Comeback attempt falls short as 'Dogs drop five-set battle at Nevada

Saturday, October 8

Reno, Nev.

12:00 PM

Fresno State

10-7 (1-5)

Nevada

13-4 (4-1)

Fresno State

Nevada

Comeback attempt falls short as 'Dogs drop five-set battle at Nevada

10/8/2016 4:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Nevada Box Score (PDF)Overall Season Stats (PDF)

By: Travis Blanshan / Assistant Director of Communications

RENO, Nev. - Despite an inspired comeback attempt to force a fifth set, the Bulldogs volleyball team dropped a hard-fought five-set battle at Nevada on Saturday afternoon. Individual set scores from Virginia Street Gym were 25-21, 20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 13-15.

"We once again found ourselves in a thrilling match that didn't go our way in the end," said head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell postgame. "We had tremendous fight and a gutsy performance by Jacqueline Hutcheson to get us back into the fourth set. Nevada had us clamped down on our offense in the fifth set and although we hung around, we were unable to hit a stride in that set to win. Our accuracy delivering the ball was a struggle today and we gave Nevada too many points."

Fresno State (10-7, 1-5 MW) finished with 57 kills as a team for its third highest total of the season. Leading the way offensively for the 'Dogs was senior outside hitter Aleisha Coates who turned in a nice all-around performance finishing with 16 kills, five digs, two service aces and two blocks. Sophomore Aubrey Folk bested her previous season-high by five kills as she totaled 15 and had a robust .393 attack percentage.

Carly Scarbrough added seven kills and the duo of Madelyn Halteman and Brooke Legaux added 45 assists. Maggie Eppright totaled 15 digs and Halteman added 11. The 'Dogs also had a great performance at the net blocking for the second straight contest finishing with 13 blocks registering seven solo blocks and 12 block assists. Haile Watson had a three solo blocks and Lauren Torres added four block assists.

Nevada (13-4, 4-1 MW) totaled 70 kills as they had four players finish in double digits as Madison Foley and Madison Morrell each had 20 kills apice. Kathryn Groenweghe added 13 kills and Shayla Hoeft finished with 10 as only two other Wolf Pack players had a kill. Setter Lyndsey Anderson finished with 59 assists and Madison Thorpe had a team-high 11 digs. The Wolf Pack totaled 14 blocks as a team as Hoeft led the way with eight block assists.

The 'Dogs, who are 9-3 when winning the first set this season, got out to a 9-5 lead to open the match after a solo block by Brielle Hefner. Nevada trimmed the 'Dogs lead to one on two occasions, but the 'Dogs responded the second time with a 9-3 run to extend its lead to 22-15. The Bulldogs finished the set with a pair of kills by Torres and a Wolf Pack attack error to take the set 25-22. Fresno State had a .429 attack percentage and only one error in the opening set.

The Bulldogs momentarily took an 8-7 lead to start the second set, but an 11-4 run by Nevada gave the Wolf Pack their largest lead of the set at 18-12. The 'Dogs responded with three straight points out of a timeout to cut the deficit in half, but that was as close as they would get as Nevada claimed the set 25-20.

Out of a short break, Fresno State got off to a good start in set three jumping out to a 6-3 after one of three service aces by Hutcheson. A set that was tied 14 times and changed leads seven times, the Wolf Pack seized late control scoring four of the final five points in the set to win 25-21.

After falling behind 21-17 in the fourth set, the Bulldogs refused to go down without a fight finishing the set on a 8-1 run to force a fifth and final set. After a kill by Scarbrough brought the 'Dogs within three, back-to-back aces by Hutcheson trimmed the lead to one. An attack error by Nevada's Morrell tied it at 21 apiece and another ace and kill by Folk gave the Bulldogs the set win.

The 'Dogs fell behind 8-5 in the fifth set before tying the set at 10 courtesy of a kill by Coates. The Wolf Pack responded with four of the next five points, but kills by Coates and Scarbrough brought the 'Dogs within one at 14-13 to force a Wolf Pack timeout. Unfortunately, the following point went to the Wolf Pack as the 'Dogs suffered their second five-set loss in Mountain West play.

"At some point the pendulum will swing and we are going to be able to finish these close matches on top," added Netherby-Sewell. "We are a tough team to contend with night in and night out, but we have to get accurate enough to close. That is the next step for us."

The Bulldogs return home to take that next step on Thursday hosting Air Force (9-10, 0-6 MW) at 7 p.m. at the Save Mart Center. It will be Salute to Services Night as it will be free admission to all active military and veterans.

Mountain West Scoreboard
Wyoming 3, at New Mexico 0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-14)
at Boise State 3, Utah State 0 (27-25, 27-25, 25-23)
at San Diego State 3, San Jose State 0 (28-26, 25-17, 25-21)
Colorado State 3, at UNLV 1 (25-16, 25-14, 14-25, 25-21)

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