha Tilque (Spokane, Wash.) hit .269 (10-3-26) and had the second-highest number of blocks with eight (1.33 bpg) last week ... Sophomore setter Whitney Arena (West Linn, Ore.) averaged 11.29 assists (79) and 2.86 digs (20) while picking up five blocks in the pair of wins last week ... Sophomore libero Tina Brennan (Woodinville, Wash.) was second on the team in total digs (24) and averaged 3.43 digs per game.
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-two 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 16 matches, Johnson is hitting .347 (181-40-406) while Hartt is hitting .284 (197-69-451). Hartt is leading the Bulldogs in kills (197), kills per game (3.65) and blocks per game (1.26). Johnson is leading the Bulldogs in hitting (.347) and block solos (16) while second blocks per game (1.24).
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 5-0 start in October after opening the season with a 4-0 mark in August. Both UCSB and Nevada advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season. This year, the Gauchos cracked the Top 10 four weeks ago in the USA Today's/AVCA Top 25 and are currently ranked No. 5 while Nevada received votes for two weeks. Fresno State has received votes in the coaches' poll for the last four weeks and currently checks in at No. 28. Last week, the 'Dogs received votes for the first time by Volleyball Magazine and checked in at No. 36. This Monday the Bulldogs moved up three spots to 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 167-116 (.590) since 1978; the Bulldogs are 123-82 (.600) since 1987 in the North Gym. The 'Dogs went 10-2 at home in 2001 and shattered the school record for consecutive wins (9); this season the 'Dogs are 8-1 at home. Fresno State is 101-48 (.678) overall and 18-3 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 (.274), opponent hit percentage (.126), blocks per game (178, 2.62 bpg), won-lost percentage (18-2, .900) and service aces (152, 2.24 sapg). The 'Dogs are third in kills per game (1,109, 16.31), digs per game (1,137, 16.72) and assists per game (968, 14.24 apg). Individually, Johnson is third among all conference participants in hitting (.368) and is fifth in blocks per game (78, 1.16 bpg). Arena is third in assists per game (672, 11.79) while Hartt is third in the WAC in blocks per game (81, 1.23). Burnett is second in service aces per game (42, 0.62) while Farr is ninth in digs per game (205, 3.20). Fenton is eighth in aces per game (26, 0.40) and ninth in hitting (.306).
USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Competition
The Bulldogs have four schools on their calendar that have been either ranked in the Top 25 or received votes during the regular-season in 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.
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 & SMU ... has 6 double-doubles ... in career, has 10 ten-plus dig matches & 10 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 & Rice ... has 11 double-figure dig matches ... in career, has 16 10+ dig matches.
Sr., OH, Christy Burnett
Has season-best .476 (12-2-21) hit pct. vs. East Carolina ... has season-high 21 kills vs. La Tech ... has season-high 2 assists vs. five teams (most recent vs. La Tech) ... tied career-high 21 digs vs. USD ... set career-best 6 aces vs. UNLV ... has career-best 5 blocks vs. UTEP ... set No. 10 single-season record in aces (42nd vs. SMU) ... has 14 double-figure kill, 13 double-figure dig & 11 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 45 double-figure kill & 56 double-figure dig matches, five 20+ kill, five 20+ dig matches, 38 double-doubles & two 20/20 matches ... 2001 second team all-WAC ... At FS, ranks No. 8 in career total attempts (2,507) & No. 9 in digs (931).
Sr., L/DS, Heather Farr
Has season-high 1 kill vs. Montana State, UNLV & Rice ... 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 & SMU ... has season-best 17 digs vs. Nicholls State, Rice & SMU ... tied career-best 4 aces vs. Nicholls State & SMU ... tied career-high 7 blocks vs. UNLV ... has 14 double-figure kill, 9 double-figure dig & 8 double-doubles ... all-tourney at Fresno State & William & Mary Hi-IQ ... in career, has 21 10+ kill matches, 20 10+ dig matches, 13 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, 1 10+ block & 1 double-double... 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 12 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 19 10+ kill, 2 10+ block & 2 double-doubles (kills & blocks).
