Fresno State Athletics
Home Opener vs. California Rival Cal Poly
8/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Game Notes | MW Weekly Release
Home Opener
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Arena: Save Mart Center
Live Online Stream: Mountain West Network
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Fresno State (2-1) vs. Cal Poly (2-0) -- 7 p.m.
Bulldog Outlook
The Fresno State volleyball team opened its 52nd season on Aug. 28 at the Catamount Classic in Cullowhee, N.C. The action began on Friday as the `Dogs fell to Murray State (3-0), rallied back to defeat Georgia State (3-2) and concluded the tournament edging Western Carolina (3-0) on Saturday.
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 the competition in 2015 under head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell's direction as she entered her eighth season at the helm of the Bulldog volleyball program.
After graduating a talented group of five seniors, including three starters, at the conclusion of the 2014 season, the squad welcomed 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.
Home Opener
Fresno State points towards a 33-game season, including 18 home games set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Following a three-match series on the East coast, the `Dogs face Cal Poly for the 2015 home opener starting at 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs are 5-2 in home openers under Netherby-Sewell, who owns the third-longest tenure in school history. In prior years, Fresno State has hosted Fresno Pacific (W, 3-0), Rice (W, 3-2), Sacramento State (L, 3-2), Cal Poly (L, 3-2), UC Riverside (W, 3-0) and Cal State Bakersfield in both 2008 and 2009 (W, 3-0, 3-2).
Stay Tuned
This season, all home matches will be featured live on the Mountain West Network.
ESPN Radio has scheduled to air six home matches live on 790 AM "The Deuce" with Christian Lukens as the host, including UC Riverside (Sept. 11), Portland (Sept. 18), UNLV (Oct. 20), Boise State (Oct. 29), Air Force (Nov. 12) and Wyoming (Nov. 18).
Scouting the Mustangs
Cal Poly opened season at the San Jose State Invitational, edging the Spartans on Friday (3-1) and Sacramento State (3-1) on Saturday to cap the three-team tournament with an overall record of 2-0.
Offensively, freshman Adlee Van Winden led the team with 28 kills as a 6-1 outside hitter and was one of three Mustangs to post a hitting percentage higher than .300 in a two-game span. Sophomore setter, Taylor Nelson had a team-high high of 97 assists while claiming two of Cal Poly's 14 service aces. With 32 digs over the weekend, freshman Katherine Gruenewald helped the Mustangs to two victories, competing in seven of the eight sets played. Cal Poly owns the all-time record (17-30) between the `Dogs and Mustangs, with the last meeting coming during Fresno State's 2011 home opener at the Save Mart Center, noting an impressive 1,000 fans.
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 each week and collectively at the season's end. Most recently, Maggie Eppright and Zana Bowens earned the award at the conclusion of the Catamount Classic (Aug. 28-29).
"We chose Zana and Maggie as the Fighting Spirit Award winners for last weekend," Netherby-Sewell said. "We didn't select Maggie based on how well she played, it was about how steady she was, her attitude and her effort through the weekend. No matter if we were playing well or not, she was herself and that kept us in a steady place. I was proud of her maturity and how she stepped it up for the team during the times we were struggling. Zana, didn't have her best weekend statistically, but you wouldn't have known it. She kept a positive attitude and stayed in the game while carrying a heavy load for us. If she wasn't playing well, she gave in other ways, and that's what this fighting spirit award is all about. I'm very proud of both of them and I hope to see more of our players follow in their lead throughout the year."
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.
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.
Conference Standings
Following a ninth-place predicted finish in the Mountain West preseason poll, Fresno State moves into the top five standings within the 11-team playing field at the conclusion of the first week of non-conference action. The `Dogs currently stand fourth with an overall record of 2-1, behind a three-way tie between Colorado State, UNLV and Wyoming who went undefeated (3-0) over the weekend.
Individually, five Bulldogs made their way into the top 10 Mountain West standings in five of the seven categories. In the top five were Eppright with 64 digs (1st), and Legaux who had 116 assists (3rd) as the Bulldogs starting setter. Additionally, Torres tied for eighth with 11 blocks and Coates ranked seventh for her team-best of 34 kills and eighth with 40 points. Of the 18 Mountain West competitors who posted double-doubles, outside hitters Coates and Bowens claimed one apiece.
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.
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."
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.
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.
"Be Bold!" - Follow Fresno State Volleyball on Twitter (FresnoStateVB), Instagram (FresnoStatevball), Facebook (FresnoStateAthletics) and YouTube (FresnoStateAthetics).
