Fresno State Athletics
Wednesday, November 16
Fresno, Calif.
7:00 PM
Fresno State
14-14, 5-12MW
3
vs
1
Utah State
12-16, 7-10MW
1
2
3
4
F
Utah State
25
23
22
30
1
Fresno State
20
25
25
32
3
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Senior trio lead 'Dogs to four-set win over Aggies on Senior Salute Night
11/16/2016 10:09:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. - Behind standout performances from the Bulldogs three seniors, the Fresno State volleyball team defeated Utah State in four sets on Senior Salute Night at the Save Mart Center. After dropping the first set 25-20, the 'Dogs bounced back to win the final three sets 25-23, 25-22, 32-30.
Fresno State (14-14, 5-12 MW) tallied a season-high 65 kills as a team for its most kills in a match since Oct. 29, 2015. Coates led the club in kills for the 23rd time this season as she came one kill shy of matching her career-high totaling 23 kills while hitting at a .345 clip and added 12 digs, three solo blocks and two service aces. It was Coates' fifth double-double of the season and 14th of her career.
Sophomore outside hitter Aubrey Folk tallied 12 kills, one solo block and a team-best eight block assists for 17 points, her season-best. Senior libero Maggie Eppright added 21 digs for her third match this season and 24th career match with 20 or more digs. The San Luis Obispo native now sits only 13 digs shy of moving into the top five all-time in Mountain West history in digs. Fellow senior setter Brooke Legaux added 16 assists, seven digs and a kill. Rounding out the individual standouts for the 'Dogs was redshirt freshman setter Madelyn Halteman who finished with 33 assists, 10 digs and three kills.
After falling behind 20-8 in the first set, the 'Dogs battled back thanks to a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to five, but were unable to get any closer dropping that set by that margin. An even second set saw seven ties as the teams were deadlocked at 21 before a pair of points for the Aggies forced a Bulldog timeout, Coming out of the timeout with a renewed focus, a kill by Coates followed by a kill by Haile Watson tied the set back at 23 before a pair of attack errrors by Utah State tied the match at one set apiece.
The third set was another nail-bitter as it featured eight ties with the latest being at 21-21 before the 'Dogs reeled off four of the final five points, including the final two points on a pair of kills by Halteman, clinched a 25-22 set win.
After two-hard fought sets, the fourth set proved to a test of wills as it featured 16 ties and the 'Dogs had six match points, but were unable to convert until the final one. Holding a 31-30 advantage, a kill by Coates sealed the win for the 'Dogs.Â
The Bulldogs wrap up their season on Tuesday traveling to San Jose State (12-16, 5-11 MW) for a 6 p.m. PT contest from Spartan Gym.
Team Notes:
Lauren Netherby-Sewell, Head Coach
On tonight's team effort…
"We have had a rough patch for various reasons. We haven't had Aubrey Folk in for a couple of weeks and it was very nice to have her back, she is a very solid defender and a solid attacker. We were shaky in the beginning of the match and I just knew that they were going to come around. They settled in and they started fighting. I love seeing the seniors just play and not think too much, and that is what Aleisha Coates did, she was an amazing outside hitter tonight, she had a great match."
Â
On what she takes away from tonight…
"We told the seniors that we wanted them to take us out on a winning streak and we want the team to take them out on a winning streak. This was our first step, next we just have to get San Jose State next Tuesday. To be honest, because of who we play, if we can win these two, we are playing for sixth, which is an improvement on last year. I was really proud, not only of the effort from tonight, but their ability to withstand some adversity and keep fighting. In the third set, we ran out of subs, and they still found a way to get the win. I loved seeing them play like this again tonight, it was really fun."
Â
On Boise State defeating Colorado State…
"It shows you that the strength of this conference has gotten better from top to bottom this year. Even though we have struggled in conference, our national rankings have improved big time. I am really happy to see that Boise is doing as well as they are, and I'm excited that it could be a two, or possibly three-bid conference this year. The whole conference got better and there is no doubt that it made it tough for us. As you could see tonight, Utah State has competed well with everybody in the conference and we beat them so I am happy with that and we will roll with it and try to get another win on Tuesday."
Â
Aleisha Coates, Senior Outside Hitter
On tonight's match…
"It was awesome, I really enjoyed being out there and just playing. It was so intense; Utah State was a really good team that we hadn't seen all year long. It was really fun to come out here and face a team that we haven't seen on Senior Night. The crowd was in to it all night long and they really kept us going."
Â
On the comeback after Set 1…
"It was a total mentality change. I think our team just has a lot of heart and we didn't want to go out like that, we wanted to come back and give them our best game."
Â
On the final kill…
"It is truly a blessing. I give grace to God, that is who I play to honor, I always give grace to him first."
Â
On playing San Jose State next week…
"It hasn't hit me yet that I wont be playing as a Bulldog anymore so, I think I am most excited to be playing against another team that we haven't yet seen all year. It is going to be really fun to go out and play against them. I know they are going to come out playing hard on their Senior Night. It is going to be a great fight and I am really looking forward to it."
Â
On her teammates over the years…
"I think everybody that I have ever played with has taught me a lot of things about myself and about my game. Everybody has been able to compliment me in a really good way and I am truly blessed to have everybody that I have come across, not only as a Bulldog, but as an Aggie as well. I think I have faced a lot of really good coaches and a lot of really good teammates."
Maggie Eppright, Senior Libero
On playing her final match as a Bulldog at the Save Mart Center....
"We would not have wanted to go out any other way than with a win and winning after a tough few matches."
Brooke Legaux, Senior Setter
On playing her final match as a Bulldog at the Save Mart Center....
"It's honestly surreal that this is our last match at home and I am so proud of this team for how hard they fought through adversity and wouldn't want to go out any other way."
