Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Hit The Road to Play Two Conference Opponents
10/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2006
Bulldogs Hit the Road to Play Two Conference Opponents
Fresno State will hit the road this week to play in two conference matches against Idaho on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. and Boise State on Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. After a loss last week to No. 15 Hawai'i the Bulldogs are now 0-3 in the WAC and 2-12 overall. The Idaho Vandals are 2-1 in conference play and 3-10 overall. The Boise State Broncos are 1-2 in the conference and 7-8 overall.
Scouting Idaho
Idaho enters this week's match with conference wins against Louisiana Tech and Boise State. Last year the Vandals finished with a fifth place finish and an 8-8 record in the conference. Idaho leads the all-time series against the Bulldogs 4-1. The last time the Vandals faced the Bulldogs was on 11/17/05 with Idaho winning the match 3-1 (30-24, 25-30, 23-30, 26-30). Head coach Debbie Buchanan is in her sixth season at Idaho and had taken the club the club to their first NCAA appearance in 2003. In 2004 the Vandals received their second consecutive at large-bid to the tournament.
Idaho Vandals (3-10):
The Vandals have three key returners in senior middle blocker Amanda Bowman, senior setter Saxony Brown and senior middle blocker Erin Curtis. Bowman is second on the team with 112 kills averaging 2.43 kpg. She is also second on the team with 104 digs. Brown has recorded 89 kills on the year for an average of 1.93 kpg. She is second on the club with 164 assists and third on the team with 101 digs. Curtis has recorded 111 kills for an average of 2.41kpg. She is leading the team with 42 total blocks.
Scouting Boise State
Boise State is coming off two conference losses to New Mexico State on 9/23/06 and Idaho last week (9/29/06). The Broncos achieved its first conference win of the season against Louisiana Tech (9/21/06) in a close match 3-2 (24-30, 22-30, 30-27, 30-22, 23-21). Head coach Robin Davis is in his first year. Davis previously served as the associate head cocah at the University of Notre Dame.
Boise State (7-8):
The Broncos have three key returners in junior outside hitter Jamie Claussen, senior middle blocker Cameron Flunder and sophomore Jeanette Jenkins. Claussen is third on the team with 80 kils averaging 1.70 kpg. She is second on the team with 118 digs and has 19 total blocks. Flunder has 149 kills on the year averaging 3.39 kpg. She leads the team in hitting percentage at .349 and blocks with 31 total. Jenkins leads the team with 154 kills averaging 3.28 kpg.
Fresno State In The WAC
Fresno State is inching its way to the top of the conference. Each year preseason rankings come out and Fresno State volleyball has been improving throughout the years. The Bulldogs were picked to finish eighth in the WAC last year and ended the season in seventh place. In 2006 Fresno State was picked to finish in sixth place and might have a chance to advance to the Top five in the WAC this year.
Fresno State vs. Opponents
The Bulldogs have tallied 626 kills on the year with 2054 team attacks on a percentage of .111 while the opponents have marked 756 kills on 1869 team attacks on a percentage of .284. Fresno State has played good defense combining for a total of 750 digs while the opponent has registered for 840 digs. Overall, the Bulldogs are averaging 12.8 kills, 11.9 assists, 15.3 digs and 15.54 points per game. Fresno State opponents are averaging 15.4 kills, 14.3 assists and 17.1 digs per game.
Look for the Bulldogs to be Strong in the Second Half
After playing five ranked opponents the Bulldogs will look to be strong in the second half of the season. Fresno State has been working hard and feels that they have a chance to finish the season in the top half of the conference. Senior captain Cheryl Selenak believes the second half of the season will be a different story. "We are playing well and we know we could play better. We have played some tough competition but we need to play with more consistency," said Selenak. With only playing three conference matches thus far the Bulldogs will play 13 more with seven at home. Head coach Ruben Nieves feels the second half of the year will be better. "This is a resillent group. If we stick together we will win some matches."
The Bulldogs Play Well At Home
Since 1980 the Bulldogs have recorded 16 winning seasons at home. Fresno State ended its season on home court 11-2 in 2002. In 2003 the Dogs finished with a 9-2 home record. In 2004 Fresno State swung an 8-3 home record and have recorded some of its best seasons as of late.
Weekend Recap
Fresno State vs. Fresno Pacific Fresno State played cross-town rival Fresno Pacific last Wednesday in an exhibition match and lost 3-0 (27-30,30-32,24-30). The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds were 13-0 overall and the Bulldogs were 2-9 in non-conference play coming into that match. Fresno State's powerhouse junior outside hitter Alisha McKee led the squad with 15 kills hitting .317 and senior libero Cheryl Selenak led the team with 15 digs.
