Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Downed by Aztecs in Three
11/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball fell 3-0 while facing San Diego State on Thursday at Aztec Court in San Diego, Calif. With an overall record of 13-13 (5-7 MW), the Bulldogs will make their way to Virginia Street Gym to take on Nevada on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Following this week's action, Fresno State will open a three-game home stand against Air Force on Thursday, Nov. 12, followed by matchups with New Mexico (Nov. 14) and Wyoming (Nov. 18). Overall this season, Fresno State has logged an 8-6 record at the Save Mart Center, with three victories coming in the 2015 regular season.
Starting for the Bulldogs on Thursday was libero Maggie Eppright, setter Brooke Legaux, outsider hitters Zana Bowens, Aleisha Coates and Carly Scarbrough, along with middle blockers Lauren Torres and Gertu Vider.
San Diego State began the match with a four point run and paced Fresno State for the remainder of the opening set on Thursday. Three Bulldog freshmen logged playing time on the court near the end of set one including Sabrina Winslow, Jordyn Griggs and Aleksandra Simeonova with only her second collegiate appearance. San Diego State gained an early 1-0 lead after outscoring the ‘Dogs 25-18 on set point.
The Bulldogs sported the same starting lineup in set two, before freshman middle blocker Taylor Slover made her first appearance of the day after San Diego State gained an early 3-0 lead. Fresno State faced its largest deficit of 12 points in the second set, leading to a final score of 25-10 in the second set.
The final set of the night saw six consecutive tied scores before San Diego State jumped ahead at 11-10 and left the ‘Dogs trailing by seven on match point. Fresno State's highest hitting percentage (.143), sideout percentage (51%), number of assists (10), point total (13), and lone pair of blocks came during the third set against the Aztecs.
Overall, Bowens led the team offensively with seven kills while Torres trailed by one with six kills, and the duo combined for the only block assist made against San Diego State. As the Bulldogs' libero, Eppright logged a high of 12 digs and Legaux succeeded at assisting the offensive on 11 occasions as one of two setters that competed against the Aztecs. From the service line, defensive specialist Jacqueline Hutcheson logged one ace for the ‘Dogs in set one and Coates accounted for the second, to give Fresno State its first lead of the match in set three.
On the year, Fresno State was swept in two matches against the Aztecs after dropping a five-set battle on Oct. 10 at the Save Mart Center. San Diego State owns the all-time record of 29-12-2, and are now 7-1 against the ‘Dogs since joining the Mountain West in 2013. On Thursday, San Diego State claimed its third victory of the year at Aztec Court, as Fresno State suffered only its second three-set sweep during conference play.
Up next, the team will continue its two-game road trip against Nevada on Saturday at Virginia Street Gym in Reno, Nev. The Wolf Pack own a 9-15 (4-8 MW) record and rank ninth among the 11-team conference playing field.
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