Fresno State Athletics
Volleyball Wraps Up Season at WAC Tournament
11/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 22, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Fresno State Volleyball Wraps Up Season
The Fresno State volleyball team wrapped up its season last week after advancing to the Western Athletic Conference Semifinals for the third time in four years. Making their seventh straight WAC Volleyball Championship appearance, the Bulldogs entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed. In the opening round, Fresno State swept No. 4 seed Boise State (30-27, 30-23, 30-23) before dropping a four-game decision to top seed and second-ranked Hawai'i (24-30, 30-25, 25-30, 21-30). By taking the Rainbow Wahine to four games it marked just the second time in WAC tournament play that UH dropped a game in tournament action.
WAC Tournament in Review
Winning six of its final nine matches and posting a final 15-13 overall record, Fresno State is one of just three programs to have qualified for all seven tournaments as the conference sent all five schools out of the Western Division to the volleyball championship for the first time. The Bulldogs, who advanced to the WAC semifinals for the third time in four years, faced Hawai'i in the semis for the second time as they lost in four last week after first meeting UH in semi final play in 2001. With Nevada hosting the tournament for the third straight year, Hawai'i was the No. 1 seed for the sixth time overall, captured its fifth tournament title and boasts an all-time tourney mark of 19-2 (.905).
Reneau Named to WAC All-Tournament Team
With the Fresno State volleyball team advancing to the 2004 Western Athletic Conference semifinals, freshman outside hitter Christianna Reneau (Corona, Calif.) was selected to the 12-member all-tournament team for her efforts. As the first Bulldog freshman to be named to a WAC all-tournament team, she ranked in three top 10 categories among all tourney participants: No. 2 in kills per game (5.29), No. 5 in points (37.5, 5.36 per game) and No. 8 in hitting efficiency (.293). With five Bulldogs being honored as a WAC all-tournament selection since 2001, Reneau posted a match-high 17 kills and hit a match-best .394 to go along with nine digs and a block in the tournament opener against No. 5 seed Boise State. Against top seed and second-ranked Hawai'i, she tied for match-high honors in kills (20) and had 10 digs for her 15th double-double of the season. Finishing the year with the second-most kills by a Bulldog rookie as well as being the team's top kill leader (435), Reneau wrapped up the season by tallying 26 straight double-figure kill matches and had three double-doubles in her last six matches. Other Bulldogs who ranked among the top 10 in WAC tournament play were freshmen outside hitter Mounia Nihipali (Honolulu, Hawaii) and libero Yuko Mori (Anan, Tokushima, Japan), who both finished tied for second in digs per game (27, 3.86 dpg). Sophomore outside hitter Tuli Peters (Laie, Hawaii) finished second in service aces per game (5, 0.71 sapg) while junior setter Robyn Keune (Ventura, Calif.) was sixth in assists (79, 11.20 apg).
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 seven 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 263-167 (.612) at Fresno State and an 18-year career mark of 335-227 (.596). The Bulldogs, who are 121-54 (.691) at home under Vivas, have gone 38-7 (.844) in the North Gym the last four seasons. Vivas has coached two AVCA All-Americans, eight AVCA all-region/all-district winners, 31 all-WAC picks (34 overall) and a WAC preseason player of the year. Leading the 'Dogs to all seven WAC Volleyball Tournaments (1996-98, 2001-04), 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.
End of the Year Banquet
The Fresno State volleyball team will host its end of the year banquet on Sat., Dec. 11, 12:00 p.m., at TorNino's. Cost is $25 per person. For reservations or more information, contact (559) 278-6833.
Keeping Watch
Fresno State is 59-27 overall the last three years combined ... Fresno State is 38-9 in its last four years at home (North Gym & Save Mart Center) ... Fresno State is 18-3 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 11 weeks nationally in digs per game, the Bulldogs currently rank No. 21 in digs per game (18.87) ... 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) ... Keune 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 were set as the Bulldogs set eight team marks and 10 individual marks in 2004.
