Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Idaho
`Dogs Rally for Huge Win Over Vandals
10/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2009
Breast Cancer Awareness Night Photo Gallery
FRESNO, Calif. - For just the second time ever and the first since 1987, the Fresno State volleyball team defeated the University of Idaho as the `Dogs rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take the match 3-2 in Western Athletic Conference play on Saturday night at the Save Mart Center.
The `Dogs improved to 10-7 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while the Vandals fall to 7-10, 3-2. The 10 wins are the most by a Bulldog team since 2004 and at 3-2 in the WAC, the `Dogs are off to their best conference start since 2003.
It marked the second time this season in the WAC that the `Dogs dropped the first two sets and won in five, they also did so at Boise State on Oct. 1.
"It's a real challenge to be down two and to win three-straight sets," said head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell. "It shows a level of improvement and maturity and we will keep building on that. It was a really important win against one of the better teams in the conference. It's going to hopefully pay dividends as we get closer to the WAC Tournament."
Sophomore Baylee Platt (Clovis, Calif.) led the `Dogs with 17 kills (17-5-42, .286). Lauren Berger (Medford, Ore.) and Allanah Munson (Medford, Ore.) each contributed double-doubles as Berger had 14 kills and a new career-high 12 digs while Munson tallied 27 assists and 10 digs.
Kelly Leonardo (Merced, Calif.) added 11 kills for the `Dogs and Kelly Mason (Temecula, Calif.) tied a career-high with 25 digs. Lisa Gera (San Jose, Calif.) added double-digit assists with 14.
As a team, the `Dogs had 11.5 blocks to just 7.0 for Idaho. The `Dogs hit a match-best .379 in set three and a impressive .333 in the deciding fifth set.
Idaho took control early on in set one as they never surrendered the lead and hit a match-best .367. The `Dogs stayed close to the Vandals in set two, but with the set tied at 20, the Vandals went on 3-0 run and took the set and a 2-0 lead in the match.
"We didn't start out like we wanted to and we wanted to win in three but it was a good win," said Leonardo. "We wanted revenge after last week."
Knowing they needed to win set three to stay alive, the `Dogs looked much improved in set three as Platt had seven kills as they fought off a late Vandal rally to take the set 28-26.
Fresno State gained momentum from there as they were the most impressive in set four with only three hitting errors and Platt added five more kills as the `Dogs won the set and tied the match at 2-2 to force the deciding fifth set.
Idaho took an early 4-1 lead in the fifth set but the `Dogs rallied to take an 8-7 lead thanks to a Vandal error. From there, the `Dogs got kills by Lacey Gera (San Jose, Calif.) and Platt as they went on to take the set and the match.
The `Dogs have now won two-straight after defeated Utah State on Thursday night. Fresno State will face the Aggies again next Thursday in Logan, Utah.
"It feels so good to win two matches in a row at home in front of a great crowd," said sophomore Brianna Clarke (Fresno, Calif.).
It was Breast Cancer Awareness Night at the Save Mart Center as seven survivors lined the court with the Bulldog starters and were honored during the pre-match ceremonies. The Fresno State volleyball team wore pink socks and headgear to honor those in attendance. $1 of every ticket tonight was donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central Valley.
Fighting Spirit
The team won the `Fighting Spirit' award for the second-straight match.
"It takes an army," Netherby-Sewell said. "We rise and fall together and everyone came in to contribute. It was a great comeback and everyone was supportive of each other no matter who was on the floor. The essence of the Fighting Spirit is being able to keep competing when the chips are down and we did that tonight."
"We Are Your Team" - Support your Fresno State Volleyball team on Saturday, October 17, against the Boise State Broncos at 1 p.m. at the Save Mart Center. Tickets can be purchased through the Save Mart Center Box Office, by calling 559-485-TIXS or through ticketmaster.com.