Fresno State vs. No. 15 Hawai'i
Fresno State faced its third conference opponent and lost in a close competition to No. 15 Hawai'i in three games (23-30,22-30,23-30). The Bulldogs improved in most categories and played fundamentally sound since the last match against the Rainbow Wahine Sept. 23 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Fresno State connected on 39 kills and eight service aces. Junior setter Tiffany Hess led the Bulldogs with 17 assists and senior libero Cheryl Selenak added 11 digs.
2006 Key Player Highlights
Jr. OH Angela Wiggins recorded two of the most crucial points for the Bulldogs in game five with a victory over UC Davis 9/16/06. The Aggies were up 15-14 until Wiggins drilled a shot to tie it up at 15 a piece. Senior libero Cheryl Selenak answered with a service ace giving the Bulldogs a 16 -15 lead. Shortly, thereafter, Junior S Tiffany Hess set up a pass for Wiggins to take home the match at 17-15.
In game three against Utah State Hess landed a critical left handed hook shot that put the Bulldogs up a point 33-32. The game ended up being tied up at 40 a piece on an Angela Wiggins kill. This was one of the most highest scoring games in history for Fresno State volleyball but the Bulldogs lost 3-1 (17-30,30-28,40-42,22-30).Since rally scoring in 2001 the Bulldogs highest scoring match was Nov. 3 against San Jose State in a match they lost 3-1 (25-30,26-30,30-17,44-46).
Bulldog Stats.
R-Fr., OH, Lacey Gera
Has played in a total of 43 games this year and has made an immediate impact on the team leading with a total of 128 kills on a total of 368 team attacks averaging (.182).
Fr., S, Lisa Gera
Appeared in 46 games in 2006 and is leading the team in assists on a total of 260.
Jr., S, Tiffany Hess
Has appeared in 46 games in 2006 and has served up a total of 228 assists.
Fr., MB, Kelly Leonardo
A young player that looks promising that has played in 33 games with 36 total kills and has added 18 total blocks in 2006.
Jr., MB, Alisha McKee
Appeared in 24 matches in 2005, starting 20 ... set a career high with 23 kills against Louisiana Tech ... led team in kills twice in one week with 14 against Utah State and No. 10 Hawai'i ... recorded seven total blocks against Long Island, tops on the team this season ... 2005 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete, WAC Scholar-Athlete & Dean's List. In 2006 Mckee has played in 31 games and is second on the team with 90 kills and has 18 total blocks.
Jr., MB, Jessica Peterson
Appeared in 23 matches in 2005 ... made six kills against North Carolina ... made 16 kills against Cal State Northridge, a season & career high ... also hit .367 in that match ... two-time Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2005 WAC Scholar-Athlete ... 2005 WAC All-Academic ... 2003 WAC Freshman All-Academic.
Sr., OH/DS, Alison Pitton
Appeared in 23 matches in 2005 ... made 13 kills against North Carolina and made 12 digs ... recorded a team high 19 kills against Louisiana Tech on 10/1 ... had another good game against Louisiana Tech on 10/15, recording 21 kills ... made a season and career high 26 kills in a five-game win over Utah State ... bested that mark with 29 kills against Nevada ... two-time Deans List ... two-time Fresno State & WAC Scholar-Athlete ... 2004 WAC All-Academic ... 2003 WAC Freshman All-Academic. Appeared in 41 games in 2006 and has recorded 88 kills. Pitton recorded a double-double 9/16/06 vs UC Davis with 15 kills and 30 digs.
R-Fr., OH, Nichole Sandino
Has appeared in 15 matches and has recorded 18 kills in 2006.
Jr., L/DS, Cheryl Selenak
Team Captain ... returned as the libero, after playing the position in San Francisco ... has played in every game this season, one of three Bulldogs to do so ... made a season-high 28 digs against North Carolina ... joined squad after transferring from California junior college power Golden West. In 2006 Selenak has played in 46 games and is leading the team with 207 digs avergaing double digits in every game but two (9/1/06) vs. No. 14 USC and (9/2/06) vs Loyola Marymount. Selenak has a total of 171 digs.
Fr., MB, Jamie Temperino
Has played in 22 games in 2006 and has tallied 18 digs and 15 total blocks.
Fr., MB, Lexi Watson
Has played in 36 games with 44 kills on 127 total attacks and first on the team with 27 total blocks.
Jr., OH, Angela Wiggins
Played in 26 matches, starting 13 ... led the team in kills against Pacific, with 12 ... made 21 kills against San Jose State, a career high ... averages 2.75 kills per game, third on the team. In 2006 Wiggins has played in 29 games with 79 kills and has 10 total blocks.