Three Bulldogs Named All-WAC; Reneau Named to All-Freshmen Squad
The Western Athletic Conference announced its 2004 All-Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Teams on Nov. 16 and three Fresno State Bulldogs were selected, including one who was named to the WAC's All-Freshmen Team. Selected to the second team, senior middle blocker Tiffany Bishop (St. Anne, Ill.), Peters and Reneau were voted on by the league coaches based on conference play only. In addition, Reneau was named to the league's six-member freshmen team. A 2004 Preseason All-WAC pick, Bishop garnered her second straight all-conference honor after being named second team a year ago. This fall, she averaged 1.20 blocks per game to finish seventh in the final conference stats while totaling 133 kills and hitting .267 in league play. Overall, Bishop led the team in hitting (.281) and blocks (91) as she recorded 13 double-figure kill matches. In the school's career record book she finished her Bulldog career ranked No. 4 in blocks per game (1.15). Also a 2004 Preseason All-WAC selection, Peters picked up her first career all-league honor as she totaled 122 kills and 153 digs in conference action. Also named WAC Player of the Week for the first time in her career (Oct. 25), she was the Bulldogs' top all-around player as she led the team service aces (28) while second in kills (284), digs (359) and blocks (77) in overall action. Reneau is the fourth Bulldog to be named to an all-freshmen team, as the WAC last sponsored an all-freshmen squad in 2000. Stepping into a starting role the second match of the season, she finished fifth in the WAC in kills per game (4.87) and in points average (5.47). Ranked every week in league play for kills and points, Reneau was the only freshman ranked in the WAC's top 10 in kill average as well as being only one of five conference hitters to have averaged at least 4.80 kill per game. In addition, she also was the only freshman in WAC play that was listed among the league's top 10 in points scored. Vivas has now coached 31 All-WAC honorees (34 all-conference overall) and four all-freshmen honorees.
Week 12 in Review: 'Dogs Advance to WAC Semis
Fresno State went 1-1 at the WAC Volleyball Championship Tournament ... As the No. 5 seed, the Bulldogs opened tournament action against No. 4 seed Boise State ... The 'Dogs swept the Broncos (30-27, 30-23, 30-23) and captured their ninth sweep of the year in the process ... Advancing to the WAC semifinals for the third time in four years, Fresno State faced top seed and second-ranked Hawai'i ... While dropping a four-game decision to the eventual conference champion (24-30, 30-25, 25-30, 21-30) and current No. 1 ranked team in the country, the Bulldogs handed UH only its second game loss in tournament play ... In tournament play, Reneau led the Bulldogs as she hit .293 while totaling 37 kills (5.29 kpg) and recording 19 digs (2.71 dpg) ... Against Boise State she notched a match-high 17 kills and hit a match-best .394 (17-4-33) to go along with nine digs and a block ... At the same time, Reneau eclipsed the 400-kill mark as she became just the second freshman and 16th Bulldog overall to tally a 400-plus kill season ... In addition, Bishop, who chipped in 10 kills and five blocks, cracked the school's career top 10 list in block solos as she posed her 58th career solo against BSU to rank No. 10 all-time at Fresno State ... Versus Hawai'i, Reneau shared match-high honors in kills (20) for the second straight match ... Picking up her 15th double-double of the season as well, she also collected her sixth 20-kill match of the year and recorded 20 or more points for the 10th time of the season ... After making her first start of the year against Kentucky, she rattled off 26 straight double-figure kill performances and 15 double-doubles to pace the 'Dogs offense ... Winning six of its last nine overall as well as winning four of its last six conference matches, Fresno State has gone 31-20 on the road the last three years combined ... Improving to 59-27 overall the last three years, the 'Dogs finished the year with four players recording at least 100 kills and seven with 100 or more digs.
Nearly 300
Reneau just missed out on being the first Bulldog since 1998 to post a 300 kill and dig season. She finished the year with a team-high 435 kills with 293 digs. The last Bulldog to collect 300 or more kills and digs in a season was outside hitter Shanus Bennett, who had 506 kills and 361 digs.
Rookie Power
With Peters established herself in five Fresno State freshman records a year ago, Reneau has picked up where she left off. Reneau closed out her rookie campaign by ranking in four Bulldog freshman records: No. 2 in kills, No. 2 in attempts (1,162), No. 4 in hitting (.217) and No. 5 in block solos (11). Mori, who is the fifth freshman to tally 300 digs in a season, went on to establish the second highest number of digs by a freshman with 365. In addition, freshman setter Ilima Sam Fong also added her name to the freshman record book by finishing fourth with 545 assists.
