Bulldog rally comes up short at Air Force in five sets

Friday, November 3

USAF Academy, CO

5:30 PM PT

Fresno State

9-17 (4-10MW)

Air Force

11-16 (4-9MW)

Fresno State

Air Force

Bulldog rally comes up short at Air Force in five sets

11/3/2017 9:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

USAFA, Colo. – Fresno State totaled 19.0 blocks with a career-high 12 blocks from junior Haile Watson and battled back from down two sets but was outlasted by Air Force, 3-2 (26-24, 25-17, 21-25, 18-25, 15-8), in a tightly contested match in Colorado.

The 'Dogs 19.0 blocks were a program-record for a five-set match, topping the previous record of 18.0. Watson, who topped her previous career-high of 10 blocks set earlier this season, tied for the second most blocks in a five-set match in program history. The total was the second highest for the Bulldogs this season and their best blocking effort in Mountain West play.

Air Force (11-16, 4-9 MW) beat the Bulldogs in five sets for the second time this season, having also won in five in Fresno earlier this season. Fresno State (9-17, 4-10 MW) also got six blocks as well as a team-high 14 kills from Aubrey Folk and five blocks and seven kills from Lauren Torres.

How it Happened
The Bulldogs got off to a blazing start in the first set, taking a quick 5-1 lead and hitting better than .400 en route to leading 21-16. Air Force got going from there, going on a 6-1 run tie to forge a 22-22 tie. The run extended to 10-3 as, though the 'Dogs saved one set point, the Falcons took it 26-24 on a Denise Ssozi kill.

Fresno State had another good start to the second set, leading 4-0, before Air Force had a 5-0 run of its own. Despite a tough hitting set the 'Dogs trailed just 16-13, but the Falcons used a 6-1 spurt to take a 22-14 lead. Air Force hit .276 in the period with three blocks, holding the Bulldogs to .094 hitting to take a two-set lead.

Air Force had the fast start in the third set but the Bulldogs would battle back. Trailing 16-11, Fresno State scored nine consecutive points with four kills and three blocks to take a 20-16 lead. The Falcons got back within a 22-21 deficit, but the Bulldogs ended the set with a solo block from Brielle Hefner followed by kills from Taylor Slover and Torres.

The Bulldogs used seven blocks to pull away in the fourth set. Air Force opened with a 6-2 lead and the Bulldogs had a slim 14-13 lead before an 8-2 run gave the visitors a 22-15 lead. Up 23-18, Fresno State fittingly ended the set with consecutive blocks by Hefner and Torres to force the fifth.

The momentum came back to the Falcons in the deciding set. They led 4-0 and 7-2 and the Bulldogs never got closer the rest of the way. After hitting -.033 in the fourth set with just nine kills Air Force hit .429 with 10 kills in the fifth set to claim the match.

Quotable
Head Coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell

On the match: "I think we are getting back on track. It's hard to play in Colorado Springs, but we had a really good comeback winning sets three and four in commanding fashion. We blocked a ton of balls and started serving tough, but passing broke down in the fifth, which killed us."

On moving forward: "We're happy to be coming home after a week and a half on the road. Home will feel good. I think our rhythm is coming back and our confidence, too."

Notable
The Bulldogs nearly completed a five-set comeback against Air Force for the second consecutive season. Fresno State came back to win from down 2-0 against the Falcons in Fresno last season…The Bulldogs outblocked the Falcons 19.0-13.0 and had six fewer service errors …The 'Dogs have now played 19 matches away from Fresno this season (14 road and five neutral) compared to just seven home matches.

What's Next
Fresno State plays three of its last four matches of the season in the friendly confines of the Save Mart Center. The 'Dogs play just once next week, hosting New Mexico Thursday at 7 p.m.

"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.

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