Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Back Home to Host Louisiana Tech in WAC Action
10/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 7, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Bulldogs Resume WAC Action at Home
After opening Western Athletic Conference play on the road for the first two weeks, the Bulldogs return home to host one league match this weekend with Louisiana Tech on Friday, Oct. 11, 7:00 p.m. That match will be televised live on local cable AT&T Broadband (ch. 14) and broadcasted live on www.gobulldogs.com. In addition, KFSR 90.7 FM also will broadcast the match live from the North Gym. Fresno State, which improved to 10-1 on the road, pinned a pair of three-game victories on Tulsa and UTEP last week. Owning a current 15-2 overall record and a 3-1 conference mark, the Bulldogs will be looking to string home and road WAC victories back-to-back. Overall, Fresno State has won 15 of its first 17 matches and 12 are via three-game sweeps.
Monday Contest
Even though the Bulldogs will play one match this week, Fresno State will come right back three days later to host Rice in WAC action next Monday, Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m. Fresno State will look to pack the gym that evening by attracting 1,000 fans. The last time the Bulldogs filled the North Gym with 1,000 or more fans was five years ago when the 'Dogs drew 1,189 versus Wyoming on Nov. 21. Those in attendance next Monday evening will have the opportunity to win a valuable prize.
WAC Notes
The Bulldogs are 1-0 all-time against the current WAC opponent. Having opened WAC play on the road for the sixth time in 11 years of being a league member, Fresno State will tangle with Louisiana Tech for just the second time in the series meetings. Holding a 1-0 series advantage overall and in WAC play, Fresno State traveled to Ruston, La., last year and notched a three-game victory over the Lady Techsters.
Good Starts
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. Now 15-2, the 'Dogs still remain tied for the best start in school history (1976 and 1998).
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 98-48 (.671) home court record and a 52-27 (.658) 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 291-202 (.590) and a 12-year school record of 219-142 (.607).
Week 6: Bulldogs Go 2-0 in WAC Play on the Road
Fresno State remained on the road for Western Athletic Conference play for the second straight week and recorded a pair of sweeps over Tulsa and UTEP ... With 12 of the team's 15 wins coming via sweep, the Bulldogs also are now 10-1 away from home as they improved to 3-1 in league play ... The 'Dogs have won 15 of their first 17 contests and still tie the program's best start ... Three teams (1976, 1998 and 2002) have raced out to a 15-2 start ... Fresno State's 9-1, 12-1 and 13-2 starts also tied the program's best starts set in 1976 and 1998 ... Vivas is nine wins shy of recording her 300th career victory.
'Dogs Get National Votes for Third Straight Week
Fresno State received national recognition from around the country for the third straight week and moved up in the rankings. With 18 votes, the Bulldogs check in at No. 33 after appearing at No. 36 the past two weeks (Sept. 30, #36, 7 votes; Sept. 23, #36, 10 votes).
Cup of Java
Senior middle blocker Java Johnson (Fresno, Calif.) guided the Bulldogs to a 2-0 Western Athletic Conference road record as the 'Dogs swept Tulsa and UTEP to improve to 3-1 in league play and 15-2 overall ... Johnson led all Bulldogs with a .419 (22-4-43) hitting percentage while being tops in blocking with a 1.33 block per game average ... She also was one of three Bulldogs to collect double-figure kills in both road matches ... In the sweep against Tulsa, Johnson hit .391 (11-2-23) with an assist, a service ace, three digs and a had match-high four blocks ... In the sweep over UTEP, Johnson hit .450 (11-2-20) with two service aces and four blocks ... On the year, Johnson now has hit better than .300 in 14 matches and has hit above .400 in nine ... With nine double-figure kill matches on the year, Johnson hit .330 (46-13-100) and averaged 3.54 kills and 1.23 blocks per game in her first four WAC matches, which were all on the road ... In her last seven matches, Johnson is hitting .344 (83-20-183) with three assists, seven aces (0.28 sapg), 21 digs (0.84 dpg) and 30 blocks (1.20 bpg), which includes 10 block solos ... In her last 12, she is hitting .334 (129-30-296) with six assists, 10 aces (0.24 sapg), 49 digs (1.20 dpg) and 48 blocks (1.17 bpg), which includes 12 block solos.