Leading the Way
Bishop, who totaled 13 double-figure kill matches on the year, led the team in hitting (.281) and blocks (91). She posted double-figure kill performances in six of her last nine for an 11.00 kill per match average (99, 3.30 kpg). At the WAC Tournament, she posted 22 kills (3.14 kpg) and had a team-high nine blocks (1.29 bpg). With at least one block in every match but one, Bishop finished her two-year career with 59 solo blocks to rank 10th all-time. In addition, she also ranks No. 4 all-time in blocks per game (1.15) in the school's annals.
Defensively Minded
After recording the second-best average in digs per game last week at the WAC tournament (3.86 dpg), Nihipali shared match-high honors in digs with 10 against Boise State and shared team-high honors in digs versus No. 2 Hawai'i with Mori. Nihipali closed out the year with 10 double-figure dig matches in her last 14 outings. As the team's overall top digger in the Bulldogs' last 16 matches, she averaged 12.50 digs a match (200, 4.35 dpg). In addition, Nihipali was the `Dogs top digger in the final six WAC matches as she averaged 17.00 per match (102, 4.86 dpg).
A Small Force
Also recording the second-best dig per game average at the WAC tournament (3.86 dpg), Mori is the only Bulldog to have played in every game of every match in 2004 as she finished the season as the team's top digger (365, 3.61 dpg). She also recorded a team-best 22 double-figure dig matches. With 15 double-figure dig performances in her last 18 matches, Mori closed out the season with a streak of six 10-plus dig matches and averaged 14.33 digs per match (86, 4.10 dpg).
Smooth Transition
Senior middle blocker Amanda Magalei (Bountiful, Utah) hit a career-best .462 (6-0-13) against Boise State in her final home appearance. With at least one block in every match but one this fall, she averaged 1.12 blocks per game since being moved to the middle in mid-September.
Gaining Recognition
In the final WAC games only statistics, three Bulldog rookies finished among the league's best in kills, digs and points. Reneau was the only freshman ranked in the WAC's top 10 in kill average as well as being only one of five conference hitters to have averaged at least 4.80 kills per game as she finished fifth overall (4.87 kpg). She also was the only freshman in WAC play who was listed among the league's top 10 in points scored (No. 5, 5.47 point average). Nihipali finished among the top five in digs per game (4th, 4.62 dpg) while Mori was ninth (3.76 dpg).
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. Already ranking in four top five Bulldog freshman records, she owns a streak of 24 straight 10-plus kill performances for an average of 16.54 kills per match (4.51 kpg). Reneau is the 'Dogs' top kill (398, 4.47 kpg) and ace (24, 0.27 sapg) leader while being third in digs (274, 3.08 dpg) and fourth in blocks (46, 0.52 bpg). In addition, she is one of nine WAC players to have recorded 14 or more double-doubles.
Keune Reaches Assist Milestone
As only the fourth Bulldog to record 2,300 career assists, Keune will enter the 2005 season five assists shy ranking No. 4 all-time at Fresno State with Kieran O'Leary (2,309, 1989-90). While ranking fifth all-time in career assists (2,304), Keune also ranks third in service aces per game (0.32) and fourth in assists per game (11.57). Nationally, she has been ranked five times in assists per game in her career as her latest ranking was No. 6 (14.43) on Sept. 5.
Young Bulldogs Persevering
While going 8-8 in their last 16 matches, the Bulldogs won six of their last nine. Of the 13 losses this fall, nearly half came from teams that advanced to the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Three of the losses were to now No. 1 ranked Hawai'i.
2004 Bulldog Volleyball Capsules
Sr., MB, Tiffany Bishop
Led teams in hitting (.281) & blocks (91) ... had 13 double-figure kill matches ... had season-high 18 kills vs. Kentucky & Boise State ... in career, ranks No. 4 in blocks/game (1.15) ... 2004 Preseason All-WAC ... 2004 & '03 Second Team All-WAC.
