Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Fly with the Falcons
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Dayna Hill
GoBulldogs.com
daynah@csufresno.edu
Colorado Springs, Colo. - The Fresno State volleyball team (7-24, 2-15) opened up its final week of the season against the Falcons of Air Force (13-18, 6-10).
The `Dogs pushed hard in a five set match again the Falcons 25-17, 25-22, 25-20, 25-22, 15-7. In the team comparisons, Air Force held edges in kills (62-61), hitting (.261-.119), and blocks (18-9). Fresno State was superior in assists (62-59), aces (4-0), digs (62-58) and fewer service errors (4-6).
Junior Zana Bowens added 10 kills, 15 digs, five assists and two aces to help push the `Dogs to five sets.
Freshman Carly Scarbrough led the `dogs in kills with 14 and added 5 block assists on the night. Senior Maci Murdock was able to help the squad with 13 kills and five block assists. Fellow senior Jaimee-Lee Morrow was the fourth `Dogs with double-digit kills adding 11 kills and 8 digs.
Sophomore libero Maggie Eppright led the team in digs with 21, adding 5 assists and one ace. Junior setter Jelena Jovanovic led the team with 30 assists and 6 digs. Sophomore setter Brooke Legaux came off the bench to post 21 assists, and her five digs and three kills.
Wednesday night seventh-year head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell did not make the trip due to pregnancy restrictions.
In set one the `Dogs got out to a quick start from a Katie Pearson kill. After some tough hitting and defense from the Falcons, the `Dogs found themselves down 10-5 and calling a time out in the action. After the time out the `Dogs were able to push back-to-back points before giving the ball back to the Falcons. Attacking errors hurt the `Dogs in set one, and they ultimately fell 25-17.
Senior Maci Murdock started set two with a big block, giving the `Dogs the first point of the set. The `Dogs served the Falcons tough and swung hard to take a 6-2 lead at the start of the set. The Bulldogs were up by as much as six points at the start of the match. A kill by Brubaker stopped an Air Force run and allowed the `Dogs to stay in the lead 11-9. The Falcons called their first timeout of set two down 12-15. Coming out of the timeout Morrow and Murdock put up a big block stopping the Air Force momentum. The Falcons were forced to call a second timeout down 20-15 trying to stop a Bulldog run. The break in the momentum worked, allowing the Falcons to go on a 3-0 run, forcing the `Dogs to call a stop in play. Air Force was able to build off the break and tie the score at 22-22, forcing the "Dogs to call their final timeout. Out of the stoppage of play Bowens attacked the net and gave the `Dogs the lead 23-22, making the Falcons call their final timeout. That didn't stop the `Dogs who pushed through the final two points with a kill by Morrow and a solo block by Katie Pearson.
At the start of set three, the Falcons went on a 3-0 run before the `Dogs called a timeout. The `Dogs got their first point from an Air Force error, making the score 5-1, Air Force. A kill by Jovanovic gave the `Dogs their third point of the set, but the Falcons pushed the score to 8-3 before the `Dogs called their second timeout of the set. Coming out of the timeout, a kill by Murdock gave the `Dogs control. Hard hitting and aggressive blocking allowed the `Dogs and the Falcons to trade points. The `Dogs got within 1 point, down 14-13 in the middle of the set thanks to a Morrow kill. A Murdock and Morrow block tied the score at 14, but the `Dogs were unable to take the lead. `Dogs pulled within two points to make the score 20-22, forcing Air Force to call a timeout. The Falcons came out of the timeout and pushed the final 3 points to win the set 25-20.
Similar to set three, the Falcons started set four on a 2-0 run before a Scarbrough kill, from Bowens. After back-to-back Scarbrough kills, and a Murdock/Scarbrough block the 'Dogs took the lead 4-3. Big kills on both sides pushed the score to 5-5. Air Force went on a run making the score 7-5 before the `Dogs called their first timeout of set four. A kill by Murdock out of the timeout pulled the `Dogs within one point. Fresno State was forced to call its second timeout of the set down 13-8 after a 5-0 run by Air Force. Right out of the timeout Bowens landed a kill and with some good offense, they pushed the score to 14-11 before a Pearson service error. `Dogs went on a 3-0 run to make the score 20-18 forcing the Falcons to call timeout. `Dogs tied the game with Bowens serving and guarding the back-row. After a Morrow kill and a Bowens ace, the `Dogs go up 22-20. Thanks to a huge momentum push from Bowens' serving, the `Dogs took control 24-22 forcing the Falcons to call their final timeout. A kill from Scarbrough pushed the match to five sets, `Dogs won set four 25-22.
To start set five, the `Dogs and Falcons traded precious points. The Bulldogs called their first timeout of set five, down 5-2 following a 3-0 Air Force run. The `Dogs got control of the ball on a Scarbrough kill and pushed within 2 points, down 6-4. When both team's switched sides, the `Dogs were down 8-4 and the `Dogs weren't able to recover, ultimately falling 15-7 in set five and 3-2 in the match.
Be Bold- Don't forget to come to the Save Mart Center to watch you 'Dogs play their last game of the 2014-2015 season Friday at 7 p.m.
