Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Tabbed as Preseason Top 50
8/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 11, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. -
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2003 USA Today/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25
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Fresno State Receives Preseason Recognition
The Fresno State volleyball team picked up preseason recognition this afternoon when the Bulldogs appeared among the nation's Top 50 by coaches from around the country. The 2003 'Dogs received seven votes to rank No. 44 in the USA Today/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll. This is the first time since 1996 for the Bulldogs to' receive preseason recognition and the sixth time overall. Fresno State appeared in the preseason Top 25 in 1995 (No. 25) and 1991 (No. 21) and received votes in 1996 (2), 1993 (25+) and 1985 (10+).
Volleyball in First Full Week of Preseason Camp
The Fresno State volleyball team is in its first full week of preseason camp after opening last Friday. The 2003 squad returns nine letterwinners and will be spearheaded by three returning starters in senior middle blocker Carrie Hartt (Manteca, Calif.), junior outside hitter Kristen Fenton (Marysville, Mich.) and junior defensive specialist/libero Tina Brennan (Woodinville, Wash.). In her 13th season at Fresno State, head coach Lindy Vivas welcomes eight newcomers. Vivas and the Bulldogs are coming off a 23-7 season which saw the 'Dogs qualify for the NCAA Tournament after advancing to the Western Athletic Conference Championship semifinals for the second straight year.
"Meet the Team" Date Set
The Fresno State volleyball team will making their first public appearance of the season on Sat., Aug. 23, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., at Sierra Vista Mall. The annual meet the team function includes free give-a-ways of posters and schedule cards.
WAC Volleyball Tournament Tickets
Tickets for the 2003 WAC Volleyball Tournament will go on sale to the general public on Fri., Aug. 15. Hosted by Nevada for the second straight year, the tournament will be held at the Virginia Street Gym, Nov. 21-23. All-session ticket prices (seven matches) will be $30 for adults and $15 for children/students. All seats are general admission and prices apply to all age groups. Tickets may be purchased at the University of Nevada Athletic Ticket Office or by calling (775) 348-PACK (7225). WAC volleyball fans can also obtain a room rate at the Silver Legacy Hotel at 1-800-687-9733 and requesting the fan rate for the WAC Volleyball Tournament. The reservation ID code is "volley" and rooms are limited at will cost ($49.00 - Sun.-Thur.; and $79.00 - Fri.-Sat.).
Bulldogs Tabbed Second in WAC Preseason Poll
Picking up one first place vote, Fresno State was tabbed to finish second in the 2003 WAC Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll released last month. With 77 points, the Bulldogs were runner-up to national semifinalist Hawai'i, which tallied 81 points and nine first-place votes. Nevada was picked third (66 pts.) by the league's coaches while Rice (57 pts.) and San Jose State (45 pts.) round out the top five. UTEP finished sixth with 35 points while SMU (33 pts.), Louisiana Tech (25 pts.), Boise State (23 pts.) and Tulsa (14 pts.) round out the preseason volleyball poll.
Head Coach Lindy Vivas
Entering her 13th season as head coach of the Bulldog volleyball program, Lindy Vivas (UCLA, 1980) is one victory shy of her 300th career win and 100th Western Athletic Conference win. Picking up her third WAC Coach of the Year honor last fall, Vivas led the Bulldog program to its ninth 20-win season while advancing to postseason play for the seventh time overall. With three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two in the last five years, her 2002 squad established the school's best win percentage (.767, 23-7) while advancing to the WAC Tournament Semis for the second straight season. Averaging 19 wins a season, Vivas owns a 12-year record of 227-147 (.607) at Fresno State and a 16-year career mark of 299-207 (.591). The Bulldogs, who are 104-49 (.680) at home, have gone 21-4 in the North Gym the past two seasons. Vivas has coached eight AVCA all-region/all-district winners and 24 all-WAC picks (27 overall). Leading the 'Dogs to all five WAC Volleyball Tournaments (1996-98, 2001-02), she directed the program to its best start in (16-2) and third-most wins (23) in 2002. Checking at No. 44 with seven votes, the Bulldogs are ranked in the USA Today/AVCA Division I Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll for the first time since 1996 when the 'Dogs received votes.
Hartt and Fenton Named Preseason All-WAC
Hartt returns as the WAC's top blocker after averaging 1.36 blocks per game in overall play and 1.47 blocks per game in league action. Garnering First Team AVCA All-West Region accolades, Fenton returns as the Bulldogs' top all-around player after tallying 403 kills (3.84 kpg), 36 service aces, 292 digs (2.78 dpg) and 66 total blocks (0.63 bpg). She set the program's seventh-best hitting performance in a season (.301) while closing out 2002 with a streak of 16 double-figure kill matches. Both picked up First Team All-WAC honors in 2002 as they are named to their first WAC preseason team this fall.
