Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
*Hawaii
Volleyball Drops First WAC Match Of Year
10/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2003
HONOLULU - The Fresno State volleyball team came into the match against No. 2 Hawai'i with a set game plan but putting into play ended up being its biggest nemesis as the Rainbow Wahine posted a 30-22, 30-19, 30-24 Western Athletic Conference victory over the Bulldogs.
The Fresno State offense was stagnant to non-existent against the 2002 National Semifinalist as the Bulldogs could never get on track or find a rhythm that had served them well through the first 15 matches of the year.
Collecting season-lows in kills (36), digs (46) and blocks (6), the 'Dogs were up against a team that featured six starting seniors, including three All-Americans, and a squad that ranks No. 1 in the nation in kills per game and third in hitting efficiency and assists per game.
Fresno State was led by junior outside hitter Kristen Fenton, who tallied 11 kills while collecting seven digs and three blocks. Freshman outside hitter Tuli Peters, who made her home debut and had a private cheer section of 60 strong, collected a match-high 12 digs while notching a block, nine kills and hitting .364 (9-1-22).
Hawai'i was spearheaded by its pair of All-America outside hitters in Kim Willoughby (19 kills, 10 digs, 3 blocks) and Lily Kahumoku (16 kills, 11 digs). Willoughby hit a match-high .412 (19-5-34) while Kahumoku hit .333 (16-4-36).
In game one, Fresno State stayed neck and neck with Hawaii up until 8-8. With eight ties to open the first game, Fresno State had the lead four different times (3-2, 5-4, 6-5 and 7-6) until a Bulldog service error allowed Hawai'i to take the lead for good. The Bulldogs got within two three times (11-13, 12-14 and 13-15) but would get no closer as UH went on a 10-2 run for a seven point cushion at 23-17. With Hawai'i then going on a 7-5 run to close out the game, Fresno State's consolation was that it out blocked UH, 4-0.
Game two was controlled by Hawai'i all the way through. Hitting a sizzling .514 (20-2-35), the Rainbow Wahine could not miss as Willoughby supercharged their offense with a .800 hitting efficiency (8-0-10) while UH also turned the table on the 'Dogs as it out blocked Fresno State, 3.5-0.
In game three, Fresno State showed some signs of utilizing its offense while creating some problems for its opponent. While trailing by as much as 10 points (16-26), Fresno State closed out the game by scoring five true points while watching Hawai'i commit four consecutive hitting errors to allow the Bulldogs to get within five (22-27). With Fresno State calling a time out at 29-23, the 'Dogs got back within five when Fenton and Peters connected for back-to-back kills (29-24). However, Willoughby sealed the deal with her 18th kill of the match. Fenton, who was limited to five kills in the first two games combined, had six in the final frame while adding three digs and two blocks.
"We never got on track and our lack of experience at setting hurt us," Fresno State volleyball head coach Lindy Vivas said. "It was Robyn's (Keune) first match against a big team and, unfortunately, we were out of sync as we always seemed to be saving balls and not hitting. She had done very well in our first 15 matches and tonight I think the bigness of the game got to her and she struggled.
"Hawaii made a constant effort to stop Kristen (Fenton). We knew that would be their focus so we intended to run our middle a lot to serve as a neutralizer. However, our ball control wasn't there and our setting didn't allow the hitters to get going. Our hitters never got in a rhythm and we are a much better team than what showed up tonight.
"With only two starters back from last year, our lack of experience showed tonight and caught up to us as well. We had to come into tonight and play one of our best matches; we had to be close to perfect. In the first game we stayed with them until we served our way out.
"I thought Tuli (Peters) had a great match. She walked onto the floor like she was an upperclassman. There was a lot of pressure on her and La'akea (Campbell), who came off the bench and did a nice job, playing in front of their home town crowd. Tuli is nails and that is what I've seen all season.
"We would love to play more teams like Hawai'i, which should be a final four team again. You have to prove that you belong and the only way to get valuable experience against a team like this is to play them"
Fresno State (12-4, 2-1 WAC) dropped its second Top 25 match of the season and first WAC match of the year. With three of its four losses coming by the hands of teams that were ranked or became ranked this fall, the Bulldogs last Top 25 win came in 1996 when Fresno State defeated No. 25 Colorado State in Ft. Collins, Colo.
The Bulldogs travel to San Jose State on Sat., Oct. 4, 7:00 p.m. The Spartans (3-10, 1-1 WAC) are coming off a five-game home win over Nevada this evening.
