Bulldogs outlasted by Boise State in four sets

Saturday, October 21

Fresno, CA

1:00 PM

Fresno State

9-13, 4-6MW

Boise State

12-10, 5-5MW

Boise State

Fresno State

Bulldogs outlasted by Boise State in four sets

10/21/2017 4:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State took the first set against reigning Mountain West champion Boise State and, after the Broncos took the second, forged 23 ties and 10 lead changes with the visitors over the last two sets but Boise State emerged victorious, 3-1 (22-25, 25-11, 25-22, 25-23), on Saturday in the Save Mart Center.

Playing its ninth consecutive match that went longer than three sets, Fresno State (9-13, 4-6 MW) outblocked Boise State 14.0-12.0 and outhit the Broncos in two sets but had trouble containing 2016 MW Player of the Year Sierra Nobley, who recorded 23 kills, four service aces, seven digs, and three blocks. Boise State (12-10, 5-5 MW) ended its five-match losing streak after a narrow 3-2 loss at San Diego State on Thursday.

Taylor Slover and Brielle Hefner each had 13 kills, with Slover adding eight digs and Hefner totaling five blocks. Aubrey Folk hit .310 with 12 kills and Haile Watson led the way with seven blocks. Freshman Sydney Lostumo narrowly missed her first career double-double with 15 assists and a career-high nine digs to go with three service aces.

How it Happened
The Bulldogs hit a sizzling .382 with 17 kills and just four errors in the first set and jumped to a huge lead. Fresno State took a quick 6-2 lead and would go ahead by as large as a 21-13 advantage. Boise State had a 7-1 run to get within a 22-20 deficit and saved two set points to make it 24-22 before Hefner had a kill to end it.

Boise State took that momentum into the second set and, after the 'Dogs earned the first point, went on a 10-0 run to quickly take an insurmountable lead. The Broncos held the Bulldogs to six kills and nine attack errors in the set and led by at least six points the rest of the way to level the match.

After there were just three ties and three lead changes combined in the first two sets there would be 13 ties and five lead changes in the third. Neither team led by more than three points at any time in the set, which was last tied at 18-18. Boise State moved ahead 22-19 after a 4-1 spurt and earned the win with a kill on its second set point.

The fourth set was tied at 14-14 before the 'Dogs moved ahead 18-15. Out of a Boise State timeout the Broncos answered with a 5-0 run to take a 20-18 lead, but Fresno State would regain a 22-21 lead after a Montez Uigaese solo block. The Broncos scored the next three points, however, to reach match point, and after the Bulldogs saved the first Boise State's Janell Walley landed her eighth kill to win it.

Quotable
Head Coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell

On the match: "I thought we were going to pull off that 4th set and I liked our chances in the 5th, but today Boise was back and strong. We played a nice match with the exception of set two. We couldn't score enough out of our pins but we served tough and had a nice blocking game."

On moving forward: "We are doing the little things better and I think it is going to pay off soon. We will reboot and get ready to hit the road for two weeks."

Notable
Nine of Fresno State's 10 MW matches this season have gone at least four sets (the only exception being a 3-0 loss in the MW opener at Boise State)…The Bulldogs recorded double-digit blocks for the eighth time in the last nine matches…Fresno State is averaging 3.39 blocks per set at home and has a .210-.177 advantage in hitting percentage in seven home matches this season…The Bulldogs have alternated wins and losses over their last nine matches.

What's Next
Fresno State plays its next four matches on the road. The 'Dogs will be at San Jose State at 6 p.m. Thursday and at Nevada at 1 p.m. next Saturday.

"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: @FresnoStateVB
Instagram: FresnoStatevball
Facebook: FresnoStateVB