Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
New Mexico State
`Dogs Battle the Aggies in Las Cruces
10/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 22, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - In front of a national audience, the Fresno State Bulldog volleyball team was impressive in the first and third sets at New Mexico State but in the end, the Aggies prevailed 3-0 by set scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-21. The `Dogs are 11-9 overall and 4-4 in the WAC as they head to Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
The Bulldogs hung with New Mexico State early in set one and even took the lead and while they were impressive hitting .242, NMSU hit over .300 and took a three-point lead at 21-18 and went on to take the set 25-22.
Sophomore Brianna Clarke had five kills in the first set to lead the `Dogs.
The Aggies took control of set two early with a 6-3 but senior middle blocker Kelly Leonardo kept the Bulldogs close with two kills to get within 8-6.
The `Dogs got down by as many as 13-7 but a kill by Clarke stopped the Aggie streak to make it 13-8. Fresno State got within four late at 24-20 to stop two set-point opportunities but the Aggies took the set and a 2-0 lead in the match 25-20.
A hot start for the `Dogs in set three was what they needed as they went up 3-0. The lead expanded to 7-3 with a kill by Kelli Parker.
New Mexico State rallied to tie the set at 7-7 but a kill by Leonardo put the `Dogs back on top by one.
The Aggies took an 11-8 lead which forced a Fresno State timeout. Kills by Baylee Platt and Leonardo tie the set at 11-11.
Another kill by Platt put the `Dogs back on top 13-12.
At 16-15, NMSU re-took the lead and went up by as many as two (17-15) and forced another Fresno State timeout.
The `Dogs stayed close late in the set with two kills by Lacey Gera, but the Aggies maintained their lead and took set three and the match.
Clarke led the `Dogs with nine kills on the night. Leonardo hit .455 with no errors.
Fighting Spirit
Tonight's `Fighting Spirit' went to the team. "No one stood out tonight but no one stopped competing," said head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell. "NMSU is a better team right now but we never gave up."
"We Are Your Team" - Fresno State is "packing the house" on October 29 when the Bulldog Volleyball team hosts nationally ranked Hawai'i. All Fresno State students living in the resident halls are encouraged to attend. The hall with the highest attendance will have the chance to win some great prizes! There will also be 100 pairs of Fresno State flip-flops given away. Tickets can be purchased through the Save Mart Center Box Office, by calling 559-485-TIXS or through ticketmaster.com.
