Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
`Dogs Pound Tech, Move to 3-1 in WAC
10/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State showed no mercy in a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-16 and 25-13) of Louisiana Tech in Thursday night WAC action at the Save Mart Center.
After winning 3-2 road thrillers at Nevada and San Jose State before falling to then-No. 11 Hawai'i to open conference play, Fresno State flat out pummeled the Lady Techsters with a .374 to .146 advantage in hitting percentage. The solid win propelled the Bulldogs to a 3-1 WAC record for the first time since 2003.
"We played really well and took care of some of the things we've been working on like reading the offense and executing what we have been practicing," head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell said. "It was a good quick win, that's what we like."
The 'Dogs displayed a strong team performance and cruised to their fourth straight-victory this season.
"We really focused to be better as a team," Netherby-Sewell said. "We had some communication issues on the road that we were able to work through tonight."
Sophomore Korrin Wild, one of the 'Dogs captains, led the offensive assault by drilling a match-high 15 kills for her fifth consecutive match in landing double-digits on the attack.
"It feels really good to be home," Wild said. "We were on the road a lot. It was great to have a full week of class and play in front of a home crowd. We knew this something was something we wanted to take advantage of."
As a team, Fresno State delivered on many of their points of emphasis, including another blistering start and moved to 5-1 when they win the opening set.
Bulldogs' setter Barbara Alcantara tossed up 39 assists - the seventh time she recorded 20 or more assists in the last eight matches - and added 11 digs for her team-leading fifth double-double.
"We were excited to be back here," Alcantara said. "We had good energy going into the game and we really played together tonight."
The road tests helped the relatively young Fresno State team gain some vital experience for the second half of the season.
"Playing on the road tests how you work as a team," Alcantara said. "Places like Hawaii and Nevada, especially Nevada can be so loud that you can barely hear each other. We worked hard to improve as a team and play together."
Fresno State (8-8, 3-1 WAC) have a big opportunity on Saturday night when the `Dogs host New Mexico State (15-4, 4-0 WAC), who swept Nevada 3-0 in the only other WAC action Thursday night.
"How we play against New Mexico State really boils down to our serving and passing," Wild noted. "We have the offense to win so focusing on our defense will help."
"Again, working as a team is really important to our success," Alcantara said.
"Break the Bank" Volleyball Challenge
Fresno State students receive free admission to all Bulldog volleyball matches and are eligible to win $700 to The Bulldog Shop by attending the Oct. 8 match as part of the 2011 "Break the Bank" Challenge.
"We Are Your Team!" - Stay connected with Fresno State Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@FSAthletics). The next chance to see the 'Dogs at home is Oct. 8 when they take on NMSU.
