Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Sacramento State
Clarke Leads `Dogs With 16 Kills in Five-Set Match
9/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 12, 2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Fresno State Bulldogs battled the host Sacramento State Hornets Saturday afternoon at the Hornet Invitational and fell in a five-set match after rallying from being down 2-1. Set scores were 22-25, 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 15-12. Fresno State is 6-2 on the year.
Down early in set one, the Bulldogs tied it at 6-6 with a kill by Lacey Gera.
Sacramento State then went on a 5-0 run to take the lead, 11-6.
Fresno State got to within one at 15-14 off of a kill by Brianna Clarke which forced Sacramento State to take a timeout.
A kill by Gera tied the set at 17.
The `Dogs took a 20-17 lead off of a Kelly Leonardo kill.
Sacramento State re-took the lead at 21-20 and a kill by Lauren Berger tied the set at 21.
Fresno State took the lead for good with back-to-back kills by Leonardo and then a Kasey Van Grouw kill gave set one to the `Dogs, 25-22.
Clarke led the `Dogs with seven kills in eight attempts in set one.
Sacramento State took early control of set two as the Bulldogs tied once early but never took the lead. The Hornets took set two to tie the match 25-15.
The Hornets took an early lead again in set three. The `Dogs got within two at 10-8 off of a kill by Gera but Sacramento State went on to an easy 25-16 victory to take the 2-1 lead in the match.
Points rallied in set four, but the Bulldogs took an early 3-2 bulldog lead.
With Sacramento State up 11-9, a solo block by Platt tied the set at 11.
Fresno State took a 17-14 lead off of freshman Marissa Brand's first career kill.
After a Hornet timeout, Brand would get her second kill and a block by Brand and Leonardo put the `Dogs up 19-14.
After a service ace by the Hornets, the Bulldogs capitalized on their first set point off of a block by Clarke and Berger to win the set 25-19 and force the match into the decisive fifth set.
For the second-straight match the `Dogs played in a five-set match
Fresno State took an early 3-1 lead off of an ace by Munson and a block by Platt and Clarke.
Sacramento State rallied, however to go up 9-7 and take the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.
Clarke finished with a season-high 16 kills. Berger also added 10 kills of her own. Kelly Mason led the team with 17 digs and Munson posted a new season-high with 35 assists.
Fighting Spirit
Marissa Brand was this afternoon's `Fighting Spirit' recipient.
"Marissa came off the bench into a new position and pretty much saved the fourth set for us," said head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell. "She has had such a wonderful attitude even without the playing time. To come in and help us like that really showed her Fighting Spirit."
The Bulldogs conclude the Hornet Invitational by taking on San Francisco at 5 p.m. at Colberg Court on the campus of Sacramento State.
In other tournament action, San Francisco defeated Sacramento State 3-0 Friday night and San Francisco defeated Alabama 3-2 Saturday morning.
"We Are Your Team" - The Bulldogs travel to Sacramento to participate in the Hornet Invitational Sept. 11-12. The Bulldogs take on Alabama on Friday at 5 p.m., and the take on Sacramento State (12:30 p.m.) and San Francisco (5 p.m.) on Saturday. The Bulldogs return to the Save Mart Center on Thursday, October 8 as they host Utah State at 7 p.m. It's Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night and all Fresno State faculty and staff receive FREE admission and can receive $2 admission for up to four guests. Tickets can be purchased through the Save Mart Center Box Office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or through ticketmaster.com.
