Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Western Illinois (SMS/Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational)
Volleyball Takes Down Western Illinois in Three
9/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2004
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - While the Fresno State volleyball team posted its second straight shutout win, the Bulldogs' defense is what shined tonight in a 30-25, 30-23, 30-26 win over Western Illinois at the SMS/Dr. Mary Jo Winn Invitational. Four Bulldogs were in double-digits for digs and three posted double-doubles as Fresno State improved to 2-0 on the season. Sophomore outside hitter Tuli Peters notched the team's first 20-dig match of the year after tallying a match-high 24. The 20-plus dig match was her fourth of her career as she also posted her second straight double-double of the season after totaling 10 kills. Senior All-America outside hitter Kristen Fenton led the way offensively with a match-high 24 kills while adding 16 digs for her second consecutive double-double of the year. The 20-plus kill match was her first of the season and 19th of her career as she is 29 kills shy of moving up the the No. 6 spot in school history with a current career total of 1,165. Junior setter Robyn Keune had her first double-double of the season when she dished out 47 assists to go along with 13 digs. Freshman outside hitter Mounia Nihipali picked up her first collegiate kill and promptly posted her first 10-dig match while collecting a block. Senior middle blocker Tiffany Bishop was the third 'Dog to record a 10-plus kill match with 12 as she hit .391 (12-3-23) and had two digs and a block. Junior middle blocker Lauren Howell collected nine kills and had match-high honors in blocks (4) for the second straight time. In game one, Fresno State took a 7-6 lead and never relinguished it. Fenton totaled nine kills as the Bulldogs went up by as much as nine (25-16). Western Illinois went on an 8-3 run and got within four at 28-24 but the Bulldogs closed out the game with kills from Fenton and Howell for the 30-25 victory. In game two, Fenton broke a 12-12 tie and the 'Dogs never allowed WIU to even the score again. With at least a five point cushion, Fresno State had a seven point lead as many as six times as Peters and Nihipali led the way defensively with eight and nine digs, respectively. After two games of play, Peters already had 19 digs as Fenton had a double-double (14 kills, 12 digs). In the finale, Fresno State saw all of its 12 players get court time. Fenton hit .348 (10-2-23) in game three while Keune notched eight digs. Taking the lead at 8-6 and 9-6 on consecutive service aces by junior outside hitter La'akea Campbell, the Bulldogs later went on to increase their lead to five at 25-20 on a block solo by Howell. A Bishop kill at 27-22 had the 'Dogs knocking on the door as Fenton sealed the match with a kill for a 30-26 win. "We played much better in our second match of the day," said head coach Lindy Vivas, who picked up her 250th school win. "I thought our serve and pass was solid. We worked on being more disciplined on the block tonight and that helped us a lot. "We were able to play a lot of people and get them some preseason experience," Vivas continued. "The team was in control of all the games. Our libero, Yuko Mori, was outstanding on pass and defense. She has fit in very well with our defensive plans. "Tomorrow, we will face two opponents who are taller and run a fast offense," Vivas added. "We need to have a balanced attack; serving will be critical. Kentucky and Southwest Missouri State have a good middle attack. We'll need to work harder on blocking and keep the errors to a minimum on our side." Fresno State (2-0) battles Kentucky (2-1) tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) before closing out the tournament against Southwest Missouri State (3-0) at 6:00 p.m. (PDT). Kentucky dropped a three-game decision to SMS in the final match of the evening while the Bears went 2-0 on the first day of their tournament.
