Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs on the Road This Week
10/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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Oct. 21, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team continues play on the road this week as they travel to San Jose State on Monday (Oct. 22), Cal State Bakersfield on Wednesday (Oct. 24) and Utah State on Saturday (Oct. 27).
This Week's Opponents:
San Jose State - The Spartans are the only team that Fresno State has not seen in the Western Athletic Conference this season. They meet in San Jose at 7 p.m. on Monday. The Spartans moved into a tied with the Bulldogs for sixth place in the WAC standings with their sweep of La. Tech last week. The Spartans lead the overall series 43-23 and have won the last two meetings.
Cal State Bakersfield - Cal State Bakersfield defeated the Bulldogs last week in Fresno and now the two will meet in Bakersfield. The Roadrunners are 5-15 on the season after falling to Pacific last week. They host Fresno Pacific on Tuesday.
Utah State - Sept. 29 Fresno State hosted the Aggies and despite a career-high 24 kills by Alisha McKee, the Bulldogs fell in four. Utah State is coming off a sweep of Boise State on Saturday night. This week, they travel to Weber State on Tuesday, and host Utah Valley State on Thursday.
Last Week - The Bulldogs hosted Cal State Bakersfield for the first time in 1991. The Roadrunners were victorious in four games. Fresno State also traveled to cross-town rival Fresno Pacific for the annual exhibition match. The Sunbirds swept the Bulldogs for the third-straight time.
This Week in the WAC - Monday (Oct. 22): Fresno State at San Jose State, 7 p.m. Tuesday (Oct 23): Utah State at Weber State, 6 p.m. and Louisiana Tech at Tulane, 5 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 24): Fresno State at Cal State Bakersfield, 7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 25): Idaho at Nevada, 7 p.m.; Utah Valley State at Utah State, 6 p.m.; Boise State at San Jose State, 7 p.m. and Idaho at Nevada, 6 p.m. Friday (Oct. 26): New Mexico State at Hawai'i, 10 p.m.; Idaho at San Jose State, 7 p.m. and Fresno State at Utah State 6 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 27): Boise State at Nevada, 7 p.m.
First Road Victory of 2007 - Fresno State won its first road game on the 2007 season in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 victory over Boise State. It was the second match this season that the Bulldogs were down 0-2 and came back to win in five. Alisha McKee had a season-high 20 kills in the match and was nominated for WAC player of the week honors. The Bulldogs then traveled to western Idaho to take on the Vandals in Moscow. Idaho prevailed with a 3-1 victory. Lauren Berger led FS with a .588 hitting percentage with 12 kills.
First Conference Victory - The Bulldogs defeated La. Tech, 3-0, to earn their first conference win on the 2007 season on Sept. 15, and to move them to 1-1 in conference play. Fresno State also hosted Oregon State out of the Pac-10 Conference and the Beavers defeated the Bulldogs for the second straight year, 3-0. Fresno State fell in the WAC opener to New Mexico State, 3-0.
Bulldogs Get Huge Win in Kansas - Sept. 7-8, Fresno State traveled to Manhattan, Kans. to play in the Varney's Kansas State Invitational. In an exciting opening match for Fresno State, it defeated Arkansas 3-2. The Bulldogs were down 2-0 after losing games of 30-14 and 30-13. They rallied back to win the final three games and the match. It was the first time since 2001 that Fresno State had lost the first two games and came back to win in five. It was also the biggest point deficit overcome since 30-point scoring six years ago. In game two, the Bulldogs faced No. 22 Kansas State and were swept 3-0. The Wildcats won all three matches of their own tournament to take the title. FS fell in the final match of the tournament to Northern Iowa, 3-0, with game scores of 30-24, 30-28 and 30-24, and finished the tournament in third place (1-2).
Kansas State All-Tournament Team - Sophomore Lacey Gera was named to the Kansas State Invitational all-tournament team as she helped the Bulldogs come back in that thrill against Arkansas on day one. Fresno State was down two games to zero and won the last three to take the match.
Comcast Game Change - The Sept. 15 home match against Louisiana Tech was unable to be broadcasted on Comcast Channel 14 and has the station has chosen the Nov. 1 match against San Jose State as the replacement broadcast. Both the Nevada and Utah State matches this week will be broadcasted live on Channel 14. The Nevada match will also be broadcasted on 790 ESPN the Deuce.
Bulldogs Sweep UC Davis for First Win of Season - The 2007 home schedule saw the Bulldogs earn their first win of the season with a 3-0 sweep of UC Davis. FS had a season-high hitting percentage of .286, led by senior Angela Wiggins with a .333 percentage.
Leading the Way - With a .310 hitting percentage, 19 kills and 10 block assists in opening weekend, freshman Lauren Berger was named the Toyota/gobulldogs.com Student-Athlete of the week by Fresno State on Aug. 27.
