'Dogs Bakersfield-Bound For Final Early Season Tourney

Sophomore libero Maggie Eppright led the 'Dogs vs. LIU Brooklyn last week with a team season high in digs (21) - the sixth time that she's paced the squad this year.

'Dogs Bakersfield-Bound For Final Early Season Tourney

9/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

By Geoff Thurner
gthurner@csufresno.edu
www.GoBulldogs.com

Sept. 17, 2014

Fresno State Weekly Release - Week 4 (PDF) / MW Weekly Release (PDF)

FRESNO STATE VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY RELEASE - Edition 4

This Week's Action: Roadrunner Classic
Location: Icardo Center - Bakersfield, Calif.
Host: CSU Bakersfield (Host Website: www.GoRunners.com)

Friday, September 19
Noon - Fresno State (5-6) vs. Long Beach St. (8-3)
5 p.m. - Fresno St. (5-6) vs. Oregon St. (7-1)
7:30 p.m. - CSUB (3-7) vs. LBSU (8-3)

Saturday, September 20
11 a.m. - CSUB vs. OSU (7-1)
4 p.m. - LBSU (8-3) vs. OSU (7-1)
6:30 p.m. - Fresno State at CSUB (3-7)

`DOGS BAKERSFIELD-BOUND FOR FINAL REGULAR SEASON TOURNEY
The Fresno State volleyball team (5-6) wraps up a busy four-week opening stretch on the road with three matches in the Central Valley at CSUB on Friday and Saturday.

The `Dogs open the tourney vs. LBSU (8-3) which picked up votes in the AVCA national preseason poll, while Oregon State (7-1) also received votes last week and edged recent NCAA semifinalist Michigan last weekend, 3-2. CSUB (3-7) opened the year with back-to-back wins,then ended a seven-match losing streak with a 3-1 win over San Jose State last week.

Next week, the `Dogs return home to host their first match of the season, and face local rival Fresno Pacific on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center.

Fresno State then travels to UNLV and San Diego State next weekend on Thursday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 27 to open its third season of play in the Mountain West Conference.

GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans can still buy 2014 season tickets for the 10-date home schedule at the Save Mart Center that is kicked off by a home-opening exhibition against Fresno Pacific on September 23, and nine Mountain West Conference matches in October and November. Season ticket options and prices are similar to last year: Adult General Admission: $40 / Flex Four Pack: $79 / Youth (Ages 5-18) & Senior (Ages 65+): $30 / Faculty & Staff: $30.

Fans can also take advantage of a new Family Flex Plan for only $79. The four-person season ticket package gives the flexibility to exchange tickets in any combination of quantity and matches. That means four people can come to all 10 home matches, 40 people to one match, or other combinations adding up to 40 tickets for the season. Altogether, the deal works out to less than $2 per ticket / per person.

Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online (or via the ticket link at the top of the page), or can call 559-278-3647 or visit the Bulldog Ticket Office at Bulldog Stadium on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

RECENT FRESNO STATE ACTION
Last weekend, Fresno State finished as the tourney runner-up in the St. John's Kissler Classic after it swept St. Francis and Dartmouth the first day, and split second-day action vs. NCAA Tournament returnee New Hampshire (3-1 win) and St. John's (3-1 loss).

Earlier in the week, the team was edged by another NCAA tourney returnee in Long Island University Brooklyn, 3-1, on Wednesday.

The `Dogs held an opponent to 10 points or less in a 25-point set three times last week to give it six honors in the seven-year career of head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell. Fresno State achieved the feat twice vs. Dartmouth (25-6 first set, 25-10 second set) and also against New Hampshire (25-8 second set).

Fresno State's hitting totals vs. St. Francis and Dartmouth - .468 and .367 - easily outdid its previous season high (.286) that came the weekend before at Sacramento State, and the former is the program's best under Netherby-Sewell.

In return for their strong showings, redshirt freshman hitter Haylee Roberts and sophomore libero Maggie Eppright were named to the Kissler Classic All-Tournament Team - their first career honors.

RECENT BULLDOG STARTERS (2014 Season Statistics)

Pos. # Player                 MP-MS  AVG   K     K/S  SA   SA/S   TB   B/S   PTS    PT/SOH   #18 Zana Bowens, Jr.     11-11 .242  144   3.35  21   0.49   13  0.30  173.0   4.02OH   #7 Carly Scarbrough, Fr. 11-8  .225  110   2.68   0   0.00   15  0.37  118.5   2.89MB   #16 Maci Murdock, Sr.     9-9  .247   81   2.25   0   0.00   39  1.08  102.0   2.83OH   #11 Haylee Roberts, RFr. 11-7  .253   71   2.09   0   0.00   24  0.71   83.0   2.44MB   #12 Katie Pearson, Sr.    7-4  .200   16   0.84   4   0.21   11  0.58   26.0   1.37
Pos. # Player                 MP-MS  Sets  A   A/S    SA   SA/S   D    D/S   PTS    PT/SS   #14 Brooke Legaux, So.     6-4    21  178   8.48   1   0.05   39  1.86    6.5   0.31S   #6 Jelena Jovanovic, Jr.   9-7    29  274   9.45   1   0.03   79  2.72   29.0   1.00L   # 23 Maggie Eppright, So. 11-0    43   44   1.02   7   0.16  154  3.59    8.0   0.19

LAST WEEK'S BULLDOG HEROES
- In last week's trip to New York City, starting junior outside hitter Zana Bowens led the team in kills (3.56 p/s), digs (3.50 p/s) and points (4.33). Among the five matches, she led the team in kills, points and aces each four times, and hitting and digs twice.