WAC Opponents
Louisiana Tech (12-8, 0-2 WAC):
The Lady Techsters went 0-2 last week after dropping a heartbreaking five-game decision at home to Stephen F. Austin (30-17, 30-26, 28-30, 20-30, 7-15) before traveling to Honolulu and losing in three to No. 2 Hawai'i (15-30, 19-30, 16-30). After visiting Hawai'i, Louisiana Tech is in the middle of a three-match WAC road trip as the Lady Techsters head West to play Fresno State on Friday and Nevada on Sunday, Oct. 13. Returning seven letterwinners and three starters from an 8-20 team, Louisiana Tech already has posted the most wins since 1999 when the Lady Techsters notched 13 victories. With five Lady Techsters collecting 100 or more kills on the season, junior outside hitter Cristine Sant'Anna has led the way with 258 kills while averaging 3.58 kills per game. Hitting .275 (258-94-597), she also is tops in service aces (39, 0.54 sapg) and digs (188, 2.61 dpg) while third in blocks (44, 0.61 bpg). Senior outside hitter Brianna Sibley is second in kills (182, 2.72 kpg) while sophomore middle blocker Megan Rush and junior middle blocker Tanya Jarvis each have 167 kills. Jarvis is the Lady Techsters' top blocker (66, 0.92 bpg) with Rush just behind (60,2, 0.93 bpg). Riding a three-match skid but 5-3 in its last eight, La Tech is 8-6 away from home.
Rice (10-7, 2-1 WAC):
The Owls, who are tied for first place in the WAC's Eastern Division, went 2-0 last weekend at home with sweeping victories over Boise State (30-28, 30-20, 30-17) and Nevada (30-28, 30-22, 30-22). Rice plays its first extended conference matches on the road this week when the Owls travel to San Jose State on Saturday, Oct. 12, before playing Fresno State next Monday. Rice opened WAC action on the road at No. 2 Hawai'i on Sept. 27 and lost in three (19-30, 13-30, 20-30). Spearheading the Owls' offense this season has been sophomore outside hitter Rebeca Pazo, who has a team-high 221 kills and is averaging more than 4.0 kills a game (4.42). Named WAC Player of the Week this morning, Pazo also is tops in digs (132, 2.64 dpg). Sophomore outside hitter Catherine DuPont (105 kills, 2.19 kpg) and sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Carter (102 kills, 2.17 kpg) are the other Owls with 100 or more kills on the season. With a 6-6 mark away from home, Rice is 4-1 in its last five and 10-3 in its last 13 after opening the season at 0-4.
Bulldogs in the NCAA Stats
Fresno State has been ranked as a team as well as having individuals ranked the past four weeks in the NCAA statistics. As a team, the Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 23 in aces per game (121, 2.37 sapg), No. 24 in hitting (.272) and tied 29th in kills per game (826, 16.20). Individually, Burnett is ranked 27th in service aces per game (35, 0.69 sapg).
Taking Notice
Senior outside hitter Christy Burnett (Fallbrook, Calif.) quietly has been rising up the school's career charts. After collecting 22 digs on the weekend, Burnett cracked the school's all-time Top 10 list and ranks 10th in career digs with 904. In addition, Burnett also ranks No. 9 all-time in career attempts (2,400) and is 10 shy of cracking the school's all-time Top 10 in career service aces (93). Already serving up 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). Still further, Burnett has 843 career kills and is 157 shy of being the ninth Bulldog to post 1,000 career kills. In addition, Burnett will look to become just the fifth Bulldog ever to tally 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
More Top 'Dog Performances
Individually, sophomore outside hitter Kristen Fenton (Marysville, Mich.) and junior middle blocker Carrie Hartt (Manteca, Calif.) also had double-digit kill matches against Tulsa and UTEP ... Averaging 4.00 kills per game, Fenton hit .385 (24-4-52) with two service aces, 12 digs (2.00 dpg) and six blocks (1.00 bpg) on the weekend ... She had 11 kills and hit .417 (11-1-24) with two service aces, eight digs and three blocks against Tulsa ... She followed that up with 13 kills and hit .357 (13-3-28) four digs and three blocks versus UTEP ... Hartt, who averaged a team-best 4.83 kills per game, hit .318 (29-8-66) with an assist, one ace, eight digs (1.33 dpg) and nine blocks (1.50 bpg) ... She had a team-high 16 kills and a match-high seven total blocks against UTEP after collecting 13 kills and two block solos versus Tulsa ... Defensively, sophomore libero/defensive specialist Tina Brennan (Woodinville, Wash.) led the way ... With a pair