Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Jose State
`Dogs Sweep Spartans to Cap MW Home-Opening Weekend
10/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team (6-12, 1-3) savored its third, straight-set win of the season with its decision over San Jose State (3-13, 0-3) Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center.
The `Dogs gave fans plenty of excitement as they went past regulation in all three sets of the 28-26, 27-25, 30-28 decision that also stood as their ninth straight victory in the series since 2009 (including four sweeps).
The Bulldogs showed their moxie coming back to deny the Spartans set points in the first set (24-23) and third set (24-22), and SJSU held a similar edge late in regulation in the second set (24-22).
In the team comparisons, Fresno State held edges in kills (56-45), hitting (.268-.239), assists (51-43) and digs (47-45), while SJSU owned slight advantages in aces (6-5) and blocks (9-6).
Junior outside hitter Zana Bowens led Fresno State in kills (15) and hitting (.462) for the 12th and fourth times this season, respectively.
The Long Beach, Calif., native similarly topped the team in points (16.5) and blocks (3) for the 14th and second matches this season.
"We've been playing with our lineup, so it was good that we found something that works," Bowens said. "We went after it and tried to play aggressively and to win. We served tough balls to get them out of system, but we need to keep working on our defense. It was great to have both setters clicking, and they made it easy for the hitters."
Senior Maci Murdock added 13 kills - two off her career high that she's landed five times as a Bulldog. The Turlock, Calif., native also climbed to the school career list for block assists into a tie for third place (304) with Lesli Lopes.
Senior outside hitter Jaimee-Lee Morrow added eight kills and a .280 hitting mark, while freshman Lauren Torres' six kills was her second-most on the year.
Sophomore Brooke Legaux and junior Jelena Jovanovic shared setting duties in the 6-2 offense and ended with 24 and 22 assists, respectively.
Senior Katie Pearson and Torres tied Bowens for the match high in blocks (3) for the third and fifth times in '14.
Sophomore libero Maggie Eppright topped the team in digs (16) and aces (2) for the 11th and first times in 2014, respectively.
Three other 'Dogs also landed an ace - freshman defensive specialist Jacqueline Hutcheson, Legaux and Katie Pearson.
SJSU was led in kills by Sara Hibbs (14, .385) and Nandyala Gama (14, .216), and other category leaders included Allison Meehan (37 assists, 2 aces), Yavianliz Rosado (21 digs) and Hibbs (5 blocks, 17.5 points).
"We're so young and had to face so much adversity this season with injuries and so many matches on the road," Netherby-Sewell said, "so it was good to see our team take a step forward today. Jaimee-Lee helped us off the bench and did a good job sparking us in the first set when we needed her. Lauren is playing a new position as a freshman which isn't easy - she listens and adjusts well. I enjoy watching her establish herself today."
Looking ahead, Fresno State hits the road for two straight weekends and first plays at Wyoming and (Thursday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m. PT) and No. 7 Colorado State (Sat., Oct. 11, Noon PT). The following week, the `Dogs play at Utah State (Thu., Oct. 16, 6 p.m. PT) and Boise State (Sat., Oct. 18, 1 p.m. PT).
"Be Bold!" - Watch every Bulldog conference match online at www.GoBulldogs.com/videos.