- She logged the team's third- and fourth-best hitting marks of the year vs. St. Francis (.478, 13K) and Dartmouth (.474, 12K), and now has four +.300 totals on campaign. She also topped 10 kills vs. New Hampshire (12) and St. John's (14) to give her 10 straight matches in the category.

- She tied the team season high in digs (21) in the four-setter at LIU Brooklyn, and has led the squad in the category three times this year.

- Her four aces in the four-setter vs. New Hampshire tied the team's second-best mark of season - one shy of her team high - and she also logged three aces vs. St. Francis. Overall in 2014, she has led the team in aces in eight matches and has seven multi-ace tilts.

- She logged three double-doubles on the week vs. LIU Brooklyn (12K, 21D), St. Francis (13K, 13D) and UNH (13K, 14D) to give her six on the year and eight career-wise.

- On the year, she looms as the team leader in kills (3.35 p/s), points (4.02 p/s), and aces (0.49 p/s) with her career-high averages. In other rankings, she also leads the MW in double-doubles (6), and ranks top five in aces (fourth, 0.49 p/s), kills (fourth, 3.35 p/s) and points (fifth, 4.02 p/s), and top 125 nationally in aces (44th) and points (117th).

- Freshman hitter Carly Scarbrough (Sarasota, Fla.) claimed double-digit kills totals in four of her East Coast matches to give her a string of six straight and eight overall on the season. She landed a season-high 15 kills vs. New Hampshire, and connected on her second +.500 total (.500 exactly) of the season. The day before she claimed a season-high .556 mark vs. St. Francis (10 kills) and a .429 mark against Dartmouth (12 kills) to give her three +.400 totals the last four matches. Two weeks ago, she joined Bowens on the Sacramento State Invitational All-Tournament Team after she averaged topped +10 kills vs. UCSB (11, .360) and Loyola Marymount (10), and just missed similar honors vs. Sacramento State (9). She also landed 12 and 15 kills her opening weekend as a collegian vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (12) and UC Davis (15). On the season, the fourth-week collegian ranks second on the team in kills (2.68 p/s) and points (2.89 p/s).

- Junior transfer Jelena Jovanovic (Belgrade Serbia) has logged four +40 assist totals this year vs. New Hampshire (46, 4 sets), UC Davis (43, 5 sets), St. Francis (41) and St. John's (40). In the Kissler Classic, she led the team to its best hitting total in head coach Lauaren Netherby-Sewell's tenure vs. St. Francis (.468), and also +.300 marks against Dartmouth (.377) and New Hampshire (.346). The first-year `Dog has led the squad in digs three times vs. New Hampshire (17), Louisiana-Lafayette (13) and St. John's (11), and has four double-doubles among her starts (and the other vs. UC Davis (season high 16 digs)). She has also paced the team in aces once vs. Sacramento State (2) and blocks once vs. St. John's (3). On the season she leads the team in assists (9.45 p/s), and ranks third for the 'Dogs in digs (2.72 p/s) and top 10 in the MW in double-doubles (fifth) and assists (seventh).

- Sophomore setter Brooke Legaux (Mission Viejo, Calif.) started the first four matches of her career the first three weekends of the season, and her assists totals vs. Sacramento State (51), UCSB (38), LMU (36) and LIUB (27) easily topped her previous career best of 18 at Nevada from 2013. She posted a career-high 12 digs vs. UCSB to round out her first double-double, and she added another vs. LIUB (11 digs). On the season, she ranks second on the team in assists (8.48 p/s) and directed the squad to its fourth-best mark in hitting in 2014 vs. Sacramento State (.290).

- En route to Kissler Classic All-Tournament honors, redshirt freshman right side hitter Haylee Roberts (Bakersfield, Calif.) logged all three of her double-digit kill tallies as a Bulldog vs. St. John's (13), St. Francis (11, .688) and New Hampshire (10, .348). She posted a season high five blocks - the team's fourth-best mark of 2013 - against UC Davis and LIU Brooklyn - and has three match-leading totals. She has also led the team in hitting three times and has five +.300 totals with others vs. Rice (.316, 8 kills) and Loyola Marymount (.500, 5 kills). On the year, she stands second on the squad in blocks (0.71 p/s), and fourth in points (2.44 p/s) and kills (2.09 p/s).

- Senior outside hitter Jaimee-Lee Morrow (Mooroolbark, Australia) posted a career high in kills (16) and hitting (.333) vs. Sacramento State the second week of the season. The next day vs. UCSB, she paced the team in kills (14) for the first time in her career, and posted her second straight +.300 total (.346). Opening weekend at Rice, she landed three aces in the four-setter vs. Louisiana-Lafayette - the squad's third-best mark of the season. She added her fourth +10-kill tally at LIUB (10) in her fourth start of the season and 13th career-wise.

