Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Takes Momentum on the Road to Nevada
10/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 25, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Fresno State Volleyball on the Road for One
The Fresno State volleyball team is on the road for one Western Athletic Conference contest when the Bulldogs travel to Reno, Nev., to take on Nevada on Sat., Oct. 30, 5:00 p.m., at the Virginia Street Gym. The Bulldogs are hoping to even things up this weekend as the Wolf Pack defeated the 'Dogs in four in the first meeting of the year in Fresno, Calif. Last year, the visiting team won on the host court both times and Fresno State will look to accomplish the same feat for the second consecutive year.
Seeing the Forest from the Trees
While the Bulldogs have been snake bitten numerous times in the middle of their season, what is getting overlooked is the 'Dogs steady improvement as well as the impact being made by the first-year players. In the WAC games only statistics, three Bulldog rookies are ranked among the league's best in kills, digs and points. Freshman outside hitter Christianna Reneau (Corona, Calif.) is the only freshman ranked in the WAC's top 10 in kill average as well as being only one of three conference hitters averaging at least 5.00 kills per game as she sits third overall (5.00 kpg). She's also the only freshman in WAC play who is listed among the league's top 10 in points scored as she is fourth with a 5.52 average. Freshman outside hitter Mounia Nihipali (Honolulu, Hawaii) is now ranked among the top three in digs per game (4.65 dpg) and she, along with freshman libero Yuko Mori (Anan, Tokushima, Japan), who is ranked eighth with a 3.80 dig per game average, are the only freshmen listed. Overall, Fresno State continues to sport a young squad as it gains experience and consistency. With five matches left on the year, four of which are league contests, Fresno State will look to advance to its seventh consecutive WAC Volleyball Championship Tournament.
Bulldogs Persevering Despite Everything
After opening the year at 4-3, Fresno State is 7-7 in its last 14 matches. Of the 10 losses this fall, almost half of the games played were lost by three points or less (16 of the 41 games) while half of these 10 losses overall have come from teams that advanced to the 2003 NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs, who are playing as many as five first-year players on the floor at one time, continue to see positive results from their freshman as three already rank among the school's top five rookie marks in kills, assists and digs.
Solid Support
After nine home contests, the Bulldogs are averaging 776 fans to date. Fresno State played before its second-largest crowd (2,458) in the program's history on Sept. 30 against then No. 6 Hawai'i. That attendance currently ranks as the 60th-best attended match for 2004. Once again, Fresno State is the second-largest attendance draw in WAC volleyball behind the Rainbow Wahine.
Head Coach Lindy Vivas
In her 14th season as head coach of the Bulldog volleyball program, Lindy Vivas (UCLA, 1980) collected her 250th school win against Western Illinois on Sept. 3. Vivas, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year selection, has led Fresno State to eight of its nine 20-win seasons while advancing to postseason play six times. With three NCAA Tournament appearances, including two in the last six years, her 2002 squad established the school's best win percentage (.767, 23-7) while advancing to the WAC Tournament Semis. Averaging 19 wins a year, Vivas owns a 14-year record of 259-164 (.612) at Fresno State and an 18-year career mark of 331-224 (.596). The Bulldogs, who are 119-54 (.688) at home under Vivas, have gone 36-8 (.818) in the North Gym the last four seasons. Vivas has coached two AVCA All-Americans, eight AVCA all-region/all-district winners, 28 all-WAC picks (31 overall) and a WAC preseason player of the year. Leading the 'Dogs to all six WAC Volleyball Tournaments (1996-98, 2001-03), she directed the program to its best start (16-2) and third-most wins (23) in 2002. Her '03 squad posted a new single-season average attendance mark (1,031). And, in 2004, her squad opened the year with a No. 43 showing as Vivas has directed the program to five of its six preseason listings.
