Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
*Nevada
Volleyball Holds Off Nevada
10/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 11, 2003
RENO, Nev. - The Fresno State volleyball team not only notched a significant win in the Western Athletic Conference race but won a mental battle in the process as the Bulldogs recorded their first WAC victory at Nevada this evening.
With a 30-27, 30-28, 21-30 and 30-27 win, Fresno State also notched the program's 200th overall conference victory in 33 years as the 'Dogs last win at Nevada came in a non-conference contest on Sept. 22, 1984 (3-0) to go to 2-4 all-time in Reno.
Fresno State, which has been on the road five weeks out of the last six, improved to 15-7 all-time against the Wolf Pack as well as improving to 13-4 versus Nevada in the last 17 contests.
The win, however, was unique for Fresno State as the Bulldogs were held below .200 for just the fourth time on the year. The Bulldogs recorded their first win of the season in which they had a lower hitting percentage (.193-.235) and fewer kills (64-71) while picking up their second win in which they lost the battle in blocks (7-9) and third victory in which they had fewer digs (61-75).
Fresno State had three players record double-figure kills and double-figure digs. Leading the way was junior outside hitter Kristen Fenton and freshman outside hitter Tuli Peters as they both notched double-doubles.
Fenton posted a match-high 21 kills and had 13 digs, a service ace and a block solo while Peters collected a match-high 22 digs to go along with 13 kills, a service and a block assist.
Senior middle blocker Carrie Hartt let her serving show notice. Picking up a career-high five aces (out of the team's eight) against the Wolf Pack, she also had 15 kills, two digs and two blocks in the win.
Nevada also had three players with 10-plus kills and four with 10 or more digs while two posted a double-double. Christine Harms, who has been a thorn in the Bulldogs' side in the last two meetings, hit a match-high .429 after collecting a team-best 19 kills and 15 digs. Salaia Salave'a was next with 18 kills and 13 digs while posting a match-high five blocks to go along with a .317 hitting percentage.
Overall in game one and two combined, Fresno State won the statistical categories in hitting efficiency (.228-.215), service aces (6-4) and blocks (5-4) while being equal in digs (35-35) with Nevada. Fenton (13) and Harms (14) had already notched a double-figure kill performance.
In game three, the Wolf Pack held no prisoners as they exploded for a .406 hitting percentage while the Bulldogs were at .044. Salave'a was perfect from the floor after hitting .875 (7-0-8) to go along with seven digs and four blocks.
In the finale, Fenton, Hartt and Peters hit .312(14-4-32) collectively while Peters and freshman outside hitter Alison Pitton combined for 10 digs. Hartt hit .400 (5-1-10) and Peters hit .500 (5-1-8) to spark the offense while the Wolf Pack tandem of Salave'a and Harms hit .100 collectively (5-3-20).
"This was a match that showed two teams mirroring each other pretty well," head coach Lindy Vivas said. "Nevada won the long rallies and got the lucky breaks while we sustained their come backs and served tough.
"It's always a nose-to-nose battle between us and it's especially hard to pick up a victory in Reno. I thought we executed our game plan in the first two games. Their middle (Salaia Salave'a) and outside (Christine Harms) got hot while we mentally let down in the third game. In the fourth game we played well as Carrie (Hartt) sparked us offensively.
"Our serving was very good and we were able to string together points by playing well defensively. Kristen (Fenton) was able to post a double-double and get us key kills while Tuli (Peters) also had a double-double while getting critical digs for us."
Fresno State (14-4, 4-1 WAC) returns home next week when it hosts Boise State on Thur., Oct. 16, 7:00 p.m. and UTEP on Sat., Oct. 18, 7:00 p.m. Both WAC matches will be broadcasted live on Comcast (ch. 14) as well as heard live on www.gobulldogs.com.