Jr., OH, La'akea Campbell
Appeared in 16 matches ... tied career-high 3 aces vs. Western Illinois ... tied career-high 4 assists vs. UC Davis ... picked up first 10+ dig match on year vs. San Jose State (11) ... had season-high 3 kills vs. Boise State ... 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
Fourth Bulldog to dish out 2,300 career assists ... averaged 11.60 assists per game ... had 5 double-doubles ... had 5 10+ digs ... SMS/Dr. Mary Jo Winn Invitational all-tournament team... in career, has 20 10+ dig, one 20+ dig & 17 double-doubles ... at Fresno State, ranks No. 3 in aces per game (0.32), No. 4 in assists per game (11.57) & No. 5 in career assists (2,304) ... 2004 Preseason All-WAC ... 2003 Second Team All-WAC ... 2x Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2x WAC All-Academic ... 2002 WAC Freshman All-Academic.
Sr., MB/OH, Amanda Magalei
Had season-high 9 kills, 30 attempts & 8 digs vs. #26 Notre Dame ... had season-best 3 solo blocks vs. Sacramento State ... had season-high 11 block assists & total blocks vs. San Francisco ... Since moving to the middle in mid-September, averaged 1.12 blocks per game ... 2003 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2x Deans List.
Fr., MB, Alisha McKee
Appeared in 16 matches ... had season-best 5 kills, 6 block assists & total blocks vs. Kentucky ... recorded first career block solo vs. Tulsa ... had 1 assist vs. 3 teams ... had season-high 4 digs vs. Nevada.
Fr., L, Yuko Mori
Played in all 101 games in 26 matches ... had 15 10-plus dig matches in last 18 ... had 22 10+ dig matches, 3 20+ dig & 1 30+ dig ... had season-best 30 digs vs. Southwest Missouri State ... led team in digs (365) ... ranks No. 2 for digs by a Bulldog freshman ... fifth freshman to record 300 or more digs in a year.
Fr., OH, Mounia Nihipali
Appeared in 23 matches ... posted first career 10+ kill match & double-double vs. UTEP (11 kills, 11 digs) ... had 4 10+ kill, 11 10+ dig, 2 20+ dig, 1 30+ dig & 3 double-doubles ... collected season-highs of 12 kills & 14.0 points vs. Louisiana Tech ... had season-high 5 assists vs. CS Northridge ... had season-high 37 digs vs. San Jose State (new 4-game rally scoring mark) ... had season-high 3 blocks vs. Nevada.
So., OH, Tuli Peters
Had season-high 20 kills vs. Southwest Missouri State ... posted first career 20-kill match vs. Southwest Missouri State ... had season-best 8 block assists & 9 total blocks vs. San Francisco ... set career-best 9 assists vs. Tulsa ... leads team in aces (28) ... second on team in kills (284), digs (359) & blocks (77) ... had 17 10+ kill matches, 1 20+ kill, 19 10+ dig, 4 20+ dig & 14 double-doubles ... had at least one block in every match but three ... hit better than .300, four times ... scored 20 or more points in a match, 5x ... in career, has 29 10+ kill, 1 20+ kill, 38 10+ dig, 7 20+ dig, 1 30+ dig & 26 double-doubles ... 2004 Second Team All-WAC ... 2004 WAC Player of the Week (Oct. 25) ... 2004 Preseason All-WAC ... 2003 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete.
Fr., OH, Christianna Reneau
Led team in kills (435) & third in digs (293) ... made Bulldog debut vs. Western Illinois ... had 26 10+ kill, 5 20+ Kill, 15 10+ dig, 1 20+ dig & 15 double-doubles ... had season-high 26 kills vs. Tulsa ... had season-best 5 aces vs. Nevada ... scored 20 or more points, 10x ... closed year with a streak of 26 straight double-figure kill matches ... ranks in four Fresno State freshman records: No. 2 kills & attempts (1,162), No. 4 in hitting (.217) & No. 5 in block solos (11) ... Cal Poly and Fresno State Invitational all-tournament teams ... 2004 Second Team All-WAC ... 2004 WAC All-Freshmen Team.
Fr., S, Ilima Sam Fong
Appeared in 22 matches ... had season-high 49 assists &18 attempts vs. Tulsa ... had season-best 3 aces vs. Cal Poly ... had season-high 13 digs vs. CS Northridge ... recorded first career block solo vs. Boise State ... Fresno State Invitational all-tournament ... had 7 10+ dig & double-doubles ... averaged 8.93 assists per game ... in the school's freshman record book, ranks No. 4 for assists (545).
