Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Air Force
'Dogs open homestand hosting Air Force & Boise State
10/12/2016 11:23:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Thursday, Oct. 13
Air Force (9-10, 0-6 MW) at Fresno State (10-7, 1-5 MW) -- 7 p.m. PT
Location: Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
Live Stats
Saturday, Oct. 15
Boise State (13-6, 4-2 MW) at Fresno State (10-7, 1-5 MW) -- 1 p.m. PT
Location: Fresno, Calif. (Clovis North High School) - Parking Map attached
Live Stats
Live Video (Mountain West Network)
Promotions
Thursday - Salute to Services
  - FREE admission for all active military and veteransÂ
  - Henry LeMay, Korean War veteran and purple heart recipient will sing the national anthem
Saturday - Community Volleyball Day
  - FREE admission for ALL fansÂ
  - T-shirt & movie ticket giveaways
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Bulldogs drop a pair of hard-fought Mountain West road matches
Coming off its first Mountain West win of the season over New Mexico on Oct. 1, the 'Dogs hit the road last week for matches at San Diego State and Nevada falling in four sets to the Aztecs and in a five-set heartbreaker to the Wolf Pack. The 'Dogs won the first set over SDSU, but dropped the next three as Aleisha Coates led the team with 13 kills and three solo blocks.Â
On Saturday, the 'Dogs won the first set before dropping the next two. They rallied to finish the fourth set on a 8-1 run to force a fifth and deciding set, but came up just short falling 15-13. Coates had a team-high 16 kills and Aubrey Folk added a season-best 15 kills as the 'Dogs had a .208 attack percentage.
'Dogs vs. Air Force Series History
Thursday's match vs. Air Force will be only the 12th meeting between the two programs with the 'Dogs leading the all-time series 8-3 having swept both matches in 2015. The 'Dogs are 4-3 against the Falcons since joining the MW in 2012 and are 3-0 at home. Coates had 11 kills and Eppright had 14 digs in the 'Dogs sweep in Colorado Spring and the Bulldogs also swept Air Force at home behind 12 kills from Carly Scarbrough.
A look at the Air Force Falcons
The Falcons find themselves 9-10 overall on the season with a 0-6 mark in the MW. Air Force went 9-4 in non-conference picking up wins over Montana State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Cal State Fullerton. They have not found the move into MW play as inviting dropping all six matches. With their last four at home, the Falcons won a set against Nevada and Utah State, but were swept by SDSU and Boise State.
As a team, Air Force ranks second in the MW in attacks (2,583) and are third in assists (895), attacks per set (34.91), digs (1,020), kills (950) and aces (97). Sophomore OH Elizabeth Pennington is third in the MW in attacks (736), kills (280).
Bulldogs vs. Boise State History
The 'Dogs lead the all-time series with Boise State 20-12 despite the Broncos winning a pair of five-set thrillers in 2015. Since moving into the MW in 2012, the 'Dogs are 3-5 against BSU and are 1-3 at home with the lone win coming in 2012. Scarbrough had 22 of the 'Dogs 66 kills and Eppright added 23 digs at Boise before squaring off less than four weeks later in Fresno as Scarbrough again had a strong game with 17 kills. Coates, Jacque Hutcheson and Eppright had 15, 20 and 24 digs, respectively.
A look at the Boise State Broncos
After visiting San Jose State on Thursday, the Broncos make their way to Fresno taking on the 'Dogs at Clovis North High School. Boise State enters this week with a 13-6 record and 4-2 mark in the MW. The Broncos opened MW play with a four-set loss at UNLV, but have rebounded to win four of their last five matches beating New Mexico, SDSU, Air Force & Utah St.Â
Boise State leads the MW in digs per set (15.81) and rank second in six categories including kills (966), digs (1,091), assists (897), attacks per set (36.88), assists per set (13.00) and blocks per set (2.55). They are also third in opponent hitting percentage (.182), attacks (2,545), blocks (176) and kills per set (14.0). MW Preseason Player of the Year Sierra Nobley leads the MW in attacks per set (12.09), kills per set (4.38) and points per set (4.93).
Community Day on Saturday at Clovis North High School
Due to the Top Dog event at the Save Mart Center on Saturday, the Bulldog-Boise State match has been relocated to Clovis North High School (2770 E International Ave, Fresno, CA 93730). Admission is FREE and t-shirts along with movie tickets will be given away.
Fresno State ranks 8th in the nation in service aces per set
The 'Dogs currently lead the MW and rank 8th in the nation in service aces per set (1.84). The Bulldogs also lead the MW in aces (116 - 21st in the nation) and rank fifth in hitting percentage (.228).
Bulldog Individual leaders in the Mountain West
Individually, a number of Bulldogs find themselves in the top five in the Mountain West. Junior Jacqueline Hutcheson leads the conference in service aces with 34 to rank 7th in the nation and also leads the conference & ranks 9th in the country in aces per set (0.54). Coates is fourth in points per set (4.45 avg./s), sixth in kills per set (3.70 avg./s) and is seventh in kills (233).
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.Â
Weekly Honors
Boston College Invitational/Hartford/New Hampshire -- Team
Bulldog Showdown -- Maggie Eppright
UIW Cardinal Classic -- Eppright, Aleisha Coates, Carly Scarbrough, Jacqueline Hutcheson, Gertu Vider
Fresno Pacific -- Eppright, Cotaes, Hutcheson
at Colorado State/Wyoming -- Eppright, Hutcheson, Haile Watson
vs. UNLV/New Mexico -- Coates, Eppright, Hutcheson, Maddy Halteman, Brooke Legaux, Taylor Slover, Brielle Hefner
at San Diego State/Nevada -- Watson
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