Fresno State Athletics
`Dogs Met Fans at River Park
8/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 5, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - On a warm, summer Thursday afternoon, members of the Fresno State volleyball tespent time at River Park while meeting their fans, signing autograph cards and taking photos.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2010 Volleyball Meet the Team
The showcase was the final public event before `Dogs arrive back on campus Monday, Aug. 9 for the start of camp. Classes at Fresno State begin on Aug. 23.
"The buzz amongst our staff and players is intoxicating," head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell added of her excitement for the start of the season. "We're chomping at the bit to get in the gym and continue our preparation for conference play. The curiosity of the impact our new blood will have on this team is eating at me. It's an exciting time."
The resurgence of the program garnered notice earlier this week with the selection of the Bulldogs to finish third during the upcoming 2010 season in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, which marks the highest predicted finish in the poll since 2004.
Throughout the summer, the Bulldogs have been playing in weekend double tournaments on a variety of surfaces, including grass and sand aside from the regular indoor court.
Fresno State returns a talented roster that advanced to the semifinals of the 2009 WAC Tournament. The Bulldogs feature four seniors in Lauren Berger, Kelly Mason, Meghan Moses and Kasey Van Grouw for head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell's third season guiding the Fresno State program.
The Bulldog volleyball team opens the 2010 season by hosting the Fresno State Classic on Aug. 27-28. The two-day tournament will welcome UC Riverside, Santa Clara and No. 18 Oregon to the Save Mart Center. The annual crosstown exhibition with Fresno Pacific will take place Sept. 8 at the Save Mart Center, followed by the Fresno State Invitational Sept. 17-18.
Netherby-Sewell's program was also recently recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as the only Western Athletic Conference volleyball team to earn the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2009-10 season for averaging at least a 3.30 grade point average.
"We Are Your Team!" - The 2010 volleyball season is right around the corner. The Bulldogs open their nonconference play at home with the Fresno State Classic August 27 and 28. The teams joining the tournament will be AVCA nationally-ranked No. 18 University of Oregon, Santa Clara, and UC Riverside. Be at the Save Mart Center as they begin their 2010 season.
