Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Set for No. 3 Hawai'i
11/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 8, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - With just three matches remaining before the 2010 WAC Tournament, the Fresno State volleyball team will host the No. 3 Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine on Thursday night at 7 p.m. for a Veterans' Day special.
The match will also be carried live on ESPN Radio's 790 AM.
Brand = WAC's Best Double-Double Machine
Sophomore Marissa Brand exudes a reserved, but passionate confidence and continues to make significant strides after a stellar freshman season. Brand helped sparked Fresno State's recent three-match winning streak behind the power of three consecutive double-double and extended the run to five straight matches until the streak was snapped against NMSU on Nov. 4. On the season, she leads the WAC with a career-best eleven double-doubles.
About the No. 3 Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine
No. 3 Hawai'i, the 14-time defending WAC champion and sport the nation's longest conference winning streak at 37 straight matches, is 12-0 in WAC action and 23-1 on the season. The Rainbow Wahine's lone loss came in five-set home contest against USC. The Dogs continue to look for their first victory against No. 3 Hawai'i in the 49th meeting between the two conference opponents.
Bulldogs Surge Back into WAC Contention on the Road
The Fresno State volleyball team sits in a tie with Boise State, who the Bulldogs swept in the season series, for sixth place in the conference standings. The top six schools in the 2010 final regular season WAC standings qualify for the single-elimination competition with the tournament champion earning an automatic bid into the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
WAC Tournament All-Session Tickets On Sale, Returns to Las Vegas
All-session tickets for the 2010 Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament, which returns to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas Nov. 22-24, are on sale now for $45 through The Bulldog Ticket Office or online at www.gobulldogs.com. Single-session tickets will not be available for purchase until Nov. 22 and can only be purchased through the Orleans Arena.
Dogs Picked to Finish Third in WAC, Embracing High Expectations
The resurgence of the Fresno State volleyball program garnered notice with the selection of the Bulldogs to finish third during the 2010 regular season in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll for the highest predicted finish in the annual poll since 2004. Hawai'i is the conference favorite with eight first-place votes and the Rainbow Wahine's Kanani Danielson was the unanimous pick for WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
Clarke Named to 2010 Preseason All-WAC Team
The WAC coaches honored Fresno State's Brianna Clarke as one of 12 student-athletes on the 2010 Preseason All-WAC team. Clarke, a native of Clovis, Calif. and Buchanan High School graduate, is in her junior year after two impressive seasons in a Bulldog uniform. She became the first `Dog since 2003-04 to earn back-to-back All-WAC honors as a member of the 2009 Second-Team All-WAC and 2008 All-WAC Freshman Team.
Dogs Featured Nationally on ESPN3.com, Finish Sweep of Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs visited New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech this past week with hopes of moving closer to securing a bid to Las Vegas' 2010 Western Athletic Conference Tournament. After falling 3-1 at NMSU during an ESPN3.com broadcast, Fresno State rebounded to complete their second season sweep of a WAC opponent this year by beating Louisiana Tech 3-0. On the week, junior middle blocker Brianna Clarke led the Dogs with 24 kills in seven sets for a 3.4 kps on a .432 hitting percentage and added nine blocks (1.3 bps).
Netherby-Sewell Develops Strong Foundation for Bulldogs
Lauren Netherby-Sewell has developed a strong foundation for Fresno State volleyball as the program's fourth head coach. Netherby-Sewell emphasizes the strength of accountability, a fighting spirit and a strong work ethic as critical elements for success on and off the floor.
"We Are Your Team!" --- Fresno State will look to snap the No. 5 Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine's 37-match WAC winning streak on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and youth and free for Fresno State students.