- Senior middle blocker Maci Murdock (Turlock, Calif.) has registered the team's four highest block totals of the year vs. LIU Brooklyn (7), Dartmouth (4), Sacramento State (6) and Louisiana-Lafayette (5), and has topped the team in the category seven times this year. She logged season highs in kills (14) and hitting (.500) vs. New Hampshire, and another +.300 percentage vs. Sacramento State (.375) among her three team match highs in 2014. Her team-leading 1.08 blocks per set average ranks 12th in the MW.

- Two weekends ago, freshman middle blocker Lauren Torres topped the team in blocks for the first time in her career vs. Loyola Marymount (4) and doubled her previous season best (2) that she had notched four times (including vs. Sacramento State, UCSB and St. Francis). The Visalia, Calif., native also connected on seven kills and hit .308 - both season highs - vs. the Lions. On the year, she is hitting .312, and ranks fifth on the squad in blocks (0.67 p/s).

- Senior Katie Pearson (San Jose, Calif.) led the team in aces for the first time this year vs. St. John's - her fourth straight start for the team (and all coming in the Kissler Classic last weekend). She also logged multiple aces earlier in the week at NCAA tourney returnee LIUB (2), after achieving the feat three times in 2013. SHe also posted three blocks vs. the Red Storm and two against both LIUB and St. Francis.

- Redshirt junior right side hitter Molly Pearson (San Jose, Calif.) landed a season-high eight kills vs. UCSB and a match-high .429 hitting mark. She also landed seven kills in the second match of the year vs. UC Davis and six against Sacramento State and LIU Brooklyn. On the season she's averaging 1.68 points and 1.46 points per set.

- Sophomore libero Maggie Eppright's 21 digs in the five-set win vs. Sacramento State and four-setter against LIU Brooklyn stand as the team season high. Overall in 2014, the 11-match starter from San Luis Obispo, Calif., has led the team in digs in six matches this year with the others against Rice (18, 3s) and Louisiana-Lafayette (13, 4s), St. John's (11) and Dartmouth (9), and the tally vs. Rice was a career best for three sets. On the year, her team-leading 3.58 digs per set average ranks ninth in the MW this week, and she picked up her first all-tournament honor in the Kisser Classic.

ON THE MW CHARTS
Five `Dogs combined for nine spots this week on the MW statistical rankings:
- Zana Bowens, Jr.: Double-Doubles: 1st, 6; Aces, 4th, 0.49 p/s; Kills, 4th, 3.35 p/s; Points, 5th, 4.02 p/s
- Jelena Jovanovic, Jr.: Assists, 7th, 9.45 a/s; Double-Doubles: 5th, 4
- Maggie Eppright, So.: Digs, 9th, 3.58 p/s
- Maci Murdock, Sr.: Blocks, 12th, 1.08 p/s
- Carly Scarbrough, Fr.: Kills, 19th, 2.68 p/s

ALL-TIME VS. CSUB / LONG BEACH STATE / OREGON STATE
Fresno State owns a 18-14 all-time ledger against CSU Bakersfield and sports a seven-match win streak that included last year's sweep at home. The Roadrunners' last victory was in 2009 (3-2) in the rivalry dating back to 1979.

Long Beach State holds a 16-1 all-time advantage on Fresno State with the Bulldogs' win coming in 1987 (3-2), while the `49ers won their last meeting in 2003 (3-2).

Oregon State sports a 9-6 edge in the series going back to 1979, and won their last two meetings in 2007 and `06 via sweeps. Fresno State's last series win was the prior match in 2003 (3-1).

THIS WEEK'S NCAA RANKINGS

Fresno State Team / Individual
Aces 151st, 1.30
Assists 84th, 12.47
Blocks 236th, 1.72
Digs 175th, 14.35
Hitting 126th, .221
Kills 90th, 13.26

Zana Bowens, Aces, 44th, 0.49
Maggie Eppright, Digs, 93rd, 154
Maci Murdock, 97th, 39
Zana Bowens, Points, 117th, 4.02
Jelena Jovanovic, Assists, 123rd, 9.45

Long Beach State Team / Individual
Aces 179th, 1.24
Assists 108th, 12.08
Blocks 20th, 2.77
Digs 77th, 15.59
Hitting 89th, .237
Kills 95th, 13.22

Bre Mackie, Blocks, 82nd, 1.22
Jenelle Hudson, Assists, 9.95
Tyler Jackson, Digs, 132nd, 4.14
Bre Mackie, Points, 281st, 3.47

Oregon State Team / Individual
Aces 64th, 1.55
Assists 102nd, 12.17
Blocks 17th, 2.81
Digs 148th, 14.69
Hitting 35th, .268
Kills 78th, 13.38

Arica Nassar, Blocks, 1st, 1.80
Mary-Kate Marshall, Kills, 18th, 4.42; Points, 32nd, 4.79
Darby Reeder, Digs, 109th, 4.24
Bre Mackie, Points, 281st, 3.47
Amanda Brown, Hitting, 126th, .343

CSUB Team / Individual
Aces 200th, 1.19
Assists 144th, 11.86
Blocks 214th, 1.78
Digs 136th, 14.84
Hitting 199th, .188
Kills 150th, 12.68

Mariah Alvidrez, Digs, 28th, 5.03
Luiza Martins, Assists, 40th, 10.76
Molly O'Hagan, Hitting, 136th, .339; Points, 204th, 3.70
Kelsee Sawyer, Pts., 288th, 3.44

