Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Point East For Season Opener
8/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Weekly Release | MW Weekly Release
Catamount Volleyball Classic
Location: Cullowhee, N.C.
Arena: Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center (Capacity 7,826)
Host: Western Carolina University (www.CatamountSports.com)
Live Online Stream: SoCon Digital Network
Friday, Aug. 28
Fresno State vs. Murray State – 1 p.m. (PT)
Saturday, Aug. 29
Georgia State vs. Fresno State – 8 a.m. (PT)
Western Carolina vs. Fresno State – 4 p.m. (PT)
* Home team listed first
Full Tournament Schedule
Bulldog Outlook
The Fresno State volleyball team opens its 52nd season this weekend, competing in three matches at the Catamount Volleyball Classic in Cullowhee, N.C. The action will kick off on Friday as the ‘Dogs take on Murray State (1 p.m.) and will face Georgia State (8 a.m.) and tournament host Western Carolina (4 p.m.) on Saturday.
"We're traveling a long way and our expectation is to come back 3-0," head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell said. "We'll face some good teams from very different conferences. Murray State is one that we have our eyes on, they normally do well in their conference and can give us some RPI points. I'm looking forward to getting away, being together and getting to bond a little bit more while allowing the team to compete in an atmosphere in which they can relax and play volleyball. We'll learn a lot about ourselves this trip and will hopefully play well."
The ‘Dogs are coming off a heavy road schedule in 2014, traveling for 23 of 32 games, and look to host the vast majority of this season's competition under Netherby-Sewell's direction as she enters her eighth season at the helm of the Bulldog volleyball program.
"I think the team is pretty tough when it comes to travel after last season when we were gone basically every weekend, Netherby-Sewell adds. "I think we'll be okay, we might face a little bit of jetlag the first day but we'll get moving quickly."
The squad graduated a talented group of five seniors, including three starters, at the conclusion of the 2014 season but look to rebuild with a strong recruiting class. The 15-person roster includes 10 California natives with six from the Central Valley, one Florida local and three athletes from abroad. The ‘Dogs added seven freshmen and one junior transfer with a high talent level and eagerness to make an impact during the 2015 season. The team strives by its mantra of outworking, outthinking and outplaying all opponents while displaying integrity, discipline, loyalty, courageousness, hard work and vigor.
Tournament Opponents
Fresno State will open season against defending Ohio Valley Conference Champions, Murray State on Friday. The Racers finished the 2014 season with a 26-6 (14-2 OVC) overall record under head coach David Schwepker in his 17th season leading the Navy and Gold. Murray State returns six starters, while losing none, and adds no newcomers to the 2015 roster.
Georgia State added five freshmen to returning class of six seniors, one junior and one sophomore. The Panthers are coming off a seventh place finish in the eight-team playing field, as a member of the Sun Belt Conference with an overall mark of 10-20. Georgia State had its best season since 2011 under first year head coach Sally Polhamus' direction, tallying twice as many conference victories (8-12) than the season before.
Tournament host, Western Carolina, finished fifth (17-15, 9-7) in the Southern Conference (SoCon) in 2014 and welcomes five freshmen to a 15-person roster this season under fifth-year head coach Karen Glover. The team returns four starters including two setters, Cristina Nazario and Jo-Leigh Vervelde, middle blocker Katie O'Connor and libero Elyssa Mulheron.
This weekend will mark the first all-time meeting between the ‘Dogs and all three opponents.
Coaching Profiles
In her seven seasons at the helm of the Bulldog volleyball program, Netherby-Sewell has compiled a 91-117 record after a two-year stint as the head coach at Hofstra (43-19, 26-6 CAA). The San Clemente, Calif., native has inspired record crowds and developed a team focused on fundamentals and primed to excel as she continues to lead a traditionally strong program.