Keeping Watch
Fresno State is 55-24 overall the last three years combined ... Fresno State is 36-9 in its last four years at home (North Gym & Save Mart Center) ... Fresno State is 17-3 in non-conference play in its last four years at home ...In the NCAA stats, Fresno State has appeared nationally in kills per game, assists per game, blocks per game and digs per game ... Ranked all seven weeks nationally in digs per game, the Bulldogs currently rank No. 11 in digs per game (19.07) ... Fresno State has ranked as high as No. 3 in kills per game (18.07, Sept. 5), No. 3 in assists per game (16.43, Sept. 5), No. 6 in digs per game (21.93, Sept. 5) and No. 29 in blocks per game (2.92, Sept. 19) ... Junior setter Robyn Keune (Ventura, Calif.) made her fifth NCAA statistical appearance of her career when she appeared at No. 6 in assists per game (Sept. 5) ... Eighteen rally scoring school records have been set as the Bulldogs have set 10 team marks and eight individual marks to date.
Top 'Dog
Sophomore outside hitter Tuli Peters (Laie, Hawaii) sparked the Bulldogs to a pair of home WAC sweeps last week when the Bulldogs posted three-game victories over Louisiana Tech and SMU ... Averaging nearly four kills a game (3.67) and four digs a game, Peters hit .305 overall while tallying just over 25 points in six games of work ... She recorded her 10th double-double of the year when she tallied 13 kills and had a team-high 17 digs against Louisiana Tech ... Also hitting .286 (13-3-35) against the Lady Techsters, Peters also picked up five assists as she notched her 12th double-figure kill match of the season ... Hitting .333 against SMU, she hit better than .300 for the third time this fall while posting four assists against the Mustangs ... Finishing second on the team in kills (22) and digs (24) last week, Peters continues to lead the Bulldogs in digs (279) while ranking second in kills (201) and blocks (58) ... She is one of two Bulldogs to have collected at least 200 kills and digs on the year.
Week 8 in Review: 'Dogs Sweep Two at Home
Fresno State recorded a pair of home sweeps in WAC play after dispensing of Eastern Division opponents Louisiana Tech and SMU ... Improving to 6-3 at home, the Bulldogs have now notched seven three-game victories out of 11 wins thus far ... Of the team's six home victories, five have been shutout victories ... The pair of sweeps also made it the third time this fall that the `Dogs collected back-to-back three-game wins ... They opened the year with sweeps over Middle Tennessee State and Western Illinois before doing the same against UNLV and San Diego State ... Last week's victories also broke a four-match losing streak overall and a three-match WAC drought ... In the wins, Fresno State averaged 17.33 kills, 19.00 digs and 2.00 blocks per game while hitting .285 ... The Bulldogs continue to rank among the nation's best in digs per game ... Ranked every week in the Top 20, Fresno State checked in at No. 15 with a 19.07 average (as of Oct. 17) ... With a 7-7 mark in its last 14 contests, Fresno State continues to showcase their freshman talent ... Reneau led the `Dogs in kills (33) and averaged a team-best 5.50 kills per game last week while hitting .262 and collecting 17 digs (2.83 dpg) ... Posting her 12th double-double against Louisiana Tech, she tallied a match-high 16 kills to go along with 14 digs versus the Lady Techsters ... Notching her 19th double-figure kill match against SMU, Reneau had a team-high 17 kills and hit a match-best .438 (17-3-32) to go along with three digs and two blocks versus the Mustangs ... By totaling 33 kills last week, she moved up to No. 2 in kills (311) and attempts (831) by a Bulldog freshman; she also ranks No. 4 in hitting efficiency (.219) ... With 19 consecutive double-figure kill performances, Reneau continues to lead the team in kills while third in digs (229) ... Nihipali hit better than .300 (.304) last week as she led the Bulldogs in digs (33, 5.50 dpg) and finished fourth in kills (17, 2.83 kpg)... By averaging more than five digs per game last week, she eclipsed the 100-dig mark (117, 3.72 dpg) in just half (38) of the total games played (76) by the Bulldogs this year ... Nihipali notched a match-high 17 digs versus SMU and, in the process, tied her season-high mark in digs for the second time this fall ... The 17-dig performance was her seventh 10-plus dig match out of 16 match appearances ... While picking up 16 digs and a season-best 