Bulldogs battle in loss at No. 24 Colorado State

Wednesday, November 15

Fort Collins, CO

6:00 PM PT

Fresno State

10-18, 5-11MW

#24 Colorado State

26-3, 16-1MW

Fresno State

Colorado State

Bulldogs battle in loss at No. 24 Colorado State

11/15/2017 9:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Fresno State fought hard against MW champion and 24^th-ranked Colorado State, losing the first two sets by just seven total points, but the Rams ran away in the third set to take a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-12) win on Wednesday night.

Colorado State (26-3, 16-1 MW), which has been ranked as high as No. 19 in the nation this season and clinched the MW title two weeks ago, improved to 15-3 at home this season and is now 20-0 this year in three-set matches. Fresno State (10-18, 5-11 MW) played its 20^th and final match away from Fresno this season.

The Rams and Bulldogs entered the match as the top two blocking teams in the MW and both top-20 in Div. I but the teams combined for just 6.5 blocks on Wednesday. The 'Dogs were held to only two blocks as Colorado State, which ranks sixth in the nation in hitting percentage, hit .451 on the night. Taylor Slover had nine kills and five digs hitting .318 and Aubrey Folk totaled seven kills to lead the Bulldogs. Madelyn Halteman led the team with 19 assists, eight digs, and three service aces.

How it Happened
The Bulldogs started the first set well, taking a 3-0 lead on three quick kills. The Rams battled back and eventually took as large as an 18-12 lead, but the Bulldogs battled back with a 6-2 run to get within a 20-18 deficit. The Rams hit .487 in the set, however, and overcame five service errors to finish a 25-21 set win.

The Rams jumped to a 13-7 lead in the second set but Fresno State battled back. The 'Dogs had an 8-3 run to trail just 16-15 and, trailing 19-16, scored three straight points to tie the set at 19-19. After a Colorado State timeout the Rams responded with a 3-0 run and reached set point at 24-21 before a Folk kill extended it. CSU was able to convert its second set point on a kill from Paulina Hougaard-Jensen.

Colorado State took a big lead early in the third set and was able to pull away. After the set was tied 3-3 the Rams went on a 9-1 run to lead 12-4. The home team hit .556 in the third set with 17 kills and just two attack errors while holding the Bulldogs to .091 hitting to take it 25-12 and end the match in three sets.

Quotable
Head Coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell

On the match: "I hoped we could close the match the way we played in sets one and two. We played them tight and took advantage of some of their errors. For two of the best blocking teams in the conference, neither team blocked many balls. Both teams hit high and found edges, but ultimately, they executed so efficiently offensively and though we served them tough, we couldn't get in their way. Good effort by us tonight in front of a big crowd on the road."

On the team: "I? thought Maddy did some nice things for us and competed hard. She served some blistering attacks from the service line. Lauren Torres was steady offensively and when we were able to get her the ball, she scored. Taylor had a nice match as well. She hit really high and found shots to score. And Reagan Leonard started off the match with a few key digs and passes on tough serves. She always goes hard."

Notable
The Bulldogs had four service aces and just one error while the Rams had five aces but 12 service errors, 11 of which came in the first two sets…Senior Jacqueline Hutcheson had six digs on Wednesday and is now just 27 digs shy of 1,000 for her career…Fresno State has 291.5 blocks this season, 24.5 blocks shy of the single season program record.

What's Next
Fresno State closes the season with a pair of home matches. Seniors Hutcheson and Torres will be honored prior to the 'Dogs match against Wyoming on Saturday at 1 p.m. The season finale will be Monday, Nov. 20, vs. UNLV at 6 p.m.

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