CSUB SCOUTING REPORT (www.GoRunners.com)
The Roadrunners (3-7) have scored wins this year over San Jose State (3-1), Louisiana-Monroe (3-0) and Mississippi State (3-0). Senior middle blocker Molly O'Hagan reset the school match record for hitting Dayton earlier this season (.645, 21K-1E-31) and also had a career high in kills (21) to earn all-tournament honors. The returning All-WAC selection leads the team in hitting on the year (.375). Senior libero Mariah Alivdrez topped the 1,000 career digs mark the opening week of the season against Mississippi State. In her previous stint, first-year CSUB coach Giovana Melo led Western Nebraska Community College to five NJCAA Division final-four appearances (including the 2010 national title) and compiled a 262-20 overall record. As a player, she was a two-year starting setter for Arizona State, then served three years as an assistant coach for the Sun Devils. In 2014, she welcomes back seven Roadrunner letterwinners and four starters from last year's squad that went 21-12 overall and placed second in the WAC with a 12-4 mark.

LONG BEACH STATE SCOUTING REPORT (www.LongBeachState.com)
The 49ers (8-3) have staked wins this year over Southern Illinois (3-1), Idaho (3-1), Campbell (3-0), Army (3-0), San Francisco (3-1), Northern Colorado (3-0), Texas A&M-Corpus-Christi (3-0) and St. Mary's (3-0). Senior opposite hitter Bre Mackie leads the team this year in kills (2.49 per set), blocks (1.22 p/s), aces (0.24 p/s) and points (3.47 p/s). Other offensive leaders in 2014 include junior outside hitter Alex Reid (2.70 kills p/s, .224), senior middle blocker Chisom Okpala (2.69 kills p/s, .250), and sophomore outside hitter Joy Miley (2.17 kills). Senior defensive specialist Tyler Jackson ranks ninth in career digs for LBSU (1,131), and this year is averaging 3.83 digs per set. Two weeks ago she was tabbed the Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week after she posted a season-high 24 digs in a four-set win vs. San Francisco. Thirtieth-year head coach Brian Gimmillaro was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2008 and has guided the team to three national titles, eight Final Four appearances, 13 NCAA Regional titles and 26 NCAA Tournament trips. The 49ers went 18-11 last year and 11-5 in conference and picked up votes in the 2014 preseason national poll, although it lost its top hitter from last season - outside hitter Delainey Aigner-Swesey (3.48 kills p/s, 3.12 digs p/s, 0.70 blocks p/s).

OREGON STATE REPORT (www.OSUbeavers.com)
Before a 3-1 loss to NCAA returnee and No. 23 Michigan State last weekend, the Beavers (7-1) won their first seven matches of the campaign vs. St. Mary's (3-0), Utah State (3-2), Idaho State (3-0), Pacific (3-0), Lafayette (3-0), Seattle (3-0) and Michigan (3-0). Senior middle blocker Arica Nassar leads the nation in blocks this week with her 1.80 per set average, and senior setter Tayla Woods entered the season ranked eighth all-time at OSU in career assists (1,868). Sophomore outside hitter Lila Toner posted the fifth-most kills in a season among Beaver freshmen (and its best mark since 2007). The team also returns its top two kill-getters from last year - sophomore outside hitter Lila Toner (2.75 p/s) and senior opposite hitter Laura Schaudt (2.32 p/s). Ninth-year head coach Taras Liskeyvich is one of the nation's most well-known collegiate coaches, and early in his career led Pacific to fifth place or better finishes all nine of his seasons (including a national runner-up effort in 1980). Afterwards, the national team head coach guided the U.S to a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics and seventh-place finishes in the 1988 and '96 Olympics.

FRESNO STATE SEASON PREVIEW
The `Dogs return for their seventh season under the direction of head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell with a mix of new faces expected to play key roles after the graduation of three players that were accorded Mountain West year-end honors last fall.

Three regular Bulldog starters return from 2013 - senior middle blocker Maci Murdock, and the libero/defensive specialist duo of senior Christina Lee and sophomore Maggie Eppright. Similarly, the trio of senior middle blocker Katie Pearson, junior outside hitter Zana Bowens and junior right side hitter Molly Pearson all started between 6-13 matches last season.

Senior outside hitter Jaimee-Lee Morrow and sophomore setter Brooke Legaux added duty in 20 and 18 matches last year, and round out the list of returnees that is balanced by two transfers and four freshmen.

NEW TO THE `DOG POUND
Junior transfer and setter Jelena Jovanovic (Belgrade, Serbia) was a two-year starter at Florida Atlantic, and redshirt freshman transfer and outside hitter Haylee Roberts (Bakersfield, Calif.) was a former prep All-American.

The squad's four true freshman newcomers include defensive specialist Jacqueline Hutcheson (Exeter, Calif.), middle blocker Lauren Torres (Visalia, Calif.) and outside hitters Taylor Brubaker (San Clemente, Calif.) and Carly Scarbrough (Sarasota, Fla.).

PRESEASON POLL BUSTER
With an eight-place pick in the 2014 MW Preseason Poll, the `Dogs will look to match or better their preseason pick for the sixth time since 2008 under Netherby-Sewell.