14.0 points against Louisiana Tech, she also posted a season-high 12 kills for her second 10-plus kill match and double-double versus the Lady Techsters ... Setter Ilima Sam Fong (Hurricane, Utah) has appeared in 17 matches and currently ranks No. 4 for assists (502) by a Bulldog freshman ... Picking up a season-best three assists versus SMU, Mori has played in every match and currently ranks No. 5 for digs (273) by a Bulldog freshman ... Senior middle blocker Tiffany Bishop (St. Anne, Ill.) had a productive weekend after hitting a team-best .350 while averaging 3.50 kills per game and 1.33 blocks per game ... Totaling 21 kills and hitting better than .300 in both matches last week, she also netted eight blocks, five of which were block solos ... Against Louisiana Tech, Bishop collected her eighth double-figure kill match as she recorded 12 kills, four blocks and hit .364 ... Against SMU, she hit .333 as she totaled nine kills and four blocks ... As the team's top hitting (.279) and block (65, 1.05) leader, Bishop posted her 50th block solo against the Mustangs and is now eight block solos shy of cracking the school's career top 10 list ... With 175 total blocks in her career, she currently ranks No. 4 all-time in blocks per game with a 1.16 average ... Keune became part of an elite group of Bulldog setters when she eclipsed the 2,000 career mark against SMU ... After dishing out 46 assists against Louisiana Tech, she handed out 36 more versus the Mustangs to become the eight Bulldog to collect 2,000-plus assists (2,030) ... In the process, she moved up to No. 7 all-time for career assists at Fresno State as she surpassed Kathy Sullivan (2,015, 1983-86) ... In the two matches last weekend, Keune had 82 assists for a 13.67 assists per game while picking up a team-high four service aces, six kills, 12 digs and a block ... While tying her season-high mark in block assists (1) for the fourth time on the year against SMU, she is currently averaging 11.12 assists per game this season ... Since being converted to the middle from the outside on Sept. 11, senior Amanda Magalei (Bountiful, Utah) is averaging 1.21 blocks per game in her last 17 matches (52 blocks in 43 games).
Freshmen Paving Future
After an impressive true freshman debut a year ago by Peters, three more true Bulldog rookies have followed the same path by etching their names in the top five Fresno State volleyball freshman record book. As just the second freshman to post at 300 kills in a rookie season, Reneau ranks in three: kills (No. 2, 311), total attempts (No. 2, 831) and hitting percentage (No. 4, .219). Sam Fong is listed in assists (No. 4, 502) while Mori is ranked in digs (No. 5, 273). In 2003, Peters finished her first season with six top five rankings: kills (No. 2, 281), attempts (No. 2, 816), aces (No. 3, 28), digs (No. 3, 348), block solos (No. 3, 14) and blocks (No. 5, 53).
Breaking Out
After making her Bulldog debut against Western Illinois on Sept. 3 by recording one kill on two attempts with one dig in one game, Reneau took off as a starter against Kentucky the following day and has never looked back. Taking command of the Bulldogs' offense, she already has had great success in the process. Already ranking in three top five Bulldog freshman records, she has tallied four 20-kill matches in her last nine appearances. Reneau is the Bulldogs' top kill leader (311, 4.38 kpg) while being second in service aces (17, 0.24 sapg). She is third in digs (229, 3.23 dpg) and fourth in blocks (36, 0.51 bpg). As one of just four WAC players to have recorded 12 or more double-doubles, Reneau has strung together 19 consecutive 10-plus kill matches for a 16.32 kills per match average and a 4.43 kill per game average (310 kills in 70 games in 19 matches).
Keune Reaches 2,000 Career Assist Plateau
Last season Keune, who was a walk-on her freshman year, averaged 12.65 assists per game and recorded 1,379 assists -- single-season marks that ranked second- and third-best, respectively. This fall, she eclipsed the 2,000 career assist plateau when she recorded 36 assists against SMU on Oct. 23. As a result, she became the eight Bulldog to tally 2,000 career assists and currently ranks No. 7 (2,030). Nationally-ranked five times in assists per game in her career, her latest ranking was No. 6 (14.43) on Sept. 5. In the school's annals, Keune also ranks second all-time in service aces per game (0.34) while ranking fourth in assists per game (11.47).