of double-figure dig matches against Tulsa (11) and UTEP (12), Brennan had a team-best 23 digs and averaged 3.83 digs per game ... She now has eight double-figure dig matches on the season and 13 in her career ... Burnett, who tallied 20 kills and averaged 3.33 kills per game, had the second-highest amount of digs (22, 3.67 dpg) and had five blocks (0.83 bpg) ... The five blocks were a career-high mark for Burnett as she totaled five block assists versus UTEP while collecting her 35th career double-double (14 kills, 11 digs) against the Miners ... Freshman setter Robyn Keune (Ventura, Calif.) stepped in admirably last weekend for an injured Whitney Arena (West Linn, Ore.) ... Keune posted her first career double-double when she started against UTEP ... She had season-highs of 44 assists and 10 digs while adding two kills, a service ace and a block versus the Miners ... Stepping in without the Bulldogs missing a beat was not the first time for Keune ... She made her first collegiate start against Radford and led the offense against William & Mary while quarterbacking the team to the William & Mary Hi-IQ Tournament title in the first weekend of the season ... Arena, who had 26 assists on the weekend, eclipsed the 1,500 career assist plateau and now has 1,530 to rank No. 7 all-time at Fresno State.
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. With UCSB and Nevada both advancing to the NCAA Tournament last season, the Gauchos cracked the Top 10 two weeks ago in the USA Today's/AVCA Top 25 while Nevada received votes for the second straight week in the coaches' poll. Fresno State picked up a five-game win at home over then No. 26 University of San Diego, which also played in the NCAA Tournament last year. After opening the season with a 4-0 mark, the 'Dogs have kicked the month of October off with a 2-0 start . 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 164-116 (.586) since 1978; the Bulldogs are 120-82 (.594) 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 98-48 (.671) overall and 15-3 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 lead the WAC in opponent hit percentage (.125) and blocks per game (148, 2.60 bpg) while second in won-lost percentage (15-2, .882), hitting (.272) and service aces (133, 2.33 sapg). The 'Dogs are third in kills per game (928, 16.28) while fourth in digs per game (943, 16.54) and assists per game (801, 14.05 apg). Individually, Johnson is third among all conference participants in hitting (.373) and is fifth in blocks per game (60, 1.07 bpg). Arena is third in assists per game (533, 11.59) while Hartt leads the WAC in blocks per game (70, 1.27) and seventh in kills per game (205, 3.73). Burnett is second in service aces per game (38, 0.67) and while Fenton is ninth (20, 0.37). Farr is fourth in digs per game (180, 3.33).
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 in the fifth regular-season poll in the 2002 USA Today/AVCA Top. 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 52 assists vs. Montana State ... 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 2 assists vs. four teams (most recent vs. Boise State) ... has 8 double-figure dig matches ... in career, has 13 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 11 double-figure kill, 11 double-figure dig & 8 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 42 double-figure kill & 54 double-figure dig matches, four 20+ kill, five 20+ dig matches, 35 double-doubles & two 20/20 matches ... 2001 second team all-WAC ... At FS, ranks No. 9 in career total attempts (2,400) & No. 10 in digs (904).
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 ... in career, has 15 10+ dig matches.
So., OH, Kristen Fenton
Has season-high .533 (8-0-15) hit pct. vs. Radford ... has career-high 15 kills vs. William & Mary & UNLV ... 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 11 double-figure kill, 6 double-figure dig & 5 double-doubles ... all-tourney at Fresno State & William & Mary Hi-IQ ... in career, has 18 10+ kill matches, 17 10+ dig matches, 10 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 9 double-figure kill matches ... MVP at Pioneer Classic ... all-tourney at Pioneer Classic & Fresno State Invite ... in career, has 11 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-high 10 block assists vs. Montana State ... tied career-high 3 block solos vs. Nevada... has 9 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 16 10+ kill, 2 10+ block & 2 double-doubles (kills & blocks).