Fresno State also achieved the feat in `13 (preseason - sixth / final - fourth), `12 fourth / fourth), `11 (fifth / fourth),'09 (sixth / fourth) and `08 (eighth / eighth).

In mid-August's poll, last year's conference champion Colorado State led with 97 points, and received seven of the 11 first-place votes. New Mexico followed in second place with 91 points, and received the other four first-place votes.

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
Senior middle blocker Maci Murdock is easy to spot atop the Bulldog career hitting charts with her .320 hitting mark (.03 better than 1992 Olympian Ruth Lawanson (.317)).

The Turlock, Calif., native is primed for improvements in other all-time Fresno State career categories and entering the weekend stands fifth in blocks assists (300) and eighth in total blocks (310). Season-wise, her .350 hitting mark from 2013 ranked third-best in school history behind Brianna Clarke's totals from 2010 and `11 (.365 / .351), and Murdock also stood ninth most sets played (122).

On defense, senior Christina Lee ranks sixth in career digs (1,186), not far behind former teammate Korrin Wild (fifth, 1,203), and Lee's career per set average (3.06) is ninth-best for the `Dogs.

Another team category leader in 2013 - libero Maggie Eppright - posted the second-best digs mark ever among Bulldog freshman (391) - 50 behind Tricia Tuley's frosh school record (441, 1993).

SKED CRED
The `Dogs will face a challenging regular season slate in 2014 that features trips to four time zones and contests vs. foes from 10 different conferences (America East, Big East, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Ivy, Mountain West, Northeast, Sun Belt and WAC)

Among the team's 24 opponents this fall, three are NCAA Tournament returnees - returning MW champion Colorado State, returning America East Tournament champion New Hampshire and UC Santa Barbara - and they sported RPI ratings of 23, 199 and 62 at the end of last season.

Four more of Fresno State's foes this fall also sported top-100 RPI positions at the end of 2013 - New Mexico (68), Long Beach State (80), Utah State (81) and SDSU (89).

In the 2014 AVCA preseason poll, four Fresno State foes stood top 25 or received votes - No. 18 Colorado State, No. 34 UCSB, No. 38 Long Beach State and No. 39 New Mexico. Since then, Loyola Marymount and Oregon State have also received votes in other editions.

ALL-TOURNAMENT PROPS
Junior outside hitter Zana Bowens became the third current Bulldog to receive All-Tournament honors in the Adidas Rice Invitational and Sacramento State Invitational, while freshman Carly Scarbrough also was honored in the latter event.

Last weekend in the St. John's Kissler Classic, sophomore libero Maggie Eppright and redshirt freshman hitter Haylee Roberts added their first career honors.

Last fall, senior middle blocker Maci Murdock was one of four team members (and the only returnee in 2014) that staked all-tournament honors in the non-conference slate, thanks to her performance in the Fresno State Classic. In prior years, she also won a pair of honors in 2012 at Colorado and UTEP; while senior libero Christina Lee was a San Diego All-Tournament selection in `12.

HEAD OF THE CLASS
Team-wise this past summer, the `Dogs received the American Volleyball Coaches (AVCA) Academic Team Award for the fifth straight season for their combined +3.30 grade point average for the academic year. Fresno State was the only Mountain West Conference team and one of five from California of the 109 NCAA Division 1 programs honored nationally (with Pacific, Stanford, San Francisco and St. Mary's).

Individually last fall, the `Dogs' 13-person roster led the league in Academic All-MW accolades as it had 12 players maintain a 3.0 minimum GPA in the fall and play in 50 percent of the contests.

All-MW choice and senior outside hitter Marissa Brand was equally up to par with her third straight Capital One Academic All-District 8 honor. The Cypress, Calif., native won her first honor in 2011 with teammate Cecilia Agraz - the latter being the first two-time honoree in the program history (2011, 1st Team; 2010, 2nd Team) and the Bulldogs' first Academic All-American (2011).

GOLDEN STATE PRIDE
With 11 of the team's 14 players from California, it's again easy to spot a large cheering section of family and friends at `Dog matches this year.

Four Bulldogs live within two hours of Fresno - freshman middle blocker Lauren Torres (Visalia, 43 miles) and defensive specialist Jacqueline Hutcheson (Exeter, 54 miles), redshirt freshman outside hitter Haylee Roberts (80 miles) and senior middle blocker Maci Murdock (Turlock, 88 miles),

Seven other `Dogs are from the area and within 300 miles - sophomore libero Maggie Eppright (San Luis Obispo, 138), senior middle blocker Katie Pearson & redshirt junior right side hitter Molly Pearson (San Jose, 152), senior libero Christina Lee (San Francisco, 188), junior outside hitter Zana Bowens (Long Beach, 242), sophomore setter Brooke Legaux (Mission Viejo, 266) and freshman outside hitter Taylor Brubaker (280 miles).

The team's 12th, 13th and 14th members - freshman Carly Scarbrough (Sarasota, Fla.), senior outside hitter Jaimee-Lee Morrow and junior setter Jelena Jovanovic - unfortunately ruin the team average. Jovanovic's home in Belgrade is approximately 6,275 miles from Fresno, and Morrow's home in Mooroolbark, Australia (pron. MERL-bark, and located near Melbourne) is 7,968 miles away.

