Fresno State Volleyball Garners Four Preseason League Award Winners

July 21, 2004

FRESNO, Calif. - The Western Athletic Conference released the volleyball coaches' selections for the 2004 preseason All-WAC team and Fresno State led all schools with four selections, including the preseason conference player of the year in senior outside hitter and 2003 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Kristen Fenton (Marysville, Mich.).

Joining Fenton on the 12-member All-WAC volleyball preseason team is a pair of 2003 all-league performers in first team selection and senior middle blocker Tiffany Bishop (St. Anne, Ill.) and second team honoree and junior setter Robyn Keune (Ventura, Calif.). Also representing the Bulldogs is sophomore outside hitter Tuli Peters (Laie, Hawaii), who wrapped up her rookie season ranking in six top five Bulldog freshmen marks.

Fenton, who averaged 5.21 kills per game and 2.67 digs per game as a junior, is the first player outside of Hawai'i to capture preseason player of the year accolades as she also becomes the first Bulldog to be a two-time preseason all-league pick.

Last season she ranked all 17 weeks in the NCAA stats for kills per game and finished 20th in the final statistics. With a current streak of 44 10-plus kill matches, Fenton was one of just 25 players in the nation last fall to average at least 5.00 kills per game. Setting five school rally scoring records while being the ninth player in Division I rally scoring history to tally or 40 or more kills, Fenton led the team in kills (568), kills per game and hitting (.314) while third in blocks (72, 0.66 bpg) and digs (291, 2.67).

"We are thrilled to have several members of the team recognized in this fashion," said Fresno State head volleyball coach Lindy Vivas, who enters the 2004 season two wins shy of her 250th school victory. "There is a high level of talent in the WAC and I believe that the league race will be the most competitive it's been in the last five to six years.

"For Kristen (Fenton) to be honored like this attests to her very hard work over the last three years," Vivas continued. "To reach that level of play, she has demonstrated her desire to be the best. Seeing four Bulldogs receive high praise from the other league coaches speaks volumes on each of our student-athletes' efforts.

"We have a good nucleus and we anticipate a great mix with our returnees and a very talented incoming class," Vivas added. "I think this team will be very exciting to watch. We're looking forward to starting the 2004 season and seeing what we can do collectively."

With the WAC recognizing volleyball preseason teams since 2001, the Bulldogs have now had 10 selections with their first preseason player of the year pick.

All-WAC Preseason Volleyball Honors
Tiffany Bishop 2004Kristen Fenton 2004 (Preseason Player of the Year)Robyn Keune   2004Tuli Peters   2004Kristen Fenton 2003Carrie Hartt 2003Christy Burnett   2002Java Johnson 2002Shauna McQuaid 2001Kara Verwey   2001

Fresno State Athletics

Fresno State Volleyball Garners Four Preseason League Award Winners

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