Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Pacific
Volleyball Loses To Pacific In Stockton
9/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2005
Stockton, Calif. - Fresno State improved their play thoughout the match, but lost in four games to Pacific Wednesday night in Stockton, 20-30, 27-30, 30-22, 29-31. Fresno State was led by outside hitter Angela Wiggins who had 12 kills and by middle blocker Jessica Peterson who had 7 kills while hitting .538 in three games. The Bulldogs were held to negative hitting in the first two games, and the Tigers hit .273 in the decisive fourth game, led by Kelly Campbell who hit .333 over the match with 15 kills.
The Bulldogs particularly struggled through the first game, dropping behind early 14-7 and never recovering, making seven attack errors with only 6 kills. Fresno State used improved defense to move closer to the Tigers in the second game, and won the third by taking holding Pacific to .100 hitting and taking advantage of Pacific errors, which were many. The Tigers hit 32 errors over the four-game match, and also had 15 service errors compared the Bulldogs' 7.
The fourth game was the most competitive of the match, as Fresno State held the edge for most of the match, but, Ashley Groothuis recorded six kills in the final game, helping the Tigers gain an edge on the Bulldogs, which they held until the Bulldogs mad a late run sparked by a La'akea Campbell ace to take a 29-28 lead. Pacific took the initiative, and won three straight points to take the victory. Groothuis led all hitters with 20 kills.
Fresno State returns home for their next match, facing the Oregon Ducks twice in two days. The two teams play in the Fresno State home opener on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the North Gym, before heading across campus to play in the Save Mart Center on Saturday beginning at 8 p.m. Prior to the match at the Save Mart Center, any fan wishing to watch the Fresno State-Oregon football game on the Jumbotron at the Save Mart Center may do so with admission to the volleyball match in the evening. Doors open for the event on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Game 1 Recap - Pacific took over early against the Bulldogs, winning the first three points of the game match, but Fresno State recovered and brought the score back to 3-2. Pacific took the serve from the Bulldogs and extended an 8-2 advantage before Fresno State gained a side out. A kill from Angela Wiggins cut the lead to 8-4, but Pacific took back a 10-4 lead early. Fresno State had a kill from Mounia Nihipali and a block from Kasie Spencer to diminish the Tigers' lead, but Pacific turned the tide and scored four straight points to take a 14-7 lead. The two teams traded side outs the majority of the remainder of the first game, and Pacific took a 30-20 win in the first game.
Game 2 Recap - Pacific opened the second game much like the first, taking four early points against the Bulldogs, and extending an early 5-1 lead. Angela Wiggins made the first kill of the game for the Bulldogs to make the score 5-2, and the Bulldogs continued to cut into the Tigers' lead, tying the game at 5. Fresno State took their first lead of the day at 7-6, and extended it to 9-6 following a Yuko Mori service ace. Pacific held on though, and brought the score to 10-9 before a Mounia Nihipali ace gave the Bulldogs back the serve. The Bulldogs continued to side out against the Tigers, but Pacific tied the match at 15. The two teams continued to exchange serve through the next section of the match until Pacific finally regained the edge at 19-18. Pacific continued their run after taking the lead, and extended their advantage to take a 22-18 lead. The Bulldogs responded with a run of their own to cut the lead to 22-21, but a Kelly Campbell kill ended the streak. Fresno State continued to come on, and tied the game at 23 after a Nihipali kill, and a Robyn Keune ace helped the Bulldogs to a 24-23 lead. Pacific won an extraordinarily long rally to regain serve, and tied the match at 24 on the way to a 26-25 lead. The two teams traded side outs, but Pacific took the next two points to stake a 28-26 lead and won game two 30-27.
Game 3 Recap - Fresno State drew first blood in the third game, and opened up a 2-0 lead before giving up the serve. Pacific stayed in the game though and the two teams were tied at 3 before the Tigers took their first lead of the match at 4-3. The two teams continued to play evenly, and Fresno State regained the edge at 7-6 before extending a 9-7 lead. Pacific again came back in the game, tying the Bulldogs at 10 before Fresno State grabbed the serve on an Angela Wiggins kill. Fresno State opened their biggest lead of the match at 14-11 following a La'akea Campbell ace, but Pacific scored three straight points to again tie the Bulldogs. Fresno State refused to give away their advantage, and opened up a 19-15 lead before a Pacific timeout. Using that advantage the teams traded points until 22-18, and Fresno State scored four straight points, taking a 26-18 lead after another Wiggins kill. Pacific made a run at the Bulldogs following a timeout, cutting the lead to 26-21, but Fresno State gained the serve and took a 30-22 win in the third game.
Game 4 Recap - Fresno State gained two quick points against Pacific in the third game off of a Wiggins kill and a team block. Pacific tied the game at two, but Fresno State kept the advantage and took a 5-2 lead after a Campbell ace and a block by Kasie Spencer and Robyn Keune. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 9-5, but Pacific stayed with the `Dogs, bringing the game back to 10-9 before Fresno State could take back the serve. Pacific again held within one at 11-10, but Fresno State made a quick run to take a 13-11 lead. Pacific brought the game even again at 14 however, and took the lead at 15-14. Fresno State again gained the edge on the Tigers after a Campbell kill at 17-16. Two Tiger kills from Ashley Groothuis brought Pacific even at 20, and a third gave the Tigers a lead at 22-21. The two teams continued to trade side outs until Pacific took a 25-23 lead after a Nihipali attack error. Fresno State took a side out off a Jessica Peterson kill, but Pacific continued to create side outs of their own. Fresno State evened the match at 28 after a La'akea Campbell ace, and a Kasie Spencer kill gave the Bulldogs their first lead since 21-20 at 29-28. Pacific tied the match after another Groothuis kill, and won it following an ace from setter Allison Ianni 31-29.