DOUBLE YOUR FUN
Bulldog fans and foes will again see double this season with the squad sporting a pair of strikingly similar faces in the front row - senior middle blocker Katie Pearson and redshirt junior right side hitter Molly Pearson. The identical twins matriculated from Presentation High School in San Jose, and played 20 and 18 matches last season.

A redshirt junior and starter in six matches in 2013, Molly posted a team season high in blocks vs. Utah State (9), and career highs in kills (7) vs. Belmont and hitting vs. Xavier (.857). Katie, a senior, posted career highs in 12 starts in October and November 2013 vs. Air Force (.500, 5 kills, 4 aces, 9 points, 5 digs), New Mexico (5 blocks), SJSU (5 kills, .500) and Nevada (5 blocks). As preps, the duo helped their Presentation team to a fifth-place MaxPreps.com national finish and a spot in the NorCal Division II finals.

RPI ON THE RISE
This week, the Bulldogs unofficially ranked 107th nationally in a simulated NCAA RPI rating (http://ncaastats.figstats.net/volleyball-rpi.cgi), and its strength of schedule stood 58th-best nationally.

In 2013, Fresno State finished the campaign ranked 100th among the 330 Division 1 team nationally and fifth in the league. The remaining MW teams' rankings follow: Colorado State (21), New Mexico (68), Utah State (81), San Diego State (87), UNLV (131), Wyoming (137), Boise State (145), Air Force (217), San José State (239) and Nevada (273).

Last season's year-end RPI rating was just shy of its final 2012 position (90) - the team's best since 2004 - and a 2014 version will be posted here each week starting in mid-October ( http://bit.ly/nPekF9 ).

Before the arrival of seventh-year head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell, the `Dogs stood in the lower half of the 332 Division 1 programs for four years. The program's resurgence has featured a three-year streak in the nation's upper half - 2012 (90), 2011 (138) and 2010 (150) - and a complete listing of rankings the last 11 years follows: 2012: 90; 2011: 138; 2010: 150; 2009: 217; 2008: 275; 2007: 261; 2006: 223; 2005: 180; 2004: 93; 2003: 45; 2002: 46

NEWCOMER PROFILES
This fall, the `Dogs have welcomed four freshmen and two transfers to ease the loss five seniors after the 2013 campaign.

Junior setter Jelena Jovanovic (Belgrade, Serbia) started the 2012 and `13 seasons at Florida Atlantic, and the former team captain played all 56 of the team's matches the two years combined. Last year, she averaged 9.32 assists per set, and ranked second on the team and 18th in the Conference USA in aces (0.22 p/s). As a freshman, she led the team in both categories (9.11 assists / 0.29 aces per set) en route to sixth-place rankings in the Sun Belt Conference in each at season's end.

Redshirt freshman Haylee Roberts (Bakersfield, Calif.) originally signed with Oregon as a prep senior but did not play for the Ducks in 2013. As a prep, the three-time All-Area pick was an All-Area MVP for Liberty High School as a senior in 2012. A Prep Volleyball Senior Ace nominee, she was also accorded Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 and Under Armour All-America Honorable mention status.

Freshman Taylor Brubaker, a 6-0 outside hitter, helped lead San Clemente High School to a league title and runner-up finish in 2011 and 2013, respectively, and CIF third- and second-round placings. A captain her senior year, the three-time letterwinner was the team's most dominant outside hitter winner in 2012, and a Regional High Performance Team selection in 2010.

Freshman Carly Scarbrough, a 6-1 outside hitter, was a key member of Riverview High School squads that claimed a league title and runner-up finish. The four-year letterwinner was a team captain, MVP and all-area team choice in 2012. She also was a Florida Indoor High Performance selection in 2011 and `12 and Team USA Indoor High Performance selection in 2012.

Freshman Lauren Torres, a 6-0 middle blocker, helped lead her El Diamante High School team to three West Yosemite League titles, a D-II championship and runner-up finish, and 102-22 record. The team captain also picked up Best Defensive Player, Coaches Award and Most Improved honors during her career, and became the first Miner to receive a Division 1 volleyball scholarship.

2013 SEASON WRAP-UP
Last year, the Fresno State volleyball team (17-15, 11-9) capped its second season of Mountain West play with its first pair of back-to-back winning seasons since 2003 and `04, and tied for fourth place in the MW Conference - two places better than its MW Preseason Coaches Poll position.

The `Dogs featured one of its greatest senior classes, led by 2013 All-MW outside hitters Marissa Brand and Korrin Wild. Brand was also one of the team's most decorated in the classroom as the eight-time Dean's List pick received her third CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District honor.

The talented squad was also one of its most balanced as 12 of the 13 players on the roster at season's end played at least 18 matches, and all three newcomers played key roles. Then-senior right side hitter and transfer Holly Franks was selected as the MW Newcomer of the Year; freshman libero Maggie Eppright sported the MW's top digs per set average among underclassmen (3.40 p/s); and freshman setter Brooke Legaux played the final 18 matches of the year as the team unveiled a 6-2 offense.