In addition to the newcomers, the Bulldog volleyball team welcomed a new assistant coach to the fold in February of 2015. Sarah Chlebana joins assistant coach Joe Skinner under Netherby-Sewell, heavily equipped with experience and knowledge of the game. A Calgary, Alberta native, Chlebana has previous experience as a trainer, mentor, recruiting coordinator and director of operations as well as being seasoned on the floor after serving seven years as an assistant coach at Sacramento State. Skinner enters his second season as a Bulldog assistant coach after joining the staff in 2013. The Roseville, Calif., local served for seven years at Oregon prior to Fresno State, helping the Ducks to a NCAA and Pac-12 runner-up finish.
Home Opener
Fresno State points towards a 33-game season, including 18 home games set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Bulldogs won't take much time off upon returning from the East coast as they face Cal Poly for the 2015 home opener starting at 7 p.m.
"It's coming up quick and is exciting," Netherby-Sewell said. "I feel like we're going to have a good crowd this year, I feel the energy in the community and we're looking forward to playing Cal Poly. The close California rivalry should be a good match, they run a very fast offensive so we have to make sure we're ready for such a flat ball to the pins. It's a ball we don't practice against all that often so we defiantly have to prepare a little different for them."
The Bulldogs are 5-2 in season openers under Netherby-Sewell, who owns the third-longest tenure in school history. In prior years, Fresno State has beat Rice (3-2, 2013), UTEP (3-1, 2012), UC Riverside (3-0, 2010), CSU Bakersfield (3-0, 2009; 3-2, 2008), and lost to Cal Poly (3-2, 2011) and Louisiana-Lafayette (3-1, 2014).
Pair of Home Tournaments
Of the four tournaments Fresno State is slated to compete in this season, two will be held at the Save Mart Center in September, the Bulldog Showdown (11-12) and the Fresno State Classic (18-19), courtesy of Deli Delicious.
The team opens up the Bulldog Showdown facing UC Riverside on Sept. 11. The two-day tournament also features matches versus Cal State Fullerton, Sacramento State and Central Michigan. The Fresno State Classic welcomes two out of state opponents, Portland and Southern Utah, and California local UC Davis.
"Just to be home, in front of our crowd, is amazing, Netherby-Sewell said. "One is a five team tournament and one is a four, we have a lot of California teams so we strive to be the best of those teams. We are gearing up and ready to play a ton of matches at home and get our crowd excited about this group. Going into conference we'll be in good shape because we'll have played a lot of matches and we have a bye weekend following San Jose State in which we've never had that down time to rest which is going to be huge."
Mountain West Action
Fresno State opens the regular season at home on Sept. 24 against San Jose State, after hosting Fresno Pacific for an exhibition match on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The ‘Dogs will gain the home court advantage for exactly half of the 18-conference games, facing all 10 Mountain West opponents twice excluding Wyoming and defending Champion Colorado State.
The results of the regular season will determine which teams advance to the first round of NCAA postseason play starting the first weekend of December.
Preseason Poll
The Bulldogs were picked to finish ninth in the annual Mountain West preseason poll, voted on by the 11 head coaches in the conference, as they tabbed Colorado State as the league favorite for the fifth time in the past six seasons. The Rams were additionally ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Division I Coaches Preseason Poll released earlier in the month.
Fresno State received 26 points while Colorado State led the poll with 97 points and received seven of the 11 first-place votes. UNLV (83) garnered two and Boise State tied with Wyoming earning one apiece. The Broncos also gained 83 points, tying with the Rebels for second place while the top half of the poll rounds out with New Mexico (67) in fifth.
San Diego State (58) stood only nine points shy of the Lobos, Air Force (41) is predicted to take seventh place and Utah State (39) was ranked just ahead of the Bulldogs. Nevada (20) and San Jose State (14) conclude the 2015 preseason poll making up the 10th and 11th place rankings.
Visit The Mountain West for the complete preseason poll released by the conference.
Seasoned Returners
Some of the youngest players on the team are heading into the new season with valuable experience and knowledge gained early in their Bulldog careers. This year's returning lineup includes two seniors, two juniors and three sophomores, all of which competed in over half of the 119 sets played last season.
Top returning outside hitter Zana Bowens led the team starting in all 32 matches her junior year while being named an all-time single-match leader. Sophomore Carly Scarbrough reset the freshman record of 115 sets played while junior libero, Maggie Eppright earned a No. 4 spot on the all-time career list for averaging 3.44 digs per set last season.
