Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
North Dakota
`Dogs Defeat North Dakota 3-1
9/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team defeated North Dakota at the Wyoming Cowgirl Invitational by a score of 3-1 Friday morning in Laramie, Wyo., by set scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-17 and 26-24. The `Dogs improve to 3-1 on the year, their best start since 2004. Fresno State also handed North Dakota (4-1) its first loss of the season.
The Bulldogs got out to an early lead at 12-8 to start the match in set one. Several Fresno State errors though, let North Dakota back into the set as they took a 16-15 lead.
Despite the errors, the Bulldogs stayed in the set and re-took at two point lead at 21-19 off of a Lacey Gera kill.
Tied at 23-23, the Fighting Sioux scored two-straight points off of a block and a Bulldog error to win the set 25-23 and take an early 1-0 lead in the match.
Fresno State and North Dakota battled early in set two, as each team had a two point lead before the first 25 points.
The Bulldogs took a 19-17 lead and led by as many as four at 22-18 off of a kill by Kelly Leonardo and Taylor Horton.
A kill by Lauren Berger gave the `Dogs the set point at 24-20 and on the second set point opportunity, Kasey Van Grouw got the kill for Fresno State as the `Dogs tied the match 1-1 with a 25-21 victory.
Fresno State bolted out to a quick start in set three, as they took an 8-3 lead off of a kill by Horton.
Back-to-back service aces by Gera gave the `Dogs the 10-3 lead and then the `Dogs went up by nine at 13-4 off of a Horton kill.
The biggest lead of the match for the `Dogs was 11 points at 21-10 off of a UND error.
Fresno State had a set point at 24-14, but UND went on a small rally to get three points back before a UND error gave the `Dogs the 25-17 set three victory and a 2-1 advantage in the match.
Set four was similar to set three early, but in reverse as North Dakota got out to an early seven point lead at 14-7.
Fresno State fought back though, and a kill by Clarke tied the set at 16-16 and then a service ace by Berger gave the `Dogs a 17-16 lead.
The `Dogs were then down 23-18 but cut the lead down to 23-21 with a block by Berger and Munson and then to 24-23 off of a service ace by Clarke. Then an attack error by UND tied the set at 24-24.
A kill by Munson gave the `Dogs set point at 25-24. A block by Leonardo and Munson gave the `Dogs the 26-24 victory and the match.
Gera and Clarke led the team with 10 kills each. Horton added eight, tying a season-high for her, and Berger and Leonardo each added seven, respectively.
Munson had 24 assists, tying a season-high for the senior. Kelly Mason also had a season-high with 20 digs and Leonardo post a career-high 10 blocks.
Fighting Spirit Award
Lauren Berger was named the 'Fighting Spirit' winner vs. North Dakota.
"We struggled coming out of the gates," said head coach Lauren Netherb-Sewell. "We were slow and they put pressure on us and Lauren was the only one that kept her spirit up and kept giving us offense and we needed that."
The Fresno State volleyball team continues play in Wyoming at the Wyoming Invitational tonight at 4 p.m. PST vs. Montana State. Live stats can be found at www.wyomingathletics.com.
Wyoming defeated Montana State in the opening match of the tournament in five sets.
"We Are Your Team" - The Fresno State volleyball team continues play in Wyoming at the Wyoming Invitational tonight at 4 p.m. PST vs. Montana State. The Bulldogs will be taking on Wyoming at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Single match tickets can now be purchased through the Save Mart Center Box Office, by phone (559-485-TIXS) or online at Ticketmaster.com.