THIS WEEK'S 2014 MW STANDINGS

    Team             MW     %   Season   %#8 Colorado State   0-0   .000   9-1    .900   Wyoming          0-0   .000   9-1   .900   UNLV             0-0   .000   8-3   .727   New Mexico       0-0   .000   5-4   .556   Air Force        0-0   .000   5-5   .500   SDSU             0-0   .000   3-3   .500   Fresno State     0-0   .000   5-6   .455   Boise State      0-0   .000   4-5   .444   Utah State       0-0   .000   4-5   .444   Nevada           0-0   .000   3-4   .429   SJSU             0-0   .000   0-9   .000

2014 BULLDOG MW STAT RANKINGS
Category - Fresno State (MW Leader)
Assists - 5th, 12.47 (CSU, 13.39)
Digs - 5th, 14.35 (UNLV, 15.76)
Kills - 5th, 13.26 (CSu, 14.71)
Service Aces - 7th, 1.30 (Nevada, 1.88)
Hitting - 6th, .221 (Wyoming, .311)
Opponent Hitting - 7th, .218 (New Mexico, .142)
Blocks - 10th, 1.72 (UNLV, 3.01)

2014 PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1. Colorado St. (7), 97   7. UNLV, 502. New Mexico (4), 91     8. Fresno St., 403. Utah State, 81         9. Air Force, 314. San Diego State, 73   10. SJSU, 215. Wyoming, 55           11. Nevada, 126. Boise State, 54

2014 PRESEASON ALL-MW TEAM
Adrianna Culbert, Jr., OPP, CSU
Kelsey Snider, Sr., MB, CSU
Chantale Riddle, Sr., OPP, UNM
Elle Brainard, Jr., OPP, US
Erin Kirby, Sr., MB, WY

Preseason POY: Chantale Riddle, Sr., OPP, UNM
Preseason Setter of Year: Deedra Foss, Sr., S, CSU
Preseason Libero of Year: Allison Davies, Sr., UNLV

NOTABLE CAREER STATS

CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Christina Lee (12-2013 / 2-2011) - Senior, L
9/13/13 vs. Belmont, 5s (57 assists, 13 digs)
9/14/13 vs. CSUB, 3s (27 assists, 14 digs)
9/14/13 vs. #20 Oregon, 3s (30 assists, 10 digs)
9/21/13 at UC Irvine, 4s (51 assists, 17 digs)
9/26/13 vs. Utah State, 4s (50 assists, 13 digs)
9/28/13 vs. Boise St., 5s (57 assists, 19 digs)
10/3/13 at San Diego St., 4s (35 assists, 10 digs)
10/19/13 vs. USAFA, 4s (40 assists, 18 digs)
11/1/13 at SJSU, 5s (35 assists, 10 digs)
11/7/13 vs. UNLV (35 assists, 16 digs)
11/9/13 vs. SDSU (41 assists, 14 digs)
11/25/13 vs. Wyoming (37 assists, 12 digs)
8/26/11 vs. Cal Poly, 5s (26 assists,12 digs)
9/16/11 at UNLV, 5s (29 assists, 3 digs)

Zana Bowens (6-2014 / 2 -2013) - Junior, OH
8/30/14 vs. UC Davis, 5s (15 kills, 20 digs)
8/30/14 at Rice, 3s (16 kills, 10 digs)
9/5/14 at Sac. State, 5s (19 kills, 11 digs)
9/10/14 at LIUB, 4s (12 kills, 21 digs)
9/12/14 St. Francis, 3s (13 kills, 13 digs)
9/13/14 New Hampshire, 4s (13 kills, 14 digs)
8/31/13 vs. Santa Clara, 5s (20 kills, 12 digs)
9/21/13 at UC Irvine, 4s (17 kills, 15 digs)

Jelena Jovanovic (4-2014) - Junior, S
8/29/14 vs. La. Lafayette, 4s (36 assists, 13 digs)
8/30/14 vs. UC Davis, 5s (43 assists, 16 digs)
9/13/14 vs. New Hamp., 4s (46 assists, 17 digs)
9/13/14 at St. John's, 4s (40 assists, 11 digs)

Brooke Legaux (2-2014) - Sophomore, S
9/6/14 vs. UCSB, 4s (38 assists, 12 digs)
9/10/14 at LIUB, 4s (27 assists, 11 digs)

+20 KILLS

Zana Bowens
21 - 5s, vs. Rice, 8/30/13
20 - 5s, vs. Santa Clara, 8/31/13

+4 ACES

Zana Bowens
5 - 4s, vs. UCSB, 9/6/14
4 - 4s, vs. New Hampshire, 9/13/14

Jacque Hutcheson
4 - 4s, vs. N.Hamp., 9/13/14

Katie Pearson
4 - 4s, vs. USAFA, 10/19/13

+50 ASSISTS

Christina Lee
57 - 5s, vs. Boise State, 9/28/13
57 - 5s, vs. Belmont, 9/13/13
51 - 4s, vs. UC Irvine, 9/21/13
50 - 4s, vs. Utah State, 9/26/13

