Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UNLV
`Dogs Push Rebels in Four-Set Clash
10/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Box Score FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team (6-19, 1-9) opened the second half of the Mountain West conference slate with a four-set match vs. UNLV (19-5, 7-2) Saturday evening at the Save Mart Center.
Thanks to an early 10-point run, the `Dogs took the first set, 25-21, from the Rebels who entered the match ranked second in the Mountain West standings. However, UNLV fought back to take the next three sets, 25-11, 25-23, 25-19, to win their sixth straight league tilt.
"We played a good team, and responded to the challenge by showing progress in various ways," Fresno State head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell. "Coming out and playing as well as we did early showed that they we were ready to play, and we almost came back and won the fourth set, too. Even though our overall season record doesn't show it yet, we showed noticeable improvement this week."
In the final team comparisons, Fresno State owned advantages in kills (48-45) and digs (62-49); the teams tied in aces (5-5); and UNLV sported edges in hitting (.189-.101), blocks (19-6) and fewest service errors (3-8).
Individually for the `Dogs, junior outside hitter Zana Bowens topped the team in kills (12) and points (14) for the 14th and 17th times this season, respectively.
Three senior Bulldog hitters followed with eight kills each - Maci Murdock, Jamiee-Lee Morrow and Katie Pearson - and the latter's total was a career high that improved on her former best (6) in mid-September vs. St. Francis.
Freshmen Carly Scarbrough and Lauren Torres came off the bench to add six and five kills, respectively. Torres' hitting total (.250) was the team's best among with players of 12 attempts or more (while Pearson hit .636 with only one error among her 11 attempts).
"We knew they were a good team, but that didn't intimidate us," Torres said. "We played hard and showed our fight from the start. We're still not where we want to be, but we're continuing to come together and improve. Every match you learn a lesson and that helps you for the future."
Bowens also landed two aces to pace the squad for the 16th time this season, and tied Morrow who claimed the honor for the third time in 2014.
Sophomore libero Maggie Eppright's 17 digs was her 15th match high on the campaign - and her eighth match with +15 digs or more.
With her 28 assists and 14 assists, junior setter Jelena Jovanovic posted her fifth double-double of the slate, while Bowens finished just shy with her nine digs.
UNLV's top players in the final stats included Daryn Glenn (12 kills, 5 blocks), Alyssa Wing (10 kills) and Bree Hammel (nine kills, .350, 11 blocks), Katlin Winters (6 kills) and Allison Davies (16 digs, 2 aces).
Looking ahead, Fresno State beings the final month of the regular season with road matches at San Jose State (3-19, 0-9) on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m., and at Nevada (5-14, 2-7) on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m.
"Be Bold!" - Watch every Bulldog conference match online at www.GoBulldogs.com/videos.