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateVB
Instagram:Â FresnoStatevball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Fresno State (14-14, 5-12 MW) tallied a season-high 65 kills as a team for its most kills in a match since Oct. 29, 2015. Coates led the club in kills for the 23rd time this season as she came one kill shy of matching her career-high totaling 23 kills while hitting at a .345 clip and added 12 digs, three solo blocks and two service aces. It was Coates' fifth double-double of the season and 14th of her career.
Sophomore outside hitter Aubrey Folk tallied 12 kills, one solo block and a team-best eight block assists for 17 points, her season-best. Senior libero Maggie Eppright added 21 digs for her third match this season and 24th career match with 20 or more digs. The San Luis Obispo native now sits only 13 digs shy of moving into the top five all-time in Mountain West history in digs. Fellow senior setter Brooke Legaux added 16 assists, seven digs and a kill. Rounding out the individual standouts for the 'Dogs was redshirt freshman setter Madelyn Halteman who finished with 33 assists, 10 digs and three kills.
After falling behind 20-8 in the first set, the 'Dogs battled back thanks to a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to five, but were unable to get any closer dropping that set by that margin. An even second set saw seven ties as the teams were deadlocked at 21 before a pair of points for the Aggies forced a Bulldog timeout, Coming out of the timeout with a renewed focus, a kill by Coates followed by a kill by Haile Watson tied the set back at 23 before a pair of attack errrors by Utah State tied the match at one set apiece.
The third set was another nail-bitter as it featured eight ties with the latest being at 21-21 before the 'Dogs reeled off four of the final five points, including the final two points on a pair of kills by Halteman, clinched a 25-22 set win.
After two-hard fought sets, the fourth set proved to a test of wills as it featured 16 ties and the 'Dogs had six match points, but were unable to convert until the final one. Holding a 31-30 advantage, a kill by Coates sealed the win for the 'Dogs.Â
The Bulldogs wrap up their season on Tuesday traveling to San Jose State (12-16, 5-11 MW) for a 6 p.m. PT contest from Spartan Gym.
Team Notes:
- Fresno State finished the home campaign 7-6 for its fourth winning season at the Save Mart Center in the last five years and the sixth time in Netherby-Sewell's nine years the 'Dogs have finished above .500 at home.
- Eppright and Legaux finished their Bulldog career 28-27 at home, while Coates went 16-14 over the last two seasons.
Lauren Netherby-Sewell, Head Coach
On tonight's team effort…
"We have had a rough patch for various reasons. We haven't had Aubrey Folk in for a couple of weeks and it was very nice to have her back, she is a very solid defender and a solid attacker. We were shaky in the beginning of the match and I just knew that they were going to come around. They settled in and they started fighting. I love seeing the seniors just play and not think too much, and that is what Aleisha Coates did, she was an amazing outside hitter tonight, she had a great match."
Â
On what she takes away from tonight…
"We told the seniors that we wanted them to take us out on a winning streak and we want the team to take them out on a winning streak. This was our first step, next we just have to get San Jose State next Tuesday. To be honest, because of who we play, if we can win these two, we are playing for sixth, which is an improvement on last year. I was really proud, not only of the effort from tonight, but their ability to withstand some adversity and keep fighting. In the third set, we ran out of subs, and they still found a way to get the win. I loved seeing them play like this again tonight, it was really fun."
Â
On Boise State defeating Colorado State…
"It shows you that the strength of this conference has gotten better from top to bottom this year. Even though we have struggled in conference, our national rankings have improved big time. I am really happy to see that Boise is doing as well as they are, and I'm excited that it could be a two, or possibly three-bid conference this year. The whole conference got better and there is no doubt that it made it tough for us. As you could see tonight, Utah State has competed well with everybody in the conference and we beat them so I am happy with that and we will roll with it and try to get another win on Tuesday."
Â
Aleisha Coates, Senior Outside Hitter
On tonight's match…
"It was awesome, I really enjoyed being out there and just playing. It was so intense; Utah State was a really good team that we hadn't seen all year long. It was really fun to come out here and face a team that we haven't seen on Senior Night. The crowd was in to it all night long and they really kept us going."
Â
On the comeback after Set 1…
"It was a total mentality change. I think our team just has a lot of heart and we didn't want to go out like that, we wanted to come back and give them our best game."
Â
On the final kill…
"It is truly a blessing. I give grace to God, that is who I play to honor, I always give grace to him first."
Â
On playing San Jose State next week…
"It hasn't hit me yet that I wont be playing as a Bulldog anymore so, I think I am most excited to be playing against another team that we haven't yet seen all year. It is going to be really fun to go out and play against them. I know they are going to come out playing hard on their Senior Night. It is going to be a great fight and I am really looking forward to it."
Â
On her teammates over the years…
"I think everybody that I have ever played with has taught me a lot of things about myself and about my game. Everybody has been able to compliment me in a really good way and I am truly blessed to have everybody that I have come across, not only as a Bulldog, but as an Aggie as well. I think I have faced a lot of really good coaches and a lot of really good teammates."
Maggie Eppright, Senior Libero
On playing her final match as a Bulldog at the Save Mart Center....
"We would not have wanted to go out any other way than with a win and winning after a tough few matches."
Brooke Legaux, Senior Setter
On playing her final match as a Bulldog at the Save Mart Center....
"It's honestly surreal that this is our last match at home and I am so proud of this team for how hard they fought through adversity and wouldn't want to go out any other way."
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateVB
Instagram:Â FresnoStatevball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Team Stats
USU
FS
Kills
61
65
Errors
24
22
Attempts
156
159
Hitting %
.237
.270
Points
76.0
84.0
Assists
59
59
Aces
5
5
Blocks
10.0
14.0
Game Leaders
Kills
23
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
9
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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