Brooke Legaux
51 - 5s, at Sac. State, 9/5/14

+8 BLOCKS

Molly Pearson
9 - 4s, vs.Utah State, 9/26/13

Maci Murdock
10 - 5s, at UTEP, 8/24/12
8 - 5s, v. Boise State, 9/28/13

+25 DIGS

Maggie Eppright
28 - 4s, vs. Utah St., 9/26/13
27 - 4s, at UC Irvine, 9/21/13

Christina Lee
34 - 5s, vs. Sac. St., 9/7/12
34 - 5s, vs. Wyoming, 10/13/12 28 - 5s, vs. UCSB, 9/15/12 27 - 5s, vs. Santa Clara, 8/31/13 27 - 4s, Utah State, 10/13/11

2014 AVCA POLL #3 (9/15)

Rk. Team (1st Pl.)    Pts   2013 Prev1   Stanford (52)     1491   7-0   12   Texas (6)         1411   7-0   23   Penn State        1376   8-1   34   Wisconsin (2)     1321   8-0   45   Washington        1287   9-0   56   Florida State     1209   8-0   77   Florida           1121   5-2   10*8  Colorado State     969   9-1   149   Nebraska           960   5-2   1110  USC                920   6-2   611  Purdue             869   8-1   812  BYU                846   7-2   913  North Carolina     770   7-1   1714  Oregon             763   8-0   1815  Kentucky           586   8-2   1616  Illinois           493   5-3   1217  Minnesota          459   6-1   1918  Arizona State      433   8-1   1519  San Diego          412   5-3   1320  Arizona            377   8-1   2121  Texas A&M          346   7-1   NR22  UCLA               322   6-2   25*23 Loyola Marymount   144   9-0   NR24  Kansas             138   9-2   2425  Michigan State     117   5-3   23

Others receiving votes: Hawai'i 95; Duke 91; Western Kentucky 30; Appalachian State 24; Creighton 23; Kansas State 23; Oklahoma 19; Iowa State 14; Northwestern 8; SMU 8; Santa Clara 6; Louisville 5

Dropped Out: Hawai'i 22; Duke 20

Next Poll: September 22, 2014

(*=FS opponents in 2014)

THIS WEEK'S MW ACTION

Tuesday, September 16
Denver at AIR FORCE, 6 p.m. MT MWN
#19 San Diego at SDSU, 6 p.m. PT MWN
Denver at AIR FORCE, 6 p.m. MT MWN
#19 San Diego at SDSU, 6 p.m. PT MWN

Wednesday, September 17
Utah at UTAH STATE, 7 p.m. MT MWN

Friday, September 19
AIR FORCE vs. Weber State, 10 a.m. CT
AIR FORCE vs. Abilene Christian, 4 p.m. CT
NEW MEXICO vs. Charleston, 10 a.m. CT
NEW MEXICO vs. Houston Baptist, 4 p.m. CT
UNLV vs. Grambling, 11 a.m. CT
UNLV vs. New Orleans, 6 p.m. CT
SJSU vs. South Dakota St., Noon CT
SJSU at Chicago State, 5 p.m. CT
FRESNO STATE vs. LBSU, Noon PT
FRESNO STATE vs. Oregon State, 5 p.m. PT
BOISE STATE vs. Incarnate Word, 1 p.m. CT GoIslanders.com
SDSU vs. Clemson, 2:30 p.m. CT
SDSU at Alabama, 7 p.m. CT RollTide.com/WatchESPN
NEVADA vs. UTEP, 4:30 p.m. MT
WYOMING vs. UC Davis, 4:30 p.m. MT
#8 CSU at #18 Arizona St., 7 p.m. PT Pac-12.com

Saturday, September 20
SJSU vs. Grand Canyon, 10 a.m. CT
SJSU vs. Massachusetts-Lowell, 5 p.m. CT
WYOMING vs. Hampton, 10 a.m. MT
WYOMING at Northern Colorado, 7 p.m. MT UNCBears.com
#8 CSU vs. Pepperdine, 10 a.m. PT
#8 CSU vs. North Carolina Central, 5 p.m. PT
BOISE STATE vs. Neb.-Omaha, 11 a.m. CT GoIslanders.com
BOISE STATE at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 7 p.m. CT GoIslanders.com
NEVADA at Denver, Noon MT DenverPioneers.com
NEVADA vs. San Francisco, 5 p.m. MT
AIR FORCE at Texas Tech, 1 p.m. CT TexasTech.com
UNLV at Central Arkansas, 3 p.m. CT
NEW MEXICO at SMU, 2:30 p.m. CT SMUMustangs.com
SDSU vs. Florida International, 3:30 p.m. CT
FRESNO ST.TE at CSUB, 6:30 p.m. PT

MW Network is available at TheMW.com
*Mountain West match
Mountain West teams in ALL CAPS.

MORE ONLINE INFO
Fresno State Volleyball Twitter: @FresnoStateVB
NCAA: www.ncaasports.com
NCAA RPI: http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball-women/d1/ncaa_womens_volleyball_rpi
NCAA Playing Rules: https://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4321-2014-and-2015-volleyball-rules.aspx
NCAA Championships Handbooks: http://www.ncaapublications.com/
NCAA Record Books: http://www.ncaa.org/championships/statistics/ncaa-softball-records-books
Mountain West Conference: www.theMWC.com
Federation International Volleyball: www.FIVB.org
USA Volleyball: www.USAvolleyball.com
American VB Coaches Assoc.: www.avca.org
Volleyball Magazine: www.volleyballmag.com
Rich Kern VB Page: www.richkern.com