Opponent Outlook
Nevada (14-6, 7-2 WAC):
Hosted SMU and Louisiana Tech last week ... Went 2-0 at home after recording sweeps over the Mustangs (30-28, 30-21, 30-27) and the Lady Techsters (30-28, 30-20, 30-21) ... Opened the year at 5-2 then went 2-3 before going 7-1 in its last eight ... With a 6-3 mark at home, owns a six-match win streak ... Team is averaging 16.03 kills, 14.63 assists, 1.35 service aces, 13.85 digs and 2.88 blocks per game while hitting .243 ... Has five players with 100 or more kills ... Is led by junior middle blocker Salaia Salave'a, who has totaled 351 kills (4.94 kpg), 188 digs (2.65 dpg) and 101 blocks (1.42 bpg) while hitting .327 ... Junior outside hitter Christine Harms is next with 152 kills (2.14 kpg) and 187 digs (2.63 dpg) ... In the series, Fresno State holds a 16-7 lead ... The series is tied at 4-4 in the last eight and 6-6 in the last 12.
Last Meeting - Oct. 9 in Fresno, Calif.:
The Nevada Wolf Pack recorded a four-game win (30-20, 30-24, 21-30, 30-23) ... Salave'a posted a double-double with a match-highs in kills (25) and digs (17) while hitting a match-best .463 (25-6-41) ... UN had five players with 10 or more digs and three in double-figure kills as it improved to 10-6 overall and 3-2 in the WAC ... Reneau had a team-high 21 kills while Nihipali had a team-best 15 digs and Mori added 10 ... The loss dropped Fresno State to 9-8 overall and 2-3 in the WAC.
2004 Quick Sets
- Fresno State is 5-4 in day matches and 6-6 in evening matches
- Fresno State is 8-0 when Peters leads/shares team-high honors in digs
- Fresno State has set/tied 18 rally scoring school records
- Three Bulldogs have tallied a 20-kill match & Fresno State is 6-3 in those matches
- Fresno State is 55-24 overall the last three years combined
- Fresno State is 36-9 in its last four years at home
- Fresno State is 19-6 overall in WAC play in its last four years at home
- Fresno State is 17-3 in non-conference play in its last four years at home
- Fresno State has hit .300 or better three times & is 3-0 in those matches
- Fresno State had held its opponent below .200, 10x & is 9-1 in those matches
- Fresno State has totaled 6,983 fans in nine dates for an average of 776
- Including preseason polls, Fresno State has received votes in the USA Today/CSTV Top 25 poll in 19 of the last 42 weeks dating back to 2002
Milestones Reached
The Bulldogs collected the program's 100th WAC victory versus Tulsa on Sept. 25 ... Fresno State posted the program's 500th win against San Diego State on Sept. 17 ... The 'Dogs handed Vivas her 250th school win against Western Illinois on Sept. 3 ... Fresno State has already set/tied 18 rally-scoring school records after establishing a total of 12 in 2003 ... With 2,458 fans drawn on Sept. 30, the Bulldogs drew their first 1,000 crowd of the season and 20th one-grand crowd overall, 19 of which have come under Vivas, since 1991.
Mileage Plus Plan
Opening the year by playing nine of its first 13 matches on the road, Fresno State's 26-match regular-season schedule features 15 road contests and 11 home matches. With the majority of travel having happened in September, the Bulldogs will play six at home and six on the road in the final two months. Since 2000, Fresno State will have played 76 road matches to just 62 home dates. The 'Dogs have fared well the last three years on the road (29-17).
Bulldogs Receive Preseason National Votes
For the second straight year, the Fresno State volleyball team received preseason national recognition after picking up votes in the USA Today/CSTV Top 25 Coaches Preseason Poll (Aug. 9). The Bulldogs received 12 votes for a No. 43 showing, up a spot from a year ago in the 2003 USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Coaches Preseason Poll.
