Fresno State Athletics
Bulldog Freshmen Proved Valiant in First-Year Effort
12/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
2004 Final Fresno State Volleyball Complete Release in PDF Format
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Dec. 20, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. -
Fresno State Volleyball Wraps Up Season
The Fresno State volleyball team wrapped up its season after advancing to the Western Athletic Conference Semifinals for the third time in four years. Making their seventh straight WAC Volleyball Championship appearance, 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
Posting a final 15-13 overall record and tying for third in the WAC's Western Division with a 6-7 mark, Fresno State was 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. Advancing to the WAC semifinals for the third time in four years, the Bulldogs also faced Hawai'i in the semis for the second time. Hawai'i, which was the No. 1 seed for the sixth time overall, captured its fifth tournament title and owns 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).
Young Bulldogs Persevered
While going 8-8 in their last 16 matches, the Bulldogs won six of their last nine overall as they finished the regular-season with a No. 13 West regional ranking (Nov. 29). Of the 13 losses this fall, 10 came from teams that advanced to the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Still further, of these 10 losses, all were to teams that were ranked in their respective region.
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, 2004. 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, she has averaged 19 wins a year at Fresno State. Vivas owns a 14-year school record of 263-167 (.612) 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), third-most wins (23) and best win percentage (.767, 23-7) in 2002. Vivas' '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 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 15 weeks nationally in digs per game, the Bulldogs end the year ranked No. 23 in digs per game (18.61) ... Fresno State 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) ... 20 rally scoring school records were set/tied as the Bulldogs established eight team marks and 12 individual marks in 2004.
Three Bulldogs Named All-WAC; Reneau Named to All-Freshmen Squad
The 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 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. T2 in blocks per game (1.20) and No. 10 in block solos (59). 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 for Third Time in Four Years
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 2004 NCAA Regional semifinalist, 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 59th 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.
Rookie Power
While Peters established herself in five Fresno State freshman records a year ago, Reneau 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). As the fifth freshman to tally 300 digs in a season, Mori went on to establish the second highest number of digs by a rookie (365) while freshman setter Ilima Sam Fong (Hurricane, Utah) finished fourth with 545 assists by a Bulldog freshman.
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. T2 all-time in blocks per game (1.20) in the school's annals.
Defensively Minded
After recording the second-best average in digs per game at the WAC tournament (3.86 dpg), Nihipali shared match-high honors in digs against Boise State (10) and shared team-high honors in digs versus No. 2 Hawai'i (17) 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). In the WAC, her mark of 37 digs against San Jose State on Nov. 3 was the second-highest number recorded among all league players this past fall. While her 37-dig mark versus SJSU is a new four-game rally scoring record at Fresno State, it ranked 47th nationally for the most digs collected in a match.
A Small Force
Also recording the second-best dig per game average at the WAC tournament (3.86 dpg), Mori was 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). While her mark of 30 digs against Southwest Missouri State (Sept. 4) ranked among the AVCA's Division I 30-dig club, Mori also set the ninth-best season school average for digs per game (3.61).
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 had great success. Ranking in four top five Bulldog freshman records, she ended the year with a streak of 26 straight 10-plus kill performances for an average of 16.69 kills per match (4.57 kpg). Reneau finished as the 'Dogs' top kill leader (435, 4.53 kpg) while being second in aces (24, 0.25 sapg), third in digs (293, 3.05 dpg) and fourth in blocks (47, 0.49 bpg). In addition, she is one of eight WAC players to have recorded 15 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 of 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 No. T2 in service aces per game (0.33) and fourth in assists per game (11.59). 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.
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 set 20 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 featured 15 road contests and 11 home matches. Since 2000, Fresno State enters 2005 having played 78 road matches to just 62 home dates. The 'Dogs have fared well the last three years on the road with a 31-20 record.
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.
40th Anniversary
The 2004 season marked the Fresno State volleyball program's 40th year as a varsity sport. The Bulldogs own a 34-year record of 509-439-12 (.537) 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 10 years ago that Vivas put the program back at the .500 level. The program has made more postseason appearances under her (6) than the entire 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 187-122 (.605) since 1978; the Bulldogs are 143-86 (.624) since 1987 in the North Gym and 0-2 at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State is 121-54 (.691) overall and 38-9 (.809) at home under Vivas since 2002.
Solid Support
After 11 home contests, the Bulldogs averaged 756 fans in 2004. With Fresno State being the second-largest attendance draw in WAC volleyball behind Hawai'i once again, the 'Dogs averaged nearly 1,000 fans in conference play (944) this past year.
'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.
Going My Way
While the WAC traditionally leads the nation in volleyball attendance and Fresno State did its part in 2003. Finishing No. 50 in average attendance (603) in 2002, the Bulldogs finished 30th in the nation with a 1,031 average in 2003. In 2004, Fresno State drew a total of 8,320 fans for an average of 756 (final attendance ranking not due out until January 2005). With 108,288 fans coming through gates since Vivas arrived in 1991, the 'Dogs enjoyed their second-best two-year average of 799 (19,186 fans in 24 dates) from 2002-03. In 1997-96, Fresno State averaged a two-year high of 884 (22,104 fans in 27 dates). The 11,344 fans drawn in 11 home dates for 2003 is the second-most in the program's history - just behind the 1996 mark of 12,958 (13 dates).
The New WAC
Next season, Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State will join the WAC. Winning the Sun Belt Conference title for the second consecutive year, New Mexico State went 30-3 overall after losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to San Diego. Idaho posted a final record of 17-13 and placed sixth in the Big West with a 9-9 league mark. Utah State, also a member of the Big West, went 9-18 overall and finished eighth (5-13) in league play.
The WAC in the NCAA Tournament
During the regular-season, the three WAC teams invited to the 2004 NCAA Tournament went a combined 12-9 against the 64-team tournament field. Rice, which made its first trip in 2004, and Nevada each lost in the first round while Hawai'i, which made its 23rd tourney appearance, lost in the regional semifinals to No. 22 Wisconsin. Since 1981, WAC teams are a combined 116-92 (.558). Current WAC members are a combined 64-42 (.604) in tournament play. Four of the current league teams have competed in the tournament: Fresno State, Hawai'i, Nevada and San Jose State. Since 1990, the WAC has had at least two teams compete in the NCAA Tournament every year except 1999 and 2003. In 2001, '02 and '04, three teams advanced to postseason, which has been the most since six teams advanced in 1998. Last year, Hawai'i was the only WAC school to get a NCAA Tournament bid as the Rainbow Wahine advanced all the way to the NCAA national semifinals.
2004 Bulldog Volleyball Capsules
Sr., MB, Tiffany Bishop
Led team in hitting (.281) & blocks (91) ... had 13 double-figure kill matches ... had season-high 18 kills vs. Kentucky & Boise State ... in career, ranks No. T2 in blocks/game (1.20) & No. 10 in block solos (59) ... 2004 Preseason All-WAC ... Two-time 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. T2 in aces per game (0.33), No. 4 in assists per game (11.59) & 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 28 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 ...ranks No. 9 in digs/game (3.61) for a season.
Fr., OH, Mounia Nihipali
Appeared in 24 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 (FS 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 ... led team in aces (28) while second 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 ... set FS rally-scoring mark in digs for 3 games (24 vs. Western Illinois) ... set No. 10 season dig/game mark (3.59) ... in career, has 29 10+ kill, 1 20+ kill, 38 10+ dig, 7 20+ dig, 1 30+ dig & 26 double-doubles ... ranks No. 3 in digs/game (3.42) & T7 in aces/game (0.27) ... 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, six 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 ... 2004 All-WAC Tournament 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).
