Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Wyoming
Homecoming Weekend Reveals the Fight in the 'Dogs
11/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Dayna Hill
daynah@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team (6-22, 1-13) completed its homecoming week of games against Mountain conference rival, Wyoming (20-6, 9-4) with a straight-set decision.
The `Dogs fought hard in all three sets but ultimately fell to the Cowgirls in three very close sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-17).
"Wyoming played really well," said head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell. "We defended them for a while, but we have really inexperienced people playing on the right side. So it is hard for them to be in the right positions, and we kept getting beat. We didn't seem to come together in the third set as much as I wanted to, but we are going to work very hard on doing that next week."
In the team comparisons, Wyoming held edges in hitting (.232-.124), assists (37-35), digs (52-50) and blocks (11-5), while Fresno State earned more kills (40-39) and the two teams tied in service aces with 4 each.
With her 11 kills, senior outside hitter Maci Murdock was one of two Bulldog hitters earning kills in the double-digits. Junior outside hitter Zana Bowens added 10 kills, Bowens also lead the team with12 digs and 11.5 points at the matinee game.
Freshman outside hitter Carly Scarbrough helped the team on the right side this afternoon and added seven kills and 8.5 points to the three set match.
Sophomore libero Maggie Eppright drove the `Dogs with 11 digs on the night and one assist.
In the third set the `Dogs switched from a 6-2 to a 5-1 allowing junior setter Jelena Jovanovic to accumulate a total 19 assists in the game. Sophomore setter Brooke Legaux came off the bench to post 13 assists, and nine digs.
In the first set, the `Dogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Cowgirls thanks to strong serving and hitting. The `Cowgirls went on a 5-0 run before big kills by Zana Bowens and Katie Pearson tied the score at 5. The set had six tied scores and three lead changes. The `Dogs got within three points of the Cowgirls when the score was 23-20, but Wyoming was able to close out the set 25-21.
In the second set, the `Dogs tied it nine times, the most of entire match. Once again the `Dogs started out strong jumping to a 2-0 lead thanks to a kill by freshman Lauren Torres and great defense. The `Dogs went on a 3-0 run to go up 5-2. The Cowgirls and the `Dogs exchanged points with multiple ties, until the `Dogs started a 6-0 run putting them up 18-15. After a Wyoming timeout Jaimee Lee Morrow was able to make a kill to give the `Dogs the ball back. An attack error by Fresno State gave Wyoming control with the `Dogs still leading 22-19. Despite a hard push by the `Dogs, the Cowgirls never looked back, finishing the set on a 6-0 run with a score of 25-22.
In the third set, the `Dogs scored the period's first point on a Murdock kill. After a series of ties, the Cowgirls went on a 5-0 run giving them the lead 11-6. This run was stopped by another Murdock kill and an ace by Jovanovic put the `Dogs within three down 11-8. That would be as close that `Dogs would be to the Cowgirls in set three. Wyoming took the set and the match by a score of 25-17.
Looking ahead, Fresno State has another week at home, hosting Boise State (Thurs. Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.) and Utah State (Nov. 15 at 4 p.m.) in the Save Mart Center.
"Be Bold!" - Watch every Bulldog conference match online at www.GoBulldogs.com/videos.