Happy 40th
The Fresno State volleyball program is in its 40th year as a varsity sport and has posted a 505-436-12 (.536) mark since records were kept in 1971 (6 years unknown, 1965-1970). Since 1965, the Bulldogs have had five coaches. Vivas is the program's all-time winningest coach as it was nine years ago that Vivas put the program back at the .500 level. In addition, the program has made more postseason appearances under her (6) than the entire Bulldog volleyball history combined (2) prior to her arrival in 1991. The 'Dogs also have enjoyed more NCAA Tournament appearances (3) and 20-win seasons (8) under Vivas as compared to one NCAA showing and two 20-win campaigns prior.
Home Success
The Bulldogs have enjoyed success in the North and South Gyms over the years and own an all-time home record of 185-122 (.603) since 1978; the Bulldogs are 141-86 (.621) since 1987 in the North Gym and 0-2 at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State is 119-54 (.688) overall and 36-9 (.800) at home under Vivas since 2002.
'Dogs Collect 20th One-Grand Crowd
The Fresno State volleyball team has gotten a bigger stage when it has hosted Hawai'i the last two years. On Thur., Sept. 30, the Bulldogs drew the program's second-largest crowd with 2,458 fans. On Sun., Nov. 9, 2003, the 'Dogs drew the largest crowd in Bulldog volleyball history with 4,708 fans. As the first true athletic competition in the Save Mart Center, Fresno State has drawn 7,166 fans for an average of 3,583 fans against Hawai'i.
Then There Were Two
In the USA Today/CSTV Top 25 Coaches Poll released today there are just two undefeated teams that are ranked. Top-ranked Washington is 17-0 while No. 3 Hawai'i is 18-0. Ohio State dropped its first match of the year last week while Texas fell victim the week prior.
The New WAC
Next season, Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State will join the WAC. Both Idaho and New Mexico State advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Entering the week, NMSU is 20-2 and 9-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. Utah State is 7-11 and 3-7 in the Big West while Idaho is 13-6 with a 6-4 mark in the Big West.
Fresno State Picked Second in WAC Preseason Coaches Poll
Picked to finish second in the 2004 Western Athletic Conference preseason poll, Fresno State went 21-7 overall and finished second to Hawai'i for the second consecutive year after posting a 10-3 league mark last fall. Receiving the most first place votes in a preseason volleyball coaches poll since joining the WAC, Fresno State tallied 66 points, including three first-place votes. The Bulldogs placed second to eight-time WAC champion and 2002 and '03 NCAA Semifinalist Hawai'i for the third straight year in the coaches' preseason poll. The 2004 WAC Coaches Preseason Poll is the closest vote since UH edged San Jose State by nine votes in 2000. This year, the Rainbow Wahine recorded 74 points with five first-place votes while the 'Dogs were eight points back.
Individual 'Dogs Receive Preseason WAC Recognition
The WAC released its 12-member preseason all-conference team and four Bulldogs were selected, including the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, to lead all WAC schools with four picks. Since 2001, the "Dogs have had 10 preseason selections and one preseason player of the year.
2004 Bulldog Volleyball Capsules
Sr., MB, Tiffany Bishop
Leads teams in hitting (.279) & blocks (65) ... has 8 double-figure kill matches ... has season-high 18 kills vs. Kentucky ... in career, ranks No. 4 in blocks/game (1.16) ... 2004 Preseason All-WAC ... 2003 Second Team All-WAC.
Jr., OH, La'akea Campbell
Has appeared in 11 matches ... tied career-high 3 aces vs. Western Illinois ... picked up first 10+ dig match on year vs. San Jose State (11) ... has season-high 3 kills vs. Boise State ... has totaled 2 total blocks vs. a team three times ... in career, has three 10-plus dig matches ... 2x Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2x WAC All-Academic ... 2002 WAC Freshman All-Academic.
