Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Utah State (WAC Tournament)
Bulldogs Finish Season With WAC Tournament Loss To Utah State
11/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 24, 2005
Reno, Nev. - Fresno State came out strong in the first game, looking to pull off the upset against the Utah State Aggies, taking the first game 30-26 after never falling behind after taking a 5-3 lead. The second-seeded Aggies stole a close 31-29 win in the second game, and Fresno State lost the next two and the match 30-26, 29-31, 16-30, 27-30. Fresno State's Alisha McKee had 16 kills and 5 blocks in the match, and senior setter Robyn Keune closed out her career with 46 assists.
The seventh seed in the WAC tournament, Fresno State came out and took an early lead against Utah State in game one. The Bulldogs grabbed a 9-5 lead after an ace from Yuko Mori, who had two in the match, and jumped out to a 19-10 lead in the first game. From that point, the Bulldogs played smart defense, using sideouts and holding the Aggies to .184 hitting the first game to grab a 30-26. win.
The two teams stayed even closer in the second game, as neither team was able to gain a large advantage at any point, and the teams moved to the end of the game switching one-point leads. The Bulldogs made 5 blocks in game two, and hit .239, but Utah State came up with the last two points to grab a 31-29 game and even the match.
In the remaining games, the Bulldogs could not slow down the Aggie attack, especially outside hitter Carolyn Forbush, who ended the match with 23 kills. The Aggies hit .346 in game three and .248 overall on the way to the win.
Fresno State never quit fighting, though, as the team's played another tight game in game four, falling just at the end in a 30-27 final game. The loss concludes the 2005 volleyball season for Fresno State. The Bulldogs finished the year with a 7-21 record, and were 4-13 in conference play.
Game 1 Recap - Fresno State stayed even early with the Aggies after two Utah State service errors, and grabbed a 5-3 lead after a service ace from Alison Pitton. The Bulldogs continued to extend their lead following a kill from Angela Wiggins and an ace by Yuko Mori, moving ahead 9-5. Fresno State continued to move ahead in the game, taking a 17-9 lead following an Alisha McKee kill. The Bulldogs continued to build on their advantage, holding serve and using a solo block from setter Robyn Keune to move ahead 19-10 before a Utah State timeout. The Aggies began to pull back into the game, moving within six points at 21-15, but a service error from Jessica Chick helped the Bulldogs maintain their advantage. The Bulldogs continued to record side outs as they needed them, taking a 30-26 win in game one.
Game 2 Recap - A block by Jessica Peterson started the Bulldogs off in the second game, but the teams stayed close in the early going of game two. Utah State started off with a small advantage, taking a three point lead at 7-4, their largest of the match to that point. The Bulldogs soon recovered behind a kill from Angela Wiggins and a block by Alisha McKee to tie the game at 8-8. Alisha McKee continued to patrol the right side, adding another block to give the Bulldogs the lead at 11-10. Neither team was able to outdistance the other, as the teams moved through the middle of the game within a few points of each other. The Bulldogs began to make move at 22-21, taking the service advantage with an Alison Pitton kill. Utah State answered back however, taking two points to grab a quick 23-22 lead. Fresno State took back the lead at 26-25 after winning two straight points, leading to a Utah State timeout. Utah State took two points to move ahead 27-26, but an Alisha McKee score tied the game at 27. Jessica Peterson's serve at 28-28 went long for the Bulldogs, but a block by Kasie Spencer kept the Bulldogs alive at 29-29. Utah State took the next point, though, and won the game when Kasie Spencer's tip went just wide to give the Aggies the game 31-29.
Game 3 Recap - Fresno State tied the match at two after falling behind early, but the Aggies made their first run of the match, moving ahead 6-2 before a block by Kasie Spencer and Alison Pitton gave the Bulldogs a sideout. The Bulldogs continued to stay even with the Aggies, but a kill from Dominique Arsenault finally extended the Utah State lead at 11-6, leading to a Fresno State timeout. Utah State continued to move ahead though, extending their lead to 10 points until an Alisha McKee kill stopped the run at 17-8. The Bulldog deficit was just too much for the Bulldogs to overcome though, and Utah State took the third game 30-16.
Game 4 Recap - The Bulldogs fell behind early in the fourth game, losing a tough point on a long rally at 3-1, and the Aggies moved ahead 6-2. The Aggies continued to move ahead, taking a 12-8 lead, but Fresno State responded with a run of their own, cutting the lead to one at 12-11. Utah State scored the next three points, but consistent Fresno State defense gave the team a tie at 16-16, and the Bulldogs continued their run, taking the lead at 17-16. The Bulldogs moved ahead by two at 19-17, but Utah State used a block by Ingrid Roth and an ace by Erin Graybill to take a 21-19 lead. Fresno State used a kill from Alison Pitton to cut the lead to one, but Utah State was able to get a sideout to keep their advantage. Fresno State retied the match at 23-23 after an Alisha McKee kill, and took the lead as McKee got a kill. Utah State regained the advantage, though, moving ahead 27-24, and closed out the game 30-27.