This and That - In the 2007 WAC pre-season coaches poll, Fresno State was selected eighth in the nine-team conference. Hawai'i is favored to repeat by picking up 64 total points. New Mexico State was picked second, followed by San Jose State and Idaho who tied for third. Nevada was selected fifth, Boise State sixth and Utah State seventh, followed by Fresno State and Louisiana Tech.
The Bulldogs went 6-24 in 2006 and recorded a 3-13 record in Western Athletic Conference play. Their season ended with a loss to top-seeded Hawai'i in the WAC tourney, 3-0. Hawai'i eventually went on to the NCAA tournament where it fell to UCLA in the elite eight and ended the year ranked ninth in the country.
Showtime for the 'Dogs - Fresno State will continue to have a strong media presence in 2007. 790 ESPN the Deuce will be carrying five matches in 2006, beginning with the home opener Aug. 30 vs. Idaho State from the Big Sky Conference. In addition, the Bulldogs will again be televised on Comcast Channel 14, as the network will carry six games live starting also with the Idaho State match. For nearly a decade, Comcast has provided coverage of Fresno State women's sports. This season the partnership continues with the airing 18 Olympic Sporting Events. There will be a new voice of the Bulldogs on television in 2007 with the addition of Guy Haberman from 1430 ESPN Radio as the new play-by-play announcer. Haberman is a recent graduate of Fresno State in broadcast journalism. He worked at the Fresno State radio station 90.7 KFSR for two years and ESPN Radio for two years as well broadcasting Bulldog volleyball, soccer and softball games.
Sr., OH, Alisha McKee - McKee is the only four-year senior on the 2007 team. She is first on the team with 231 kills on the season and averages 3.25 per game and leads the team with a .184 hitting percentage. She is third on the team with 42 total blocks. Had a career-high 24 kills vs. Utah State (Sept. 29) and a season-high seven digs. Appeared in 24 matches in 2005, starting 20. As a freshman appeared in 16 matches. 2004-2006 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete, WAC Scholar-Athlete and 2005 Dean's List.
Sr., S, Tiffany Hess - Transfer from Irvine Valley College in her second season as a Bulldog. First on the team with 481 assists in 2007, 8.91 per game. In 2006, appeared in 110 games, most of any Bulldog. Lead the team with 632 assists. Had a season and career-high 43 assists vs. Louisiana Tech (Oct. 21). At IVC she was a Second Team All-American in 2005 and first team All-Conference and first team All-State.
Sr., OH, Angela Wiggins - The third senior on the 2007 team, also a transfer from Tulane in Louisiana. Had a season-high .400 hitting percentage at Nevada on Oct. 11. Led the Bulldogs in their first win of the season over UC Davis with a .333 hitting percentage. Was nominated for the WAC player of the week Sept. 3., as she had 26 kills and 15 digs in three matchs. She is second on the team with 13 service aces. Her junior year she was 10th in the conference with 3.42 kills per game.
So., OH, Lacey Gera - Was named to the Varney's Kansas State Invitational All-Tournament team as she lead the Bulldogs to he biggest comeback in school history. She is second on the team with 159 kills and 2.59 per game. The 2006 WAC Freshman of the Year lead the Bulldogs with 317 kills in 104 games in 30 matches. Two-time Academic All-WAC member.
So., S/L, Lisa Gera - Has played in all 76 games in 2007. Leads the Bulldogs with 386 digs, 5.08 per game, and service aces, 24. Had a career-high and school record six service aces in the match against Boise State Oct. 4.
So., MB, Kelly Leonardo - Leads the team with 66 total blocks. Second on the team as as freshman with 59 total blocks. Had a match-high seven total blocks Nov. 11 at Louisiana Tech.
So., MB, Lexi Watson - Has 22 kills and 33 digs in 25 games so far in 2007. Appeared in 19 matches in 47 games in 2006.
Fr., MB, Lauren Berger - Was named the Toyota/gobulldogs.com student-athlete of the week for the week of Aug. 27 and also nominated for the WAC player of the week award. At North Medford High School she helped her team to a third-place finish at state and was named first-team all-conference and first-team all-state.
Fr., L, Kelly Mason - Is second on the team with 161 digs on the season as a freshman. Four-year varsity letterwinner at Great Oaks. First-team all-league her sophomore-senior seasons.
Fr., L, Meghan Moss - The freshman has appeared in 71 games in 2007. A four-year varsity letterwinner in volleyball and track and field in high school.
Fr., OH, Tairyn Rasmussen - Had a career-high 15 kills against Cal State Bakersfield. First-team all-conference all four years at San Pasqual high school.
Fr., S, Kasey Van Grouw - Is second on the team with 314 assists and 2.41 digs per game. First-team all-league her junior and senior seasons at Central Valley Christian high school.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State volleyball team is on the road for their next three matches starting with San Jose State on Monday, October 22. The next home match will be Thursday, November 1 at 7 p.m. against San Jose State at the Save Mart Center. Tickets can be purchased through the Save Mart Center Box Office, by phone at (559)485-TIXS, or online at Ticketmaster.com.