Jr., S, Robyn Keune
Eighth Bulldog to dish out 2,000 career assists ... averaging 11.12 assists per game ... has 2 double-doubles ... has 2 10+ digs ... SMS/Dr. Mary Jo Winn Invitational all-tournament team... in career, has 17 10+ dig, one 20+ dig & 14 double-doubles ... at Fresno State, ranks No. 2 in aces per game (0.34), No. 5 in assists per game (11.47) & No. 7 in career assists (2,030) ... 2004 Preseason All-WAC ... 2003 Second Team All-WAC ... 2x Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2x WAC All-Academic ... 2002 WAC Freshman All-Academic ... seventh Bulldog to post a 1,000-assist season (2003).
Sr., MB/OH, Amanda Magalei
Has season-high 9 kills, 30 attempts & 8 digs vs. #26 Notre Dame ... has season-best 3 solo blocks vs. Sacramento State ... has season-high 11 block assists & total blocks vs. San Francisco ... Since moving to the middle in mid-September, is averaging 1.21 blocks per game (52 blocks in 43 games) ... 2003 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2x Deans List.
Fr., MB, Alisha McKee
Has appeared in 13 matches ... has season-best 5 kills, 6 block assists & total blocks vs. Kentucky ... recorded first career block solo vs. Tulsa ... has 1 assist vs. 2 teams ... has season-high 2 digs vs. 2 teams.
Fr., L, Yuko Mori
Has played in all 20 matches ... has 9 10-plus dig matches in last 11 ... with 10-plus digs in 16 of last 19 contests, is averaging 13.47 digs per match (256 in 70 games) ... has 16 10+ dig matches, 2 20+ dig & 1 30+ dig ... has season-best 30 digs vs. Southwest Missouri State ... second on team in digs (273) ... ranks No. 5 for digs by a Bulldog freshman ... tied school's rally scoring mark for digs in four games (30 vs. Southwest Missouri State).
Fr., OH, Mounia Nihipali
Has appeared in 16 matches ... posted first career 10+ kill match & double-double vs. UTEP (11 kills, 11 digs) ... has 2 10+ kill, 7 10+ dig & 2 double-doubles ... collected season-highs of 12 kills & 14.0 points vs. Louisiana Tech ... has season-high 5 assists vs. CS Northridge ... has season-high 17 digs vs. CSUN & SMU ... has season-high 3 blocks vs. Nevada.
So., OH, Tuli Peters
Has season-high 20 kills vs. Southwest Missouri State ... posted first career 20-kill match vs. Southwest Missouri State ... has season-best 8 block assists & 9 total blocks vs. San Francisco ... set career-best 9 assists vs. Tulsa ... leads team in digs (292) ... second on team in kills (201) & blocks (58) ... has 12 10+ kill matches, 1 20+ kill, 14 10+ dig, 4 20+ dig & 10 double-doubles ... has at least one block in every match but two ... has hit better than .300, three times ... has scored 20 or more points in a match once ... in career, has 24 10+ kill, 1 20+ kill, 33 10+ dig, 7 20+ dig, 1 30+ dig & 22 double-doubles ... 2004 Preseason All-WAC ... 2003 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete.
Fr., OH, Christianna Reneau
Leads team in kills (311) & third in digs (229) ... ranks No. 2 for kills by a Bulldog rookie ... Made Bulldog debut vs. Western Illinois ... has posted 15 double-doubles in last 19 matches ... has 19 10+ kill, 4 20+ Kill, 12 10+ dig, 1 20+ dig & 12 double-doubles ... has season-high 26 kills vs. Tulsa ... has scored 20 or more points, seven times ... has a streak of 19 straight double-figure kill matches ... has four 20-kill matches in last nine ... already ranks in three Fresno State freshman records: No. 2 kills & attempts (831) & No. 4 in hitting (.219) ... Cal Poly and Fresno State Invitational all-tournament teams.
Fr., S, Ilima Sam Fong
Has appeared in 17 matches ... has season-high 49 assists &18 attempts vs. Tulsa ... has season-best 3 aces vs. Cal Poly ... has season-high 13 digs vs. CS Northridge ... recorded first career block solo vs. Boise State ... Fresno State Invitational all-tournament ... has 7 10+ dig & double-doubles ... averaging 9.65 assists per game ... in the school's freshman record book, ranks No. 4 for assists (502).
