Fresno State Athletics
Viva Las Vegas! 'Dogs Back in Tourney
11/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 17, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - After 20 years as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, the Fresno State volleyball team qualified for its final conference tournament with its best league performance since 2003.
At 7-7 in WAC action, the Bulldogs finished tied with Utah State for fourth, earned the No. 5 seed for the tournament and will face the fourth-seeded Aggies on Monday at 7:30 p.m. PT.
PREVIEW: 2011 WAC TOURNAMENT
Fresno State vs. Utah State (Opening Round)
Date: Monday, November 21, 2011 (Tip Off: 8 p.m. PT)
Site: Orleans Arena (7,141); Las Vegas, Nev.
Video: WAC.TV (Kyle Doperalski) [www.wac.tv]
Semis: FS/USU Winner vs. No. 6 Hawai'i (Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. PT)
Finals: TBD (Nov. 23 at 6 p.m. on ESPNU)
Clarke Becomes Bulldogs' Second Leading Career Blocker, Passes 1,000 Kills
Senior Brianna Clarke, a middle blocker from Fresno, Calif., is now Fresno State's second-leading blocker with 429 career blocks, which is eight shy of the career record (437) held by Suzie Regal (1989-92). Clarke also became the 10th Bulldog to ever record 1,000 or more kills and enters the WAC Tournament at 1,017 during her four-year career.
Wild's Shift Back to the Outside Fuels 'Dogs Attack
Sophomore Korrin Wild played the first 11 matches at libero and averaged 4.1 digs per set in the defensive role. In that 11th match, junior outside hitter Marissa Brand suffered a season-ending knee injury and left a major void (3.9 kps/2.5 dps) to fill. Wild stepped up and returned to the outside, which she played as a freshman. In WAC matches, Wild delivered 3.9 kills per set and 2.5 digs per set while leading Fresno State back to the conference tournament.
Agraz, Brand Named Capital One Academic All-District Honorees
Junior outside hitters Cecilia Agraz and Marissa Brand received nods as 2011 Capital One Academic All-District selections. Agraz was a first-team honoree this year after earning a second-team selection last season. She is the first two-time Academic All-District winner in Bulldog volleyball's 41-year history. Brand was named to the second-team for her first career Academic All-District honor as the team's kills, digs and points per set leader.
'Dogs Pound Their Way to Three Season Sweeps of WAC Opponents
Fresno State recorded three season sweeps of WAC opponents by beating San Jose State, Nevada and Louisiana Tech twice during league play. The Bulldogs swept the Lady Techsters in both matches while Fresno State beat SJSU and Nevada in five-set road thrillers along with 3-1 home victories. In the six combined matches, Fresno State went 18-6 in the 24 sets.
Netherby-Sewell Leads Bulldogs Back to Tourney
After being edged out from competing at the WAC Touranment last year by a tiebreaker, head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell revamped her rotation that gave the Bulldogs their first .500 conference clip in eight years. In Fresno State's last trip to Las Vegas for a WAC Tournament in 2009, the Bulldogs knocked off Nevada to advance to the semifinals.
Four Bulldogs Own Combined 20 Double-Doubles
Fresno State's Barbara Alcantara (7), Korrin Wild (7), Marissa Brand (4) & Christina Lee (2) have led the 'Dogs to 20 double-doubles this season.
About the Utah State Aggies
Utah State (12-16, 7-7 WAC) is tied for fourth in the WAC standings with Fresno State. The Aggies and 'Dogs split the season series and USU is led by Liz McArthur (3.8 kps). Utah State leads all-time series record between the schools, 12-8.
Volleyball Earns Back-to-Back Team Academic Awards
The American Volleyball Coaches Association has recognized the Fresno State volleyball program the past two seasons with their academic honor after the 'Dogs averaged a 3.30 grade point average. The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams for excellence in the classroom.
Fresno State Notable AVCA Facts
• Fresno State was one of three NCAA D-1 schools in the state of California, along with Stanford and California, and one of 92 in the nation honored with the 2010-11 award.
• Fresno State was the only California State University to receive the honor in 2010-11.
• Fresno State is the only WAC school to earn the award in each of the past two years.
Bulldogs Excel at Offseason Grass, Sand and Doubles Tourneys
Over the offseason, the Bulldog returners played volleyball all over the state in a series of doubles tournaments. Fresno State juniors Cecilia Agraz and Marissa Brand took second in the CBVA beach tournament July 30-31 in Ocean Beach, Calif., while Agraz and Brand, along with sophomore Korrin Wild, blazed through the FGVA Inferno Tournament in late June as undefeated champions in their respective divisions.
Fresno State Remains WAC's Top Overall Program Over Past Nine Years
With its strong commitment to superior athletic competition and academic performance, Fresno State finished second in the last two Western Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup races and remained the top program throughout the nine years of the award. The `Dogs rank first among the current WAC institutions, ahead of Nevada and Hawai'i as the top three WAC schools. Fresno State is one of three repeat Cup winners (2007-08 & 2008-09), along with Rice University (2003-04 & 2004-05) and Boise State University (2009-10 & 2010-11).
Coming Soon: Meyers Family Sports Medicine Center
The initiation of the $6 million capital project symbolizes the Bulldogs' strong commitment to create and continually enhance the best possible "student-athlete experience" at Fresno State. The unique and essential facility developed for preventative medicine, nutritional counseling, physician examination, injury treatment, on-site x-ray and rehabilitation services. The center will serve as a cornerstone of Fresno State's "Student-Athlete Village" and is designed to centralize several student-athlete support functions, including sports medicine, academic counseling, strength and conditioning, nutrition education, and equipment services within a single secure location.
2011 WAC Tournament Preview (Single Elimination)
Monday, Nov. 21 (Opening Round)
Game 1: 5 p.m. - No. 6 San Jose State vs. No. 3 New Mexico State
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. - No. 5 Fresno State vs. No. 4 Utah State
Tuesday, Nov. 22 (Semifinals)
Game 3: 5 p.m. - Winner of Game 1 vs. No. 2 Idaho
Game 4: 7:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 2 vs. No. 1 Hawai'i
Wednesday, Nov. 23 (Championship Match - Winner to NCAA Tournament)
Game 5: 6 p.m. - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4
WAC To Stream Volleyball Tournament from Las Vegas, Championship Match on ESPNU
The Western Athletic Conference, in conjunction with its Web site partner NeuLion, has announced it will stream the first two days of the 2011 WAC Volleyball Tournament. Viewers can sign up by visiting www.WAC.tv.
The volleyball tournament will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nov. 21-23. The top six teams will advance to the tournament with the top two seeds earning a first round bye.
Each day, you can view both matches on WAC.tv for $9.95. Wednesday's championship match is not available on WAC.tv, but can be viewed on ESPNU with Anne Marie Anderson and Kelli Tennant calling the action live from the Orleans Arena.
More information and how to subscribe to any of these video streaming events can be found at www.WAC.tv.
"We Are Your Team!" --- The fifth-seeded Fresno State Bulldogs will battle the fourth-seeded and defending tournament champion Utah State Aggies on Monday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Orleans' Arena during opening round action of the 2011 Western Athletic Conference Tournament. Tickets are available through the Bulldog Ticket Office, by calling 278-3647 or online here at www.gobulldogs.com. The match will also be streamed live at wac.tv.
