Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UC Riverside (Sacramento State Invite)
Volleyball Captures Tournament Title After Defeating UC Riverside
9/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2003
SACRAMENTO - The Fresno State volleyball team capped off tournament play at the Sacramento State Invitational with a tourney title after defeating UC Riverside in four games (26-30, 30-26, 30-26, 30-19) this evening.
Posting a 4-0 tournament mark, the Bulldogs captured their second straight invitational title after opening the year with a tournament crown in their own Fresno State Invitational.
Fresno State had two players named to the all-tournament team. Junior outside hitter Kristen Fenton was named the invitational most valuable player while sophomore setter Robyn Keune was selected to her first career all-tournament team.
In the tournament, Fenton led all players in kills (89) and kills per game (5.56) while being listed among the top four in hitting (.363) and blocks (15, 0.94 bpg). Keune dished out a tournament-best 217 assists and averaged nearly 14.00 assists per game (13.56) to lead all players. She also led the tournament in service aces with 13 (0.81 sapg).
In the win over UC Riverside, the Bulldogs used a balanced attack as three picked up double-doubles, four recorded double-figure kill performances and five had 10 or more digs.
Setting a season-high mark as a team in kills (73), assists (69) and digs (81), Fresno State was spearheaded by Fenton's 23-kill performance. By posting a match- and season-high 23 kills against the Highlanders, she notched her fourth straight 20-kill match in the tournament and has strung together six 20+ kill matches on the season. With 11 digs, Fenton also has tallied sixth straight double-double matches.
Keune picked up her third double-double on the season after dishing out 56 assists and collecting 13 digs to go along with six kills and two blocks.
Freshman outside hitter Tuli Peters was the other Bulldog to post a double-double as she contributed 14 kills and 14 digs. In the tournament Peters excelled defensively as she led all players in digs with 66 (4.13 dpg) while ranking second in service aces (10, 0.63 sapg).
Senior middle blocker Carrie Hartt chipped in 14 kills while junior middle blocker Tiffany Bishop added a season-high 10 to go along with a match-high four blocks.
In addition, junior libero Tina Brennan totaled a match- and season-high 24 digs. Finishing second to Peters in digs (65, 4.06 dpg) in the tournament, she got her second 20+ dig match on the year and her fifth career.
UC Riverside (3-4), which went 2-2 in the tournament, was led offensively by Jamie DeKiewiet (16 kills). The Highlanders had four players with 10 or more kills and three with 10-plus digs.
In game one, UC Riverside took advantage of Bulldog errors while playing consistent ball. The Highlanders jetted out to 6-1 and 18-10 starts. Fresno State, which trailed the entire game, chipped away at a 25-14 deficit and got within three at 28-25 and 29-26 before UCR would close out the game with a 30-26 win. Taking 50 swings, UC Riverside hit .160 while the Bulldogs barely hit above .100 (.107) as they had 10 errors to 16 kills in 56 attempts.
In game two, Fresno State's hitting and passing game came around but it didn't go without a threat from UC Riverside. With the game tied five times up until 7-7, the 'Dogs went on a 10-3 run and pushed its lead to 21-10 before UCR called a time out. The Highlanders answered back with an 8-2 run of their own as Fresno State's lead was cut in half at 23-18. With the Highlanders getting within one at 25-24, Fresno State took control as a pair of Hartt kills, a Peters' service ace and a kill by Keune sealed the 30-26 win.
Statistically, game three should have gone to the Highlanders but the Bulldogs' blocking game kept them from dropping the third set. With the game featuring 15 ties that saw both teams fight from behind, Fresno State's last lead was 17-16 until it when it went up 26-25 on a tandem block from Bishop and Keune. The Bulldogs closed out the game with a 4-1 run that was punctuated with a Bishop kill down the gut of the court.
Game four was all Fresno State. The Bulldogs never trailed and allowed the Highlanders to get within in one four times (2-1, 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4). After taking a 6-4 lead on a Peters kill, Fresno State went on an 11-5 run for a 17-9 lead. After UC Riverside took a time out, the Bulldogs went up 25-15 and closed out the game at 30-19 on a kill by senior outside hitter Stefanie Taelman.
Fresno State (6-1) continues its three-week road swing next week when the Bulldogs head to Southern California for the University of San Diego Invitational.
NOTE: The Fresno State volleyball coaching staff is offering a free Bulldog Coaches Clinic on Sun.., Sept. 7, 3:00 -5:00 p.m., in the North Gym on the campus of Fresno State.
The clinic will be geared towards coaches of all age groups with an emphasis on drill development and fundamental skills such as serving, passing, setting, hitting and defense.
Attendees are asked to bring paper and pen while being involved in some of the drills. Those interested in attending, please contact assistant coach Ben Kubik at (559) 278-5051.
