Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nevada
Volleyball Upended by Nevada in Four
10/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 30, 2004
RENO, Nev. - While four games nearly took two hours to play, the Fresno State volleyball team came up short tonight at the Virginia Street Gym as the Bulldogs dropped a 25-30, 30-22, 16-30 and 26-30 Western Athletic Conference decision to Nevada.
Fresno State (11-11, 4-6 WAC) had four players with 10 or more kills but it was the defense and serving that foresake the Bulldogs.
Sophomore outside hitter Tuli Peters was the lone 'Dog to collect double-figures in kills (10) and digs (11) while picking up two blocks.
Senior middle blocker Tiffany Bishop hit a team-high .471 (10-2-17) as she posted a double-figure kill match for the ninth time on the year. Freshman outside hitter Christianna Reneau, who fell victim to the Wolf Pack defense, collected 13 kills for the 20th straight match despite hitting -.022. Freshman outside hitter Mounia Nihipali hit .308 (10-2-26) as she posted her third 10-plus kill match.
Nevada (15-6, 8-2 WAC) was powered by Salaia Salave'a, who had a match-high 21 kills with 13 digs as she hit a match-best .474 (21-3-38). Karen Adams (13 kills) and Carly Sorensen (11 kills) were the other two UN players to post at least 10 kills.
On the evening, the Wolf Pack hit .277 as Fresno State was limited to a .161 hitting efficiency. Nevada also doubled up the Bulldogs in blocks (16-8) as well as outdigging the 'Dogs (53-34).
"I thought we competed well and hard in a place that is very difficult," Fresno State volleyball head coach Lindy Vivas said. "Take away that third game, we served them tough. When we did we slow down their offense we played right with them virtually point for point.
"With more players contributing, I thought we passed fairly well against a tough serving team," Vivas stated. "Our lack of experience did show, especially in the fourth game when we had three critical serving errors that shifted the momentum.
"Our middle attack came around this evening and Tiffany (Bishop) and Amanda (Magalei) did a nice job blocking," Vivas added. "Ilima (Sam Fong) came off the bench and did a nice job running the offense. Mounia (Nihipali) continues to give us a lift as her overall play is starting to be shine."
Game 1 - Staving off game point three times, the Bulldogs gave Nevada a run for its money in the first set. Fresno State opened the game tied at 3, 4, 5 and 6 before the Wolf Pack took the lead at 7-6. While the `Dogs got within two at 10-8 and 11-9, Nevada took control at 15-10; Fresno State called its first time out. Down by five again at 20-15, the Bulldogs chipped away and went on a short 4-2 run to pull within three at 22-19. With Nevada calling its first time out (22-19), Fresno State continued to knock on the door and pulled within two at 22-20. Coming down the stretch, the Wolf Pack started to create a gap. Going up by five for the third time at 26-21, Fresno State called its second time out. A kill by Nihipali got Fresno State within four at 26-22 and that would be the closest the `Dogs would get. The Bulldogs hit .219 to Nevada's .293. Nevada won the game defensively by winning the battle in digs (14-9) and blocks (3-1). Nihipali led the Bulldog with four kills and hit .800 (4-0-5) while Peters added three kills and Reneau chipped in two. Nevada, which won the game 30-25, was led by Salave'a, who had five kills and hit .500 (5-1-8). Adams and Sorensen each totaled four kills as well.
Game 2 - The Bulldogs took control of the match from the first serve as they only allowed Nevada to tie the game six times within the first 16 points tallied (1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8). A Reneau kills put Fresno State up at 9-8 and the `Dogs never relinquished their lead. Up by five at 14-9 on another Reneau kill, the Bulldogs continued to keep at least a two point distance between themselves and the Wolf Pack. Up 16-14, Fresno State dominated in the middle of game two. At one point, the `Dogs strung together seven consecutive kills without an error and went up 23-16, courtesy of a 7-0 run. A Reneau kill gave Fresno State its biggest lead at 24-17 before Nevada went on a short run to get within six at 26-20. However, a combined block by Bishop and Sam Fong gave the Bulldogs another seven point lead at 27-20. Fresno State would close out the game with a 3-2 run as Nihipali served up an ace to close out a 30-22 win. The Bulldogs hit .325 while Nevada hit .189. The Wolf Pack outdug Fresno State, 14-12, while the `Dogs outblocked Nevada, 2-1. Bishop led the team with five kills and hit .500 (5-1-8) while Reneau and Nihipali each contributed four kills. Adams led Nevada with four kills. After two full games, Fresno State had outhit Nevada (.278-.244). Nevada led in digs (28-21) and blocks (4-3).
Game 3 - Fresno State got off track in the third set. While the game was tied at 3, 5 and 6, Nevada would control the tempo of the game once it took a 7-6 lead. While a Reneau kill got the Bulldogs within one at 8-7, the Wolf Pack would go on to squelch any Fresno State comeback. With Nevada up 16-11, Fresno State would not help itself as it hit into three consecutive blocks. Down 19-11 and 20-12, Nevada went on a 4-0 run to push its lead to 25-12. The Wolf Pack closed out the game with a 5-1 run for the 30-16 win. Fresno State hit .031 to Nevada's .591. UN also dominated defensively by winning the battle at the net (7.5-2) and in digging (11-3). Reneau had four kills for the Bulldogs while Salave'a led Nevada with six while hitting .857 (6-0-7).
Game 4 - Trailing 5-1 to open the fourth game, Fresno State called its first timeout with a four point deficit (8-4). The time out proved fruitful as the Bulldogs went on a 6-2 run to tie the game at 10. While Peters tied the game at 11 with a cross court kill, Fresno State would scratch its way back into the game once again. A Reneau block solo and a Bishop kill got the `Dogs within two at 16-14. After Nevada recorded a kill and committed back-to-back hitting errors, came up with a kill to tie the game at 17 as the Wolf Pack called a time out. Fresno State took the lead at 18-17 on a bad set but the Wolf Pack tied the game at 18 with a kill. Coupled with another Nevada kill, the Bulldogs would commit three hitting errors and UN would take a 22-18 lead. Reneau answered back with two straight kills to get the `Dogs within two (22-20) before picking up her fifth service ace of the match to get within two once again (24-22). Trailing 25-23, Fresno State served the ball long twice in the next three points and found itself trailing 27-24. While the Bulldogs got within two again at 27-25, two kills and a Bulldog hitting error allowed Nevada to seal the 30-26 win. Fresno State hit .051 while Nevada hit .162. Blocking (4.5-3) and digging (14-10) were once again in the Wolf Pack's favor. Bishop and Reneau each had three kills for the Bulldogs. Salave'a dominated the game as she hit .538 after collecting seven kills with no errors in 13 attempts for UN.
Fresno State continues its three-match WAC road swing next week with stops at San Jose State (Nov. 3) and No. 3 Hawai'i (Nov. 5).
