Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Top Falcons in Straight Sets
11/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team opened its three-game home stand with a sweep over Air Force on Thursday night at the Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs (14-14, 6-8 MW) look forward to hosting New Mexico on Saturday (1 p.m.) and will round out this season's home schedule against Wyoming on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
"I liked just about everything tonight," head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell said. "I was really concerned in that third set, it was getting a little too tight and we were playing to relaxed but I was proud that we stayed steady, were passing good balls and were aggressive offensively. We play well when we communicate well, so we need to continue to do that and stay aggressive. We only have two matches left and we want good crowds here that will bring a lot of energy."
Overall this season, Fresno State has logged a 9-6 record at the Save Mart Center including four Mountain West victories after Thursday's win.
The Bulldog starting lineup consisted of two freshmen, Sabrina Winslow and Gertu Vider along with sophomores Carly Scarbrough and Lauren Torres, also joined by Brooke Legaux and Maggie Eppright from the junior class and lone senior Zana Bowens.
Fresno State gained an early 1-0 lead after topping Air Force 25-16 in the opening set and carried momentum into the set two as the Falcons faced a 25-18 deficit, falling behind 2-0 heading into the intermission.
Leading the Bulldogs offensively over the first two sets was Scarbrough with eight kills (.500) and nine points, while set by Legaux and senior Jelena Jovanovic who tied with nine assists each. Defensive specialist Jacqueline Hutcheson accounted for two of the four service aces, and Fresno State's defensive effort was headed by Bowens with 12 digs in 15 total receptions, along with Torres who had a team-high of three blocks including two solo.
Despite eight tied scores against the Falcons in the final set of the night, the Bulldogs came out on top (27-25) after battling past regulation to log the second consecutive three-set sweep over Air Force and fifth all-time.
In all, the ‘Dogs combined for the highest percentage in hitting (.301) and setting (.418), along with the most service aces (5), digs (51), total blocks (7) and points scored (56) in the past three matches while competing in only three sets on Thursday. Fresno State topped Air Force in all categories on both offense and defense, as well as overall sideout percentage (63 percent).
As a Bulldog outside hitter, Scarbrough was the team's overall offensive leader with 12 kills and 13.5 points scored while Bowens led the ‘Dogs on the opposite side of the ball with 17 digs and 26 total receptions. The setting duo split evenly with 16 assists and one service ace, and additionally combined for 12 digs and one kill. At the net, four Bulldogs logged a multi-block match and Torres owned the only two solo blocks of the night.
From the service line, Fresno State recorded its ninth conference match with a percentage over .900, highlighted with five aces in 75 total serves. Jovanovic had the longest run of the night with 10 consecutive serves coming early in the second set to lift the ‘Dogs past the Falcons while facing a three-point deficit.
Fresno State hosted the Falcons for only the second time since joining the Mountain West in 2013. The Bulldogs were also victorious in a three-set sweep last month (Oct. 17) and are now 3-2 against Air Force over the last three seasons. Fresno State owns the all-time record of 8-3, while all three of the Falcons' victories were logged in Colorado Springs, Colo.
This week's competition will be capped against New Mexico on Saturday, during what will be the second faceoff this year as the ‘Dogs look to gain revenge after being topped on the road in three consecutive sets. In eight matchups over the last 15 years, Fresno State was topped by the Lobos at home only once in 2006.
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