Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Middle Tennessee State (SMS/Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational)
Volleyball Sweeps Middle Tennessee State in Season Opener
9/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2004
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Fresno State volleyball team opened its 2004 season with a sweep over Middle Tennessee State in the first match of the SMS/Dr. Mary Jo Winn Invitational at the Hammons Student Center this morning. With a trio of Bulldogs recording double-figure kills, the 'Dogs posted a 30-25, 30-20 and 30-28 victory over the Blue Raiders. Hitting above .200 in every game, Fresno State won virtually every offensive and defensive category as it goes to 1-0 on the year and MTSU falls to 0-1. 2003 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and senior outside hitter Kristen Fenton collected a double-double after posting a match-high 16 kills to go along with 14 digs and two blocks. With her 45th consecutive double-figure kill performance, Fenton jumped to No. 7 all-time in school history with 1,141 career kills, moving past former Bulldog middle blocker/outside hitter Anamie Buckelew (1,132, 1996-99). Sophomore outside hitter Tuli Peters also notched a double-double after tallying 11 kills and 14 digs. Junior middle blocker Lauren Howell also had 11 kills while netting a match-high four blocks. Junior setter Robyn Keune dished out 40 assists and served up a match-best four aces while adding seven digs. While Fresno State was a little sluggish out of the gate, Howell jump-started the 'Dogs offense. Perfect from the floor, Howell hit .625 (5-0-8) and had a team-best five kills. Peters also sparked the 'Dogs and hit .364 (4-0-11) while tallying a team-high five digs in game one. In game two, Fresno State took command immediately. With the team hitting .297 (16-5-37), Fenton posted a game-high eight kills and hit .438 (8-1-16) after being held at .000 (3-3-11) the game prior. Peters and Howell both chipped in four kills but it was Peters who ended two games of play with 11 digs to her credit. Game three went back and forth at times, due in large part to the play of the Blue Raiders' senior redshirt middle blocker KeKe Deckard, who would total a team-best 14 kills and hit a match-best .522 (14-2-23). The 2004 Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year collected 10 of the team's 18 kills and hit a game-high .529 (10-1-17) in the finale. Fresno State answered back with an even performance. Fenton had five kills, senior middle blocker Tiffany Bishop had four while Peters added three. Bishop ended the game with a block solo to seal the first win of the year. "We had some jitters but I thought we settled down and played better as the match went on," head coach Lindy Vivas said. "We had nice performances from our left side (Peters and Fenton) and the middles were effective (Howell and Bishop)." Celebrating 40 years as a varsity sport, Fresno State improved to 22-11-1 in season openers (six years unknown, 1965-70) and 9-5 under 14th-year head coach Lindy Vivas. Vivas will go for school win No. 250 this afternoon when Fresno State plays Western Illinois at 3:00 p.m. (PDT). The Westerwinds were swept by Kentucky (2-0) this morning by the scores of 30-19, 30-23, 30-23 and are 0-2 on the season.
