Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Wyoming
'Dogs Contend With Cowgirls in Laramie
10/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
LARAMIE, Wyo. - The Fresno State volleyball team (6-13, 1-4) opened its first of two straight weekends at its Rocky Mountain conference rivals with a straight-set decision at Wyoming (14-5, 3-3).
The Cowgirls posted their ninth sweep of the season in the 25-9, 25-15, 25-8 outcome that avenged a Bulldog sweep in Laramie last season.
"Wyoming is a good team," Fresno State acting head coach Mallori Gibson said. "They're good blockers, and we did things offensively that we don't normally do, like hit into the heart of the block instead of challenging the edges. From this match we need to work hard every game, be engaged in the right things, and show more passion and competitive spirit."
In the team comparisons, Wyoming held edges in kills (34-20), hitting (.441- (-).124), assists (30-19), aces (6-3), digs (39-29) and blocks (13-1), while Fresno State logged fewer service errors (3-4).
With her six kills, senior Maci Murdock was one of three Bulldog hitters with five or more kills with freshman Carly Scarbrough (5) and senior Jaimee-Lee Morrow (5). The latter player led the team in hitting (.231) for the first time this season.
The Turlock, Calif., native Murdock added her 335th career block to move into a tie for seventh all-time in school history with former All-WAC honoree Shauna McQuaid (1998-2001).
With her fourth multi-ace match of the season, sophomore libero Maggie Eppright led the team in aces (2) for the second straight match, while Morrow also added her fourth ace of the year.
The San Luis Obispo, Calif., native Eppright also topped the team in digs (8) for the 11th time in 2014.
"There were key moments that Maggie stepped up and made some great digs and a couple aces," Gibson said. "We need to continue to build off that, and keep our play aggressive as we move forward."
Sophomore setter Brooke Legaux came off the bench to post 11 assists, and her six digs was second-most on the squad.
All 13 Bulldogs players that made the trip saw action Thursday, including freshman outside hitter and San Clemente, Calif., native Taylor Brubaker who saw her first action of the season and had three attack attempts.
Thursday marked the first absence this season of seventh-year head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell who did not make the trip due to pregnancy reasons.
In the first set, Wyoming jumped out to a 14-0 lead aided by six Bulldog hitting errors. Fresno State bounced back with four of the next seven points to pull within, 17-4, then used a pair of Eppright aces on a three-point run that made it, 18-7. However, Wyoming ended the set on a 7-2 run to take the opener, 25-9.
In the second set, the `Dogs tied it three times at 1, 2 and 3 points after kills by Scarbrough and junior outside hitter Zana Bowens and a Cowgirl attack error. Scarbrough, Murdock and Molly Pearson added kills for Fresno State's fifth, sixth and seventh points, while Wyoming pushed its lead to 13-7. After a five-point Cowgirl spurt upped its advantage to 18-7, Fresno State countered with four of the next seven points on a pair of kills by Morrow, Murdock kill and Wyoming service error to draw within, 21-11. Fresno State added another three-point run that was ended by redshirt junior Molly Pearson's kill that cut Wyoming's lead to 24-15, but Wyoming ended the set with a kill to take the stanza, 25-15.
In the third set, the `Dogs scored the period's first point on a Scarbrough kill, then used a pair of kills from Morrow to pull within, 4-3. Wyoming bounced back with a 9-1 run that was ended by three straight Bulldog points on a Murdock kill and block with Scarbrough and ace by Morrow that made it 13-7. The Cowgirls answered with an 11-point burst that was halted by Murdock's final kill, but Wyoming came back with the match's final point in the 25-8 decision.
Looking ahead, Fresno State next heads to No. 7 Colorado State (17-1, 5-0) for a Noon match Pacific Time on Saturday.
"Be Bold!" - Watch every Bulldog conference match online at www.GoBulldogs.com/videos.