New to the Fold
Constructing an even younger squad than last year, the `Dogs embrace the physicality that the newcomers will contribute on top of the mental game and overall effort put forth to make Fresno State's presence known on the court this season.
Poised with a competitive nature and eager to adopt the Bulldog culture, this season's incoming class boasts height, speed, ability and power. The Bulldogs welcome junior transfer Aleisha Coates, who is equipped with excellent ball control, a high level of competition, maturity and strength. Coates is accompanied by seven freshmen including valley natives Madelyn Halteman, Taylor Slover, Sabrina Winslow, Brielle Hefner and Jordyn Griggs along with international members Gertu Vider and Aleksandra Simeonova.
The incoming class is constructed of power, height and ability with Halteman serving as the lone setter joining the team while Slover, Vider and Griggs enter as middle blockers and Winslow, Simeonova and Hefner look to utilize their strength as outside hitters.
Academic Achievements
The `Dogs were among an all-time record breaking 753 teams who earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2014-15 season. The Bulldog volleyball program boasts a six-year consecutive streak being awarded for their academic excellence due to hard work and dedication in the classroom, consistently maintaining a +3.30 team cumulative GPA.
In addition to the team recognition, 12 Bulldogs earned individual academic all-conference honors at the conclusion of the 2014 season and have earned 33 All-MW accolades in just a three-year stent as a member of the Mountain West. Fresno State has led the league in academic accolades for the past two seasons and displayed an impressive team GPA of 3.49 for the combined fall and spring academic terms.
Fighting Spirit Award
The Fighting Spirit Award was introduced to the Fresno State volleyball program by Netherby-Sewell in 2008. The award originated at Hofstra by Hall of Fame coach Fran Kalafer, and is presented to the individual or team who best defeats adversity. Past recipients include Allanah Munson and Baylee Platt (2008), Kelly Mason (2010), Korrin Wild (2012), Zana Bowens (2014) and the entire team in 2009, 2011 and 2013.
Honoring Alumnae
The team will welcome former volleyball players for the annual Alumnae Day on Oct. 10 as Fresno State hosts San Diego State at 1 p.m., with the homecoming football game later that evening at Bulldog Stadium.
2014 Season Rewind
The ‘Dogs battled adversity, injury and a road-game packed schedule to finish 10th overall in the Mountain West (8-24, 3-15 MW). The team graduated five seniors including Christina Lee, Jaimee-Lee Morrow, Maci Murdock, Katie Pearson and Molly Pearson who helped Fresno State to 57-victories during their four-year colligate career.
Fresno State recorded a team season-high of 78 kills against conference opponent New Mexico (11/21), with 74 assists coming on the same day. In five sets, the ‘Dogs tallied a high of 14 blocks facing Utah State (11/15) during the regular season. Heading into the new season, three returners earned individual season-high records including Zana Bowens with five aces (9/6), 19 kills (9/5) and 23 points (9/5) while junior Brooke Legaux tallied 51 assists (9/5) and libero Maggie Eppright had 23 digs (10/2).
National Standings
Team-wise last fall, Fresno State finished with a 226 RPI ranking whereas individually, Zana Bowens garnered top 100 rankings for aces per set (87, 0.34) and services aces (52, 41.0) while positioned 272 of 350 for points per set (3.47). Among Mountain West competitors, Bowens had the highest place ranking for service aces and fourth-highest for aces per set.
Red Wave Appreciation
Averaging nearly 1,000 fans per game, the Red Wave continues to positively contribute to Fresno State's home court success continuing to create a difficult atmosphere for incoming teams to thrive in. The combination of the crowd's impact and band's contribution makes for a memorable home game experience. For ticket information and prices visit, Volleyball Tickets.
Mountain West Network
This season, all home matches will be featured live on the Mountain West Network.
"Be Bold!" - Follow Fresno State Volleyball on Twitter (FresnoStateVB), Instagram (FresnoStatevball), Facebook (FresnoStateAthletics) and YouTube (FresnoStateAthetics).
