Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, November 10
Las Vegas, Nev.
2 P.M. PT
Fresno State
20-8, 12-3MW
3
at
1
UNLV
19-9, 10-6MW
1
2
3
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F
Fresno State
25
22
25
25
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UNLV
15
25
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21
1
‘Dogs clinch at least 2nd place in MW with 3-1 win at UNLV
11/10/2018 6:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Senior Jessica Gilbert tallied a career-high 11 blocks and hit .636 with seven kills to lead Fresno State to a .345-.231 advantage in hitting parentage and a 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-18, 25-21) win over UNLV in its final road match of the regular season on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Fresno State (20-8, 12-3 MW) clinched at least second place in the MW with the win as the 'Dogs recorded a season-sweep of third-place UNLV (19-9, 10-6 MW). The 'Dogs have secured their best finish as a member of the MW, as the program had not placed higher than fourth since joining the league in 2012.
Fresno State also established a new program record with its 12th conference victory of the year. With one week left in the regular season Colorado State leads the league at 14-2 and has two home matches remaining while the 'Dogs still have three matches to play, all at home.
Gilbert, who switched to middle blocker during the season, had a team season high in blocks and came within two blocks of the four-set program record. She also had seven kills and no errors in just 11 swings while Madelyn Halteman had her second double-double of the week with 43 assists and 10 digs. Taylor Slover hit .303 with 13 kills and seven digs and Kava Durr hit .391 with 11 kills. Aubrey Folk recorded 10 kills and four blocks and Reagan Leonard had a match-high 13 digs.
How it Happened
Fresno State put together one of its most dominant sets of the season as the 'Dogs hit .538 with 15 kills and just one attack error in 26 swings and had four blocks in a dominant first set. The Bulldogs also held UNLV to a .194 hitting percentage in the set and the 'Dogs had an early 5-0 run to take an 11-5 lead. The visitors led by at least five points for the remainder of the set, winning on their second shot at set point on a kill from Slover (watch).
Outside of six service errors, UNLV had a very strong second set to even the match. The Rebels outhit the 'Dogs .333-.167 in the set but there were 12 ties and four lead changes in the period after none of either in the first set. Fresno State led 18-16 but a 6-1 run gave the Rebels a 22-19 lead and UNLV closed out the set 25-22.
Durr and Slover both had four kills and no errors and Folk also had four kills in the third set to get the Bulldogs back on track. Leading 13-10, Fresno State had a 7-1 run to open up a big 20-11 lead. The Rebels got back within a 21-16 deficit but didn't get any closer as the closing point again came on a Slover kill (watch).
Gilbert had five of her 11 blocks in the fourth set to help the 'Dogs seal the match. There were eight ties and three lead changes but the 'Dogs pulled away late. UNLV had a 4-0 run to take a 20-19 lead and was ahead 21-20 before Fresno State closed the set with five straight points on a kill from Haile Watson and four UNLV attack errors, the last two of which were blocks by Gilbert to win the match (watch).
Notes
"It was fantastic to see the team put some things together tonight on offense, defense, and culturally. We are continuing to improve in new areas late in the season, which is fantastic to see. We served well, passed well, and were able to hit well when we were out of system. Kava has continued to improve and put together her best weekend of the season, which is a huge boost for our team."
On Jessica Gilbert…
"Jess today was fantastic in her blocking and hitting. She has always been a great slide hitter and she has been working hard to learn the blocking from the middle. She approaches the game with curiosity, patience, and persistence. Thus she has been continuing to improve and getting more consistent in her serving and blocking to go along with her hitting."
On closing the regular season at home…
"We're excited to be back home this week to finish the season strong. They are three good matches that will give us more opportunities to compete with and for each other."
What's Next
Fresno State plays its final three matches of the regular season at home. The 'Dogs host San Jose State at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nevada at 1 p.m. next Saturday, and Air Force the following Monday, Nov. 19.
"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
Fresno State (20-8, 12-3 MW) clinched at least second place in the MW with the win as the 'Dogs recorded a season-sweep of third-place UNLV (19-9, 10-6 MW). The 'Dogs have secured their best finish as a member of the MW, as the program had not placed higher than fourth since joining the league in 2012.
Fresno State also established a new program record with its 12th conference victory of the year. With one week left in the regular season Colorado State leads the league at 14-2 and has two home matches remaining while the 'Dogs still have three matches to play, all at home.
Gilbert, who switched to middle blocker during the season, had a team season high in blocks and came within two blocks of the four-set program record. She also had seven kills and no errors in just 11 swings while Madelyn Halteman had her second double-double of the week with 43 assists and 10 digs. Taylor Slover hit .303 with 13 kills and seven digs and Kava Durr hit .391 with 11 kills. Aubrey Folk recorded 10 kills and four blocks and Reagan Leonard had a match-high 13 digs.
How it Happened
Fresno State put together one of its most dominant sets of the season as the 'Dogs hit .538 with 15 kills and just one attack error in 26 swings and had four blocks in a dominant first set. The Bulldogs also held UNLV to a .194 hitting percentage in the set and the 'Dogs had an early 5-0 run to take an 11-5 lead. The visitors led by at least five points for the remainder of the set, winning on their second shot at set point on a kill from Slover (watch).
Outside of six service errors, UNLV had a very strong second set to even the match. The Rebels outhit the 'Dogs .333-.167 in the set but there were 12 ties and four lead changes in the period after none of either in the first set. Fresno State led 18-16 but a 6-1 run gave the Rebels a 22-19 lead and UNLV closed out the set 25-22.
Durr and Slover both had four kills and no errors and Folk also had four kills in the third set to get the Bulldogs back on track. Leading 13-10, Fresno State had a 7-1 run to open up a big 20-11 lead. The Rebels got back within a 21-16 deficit but didn't get any closer as the closing point again came on a Slover kill (watch).
Gilbert had five of her 11 blocks in the fourth set to help the 'Dogs seal the match. There were eight ties and three lead changes but the 'Dogs pulled away late. UNLV had a 4-0 run to take a 20-19 lead and was ahead 21-20 before Fresno State closed the set with five straight points on a kill from Haile Watson and four UNLV attack errors, the last two of which were blocks by Gilbert to win the match (watch).
Notes
- UNLV, which ranks second in NCAA Div. I in service aces but also leads the country in service errors, had six aces and 15 service errors on Saturday while the 'Dogs also had six aces but only three serve errors.
- The Bulldogs have won 20 matches in a season for the first time since the 2003 team finished 21-7.
- Fresno State improved to 17-0 this season when winning the third set. The 'Dogs are 11-0 when winning the third set in a match that goes at least four sets.
- With a 13.0-5.0 edge in blocks Fresno State had the same of more blocks than its opponent for the 21st time in 27 matches this year, improving to 19-2 in those 21 matches.
- First-year head coach Jonathan Winder is one victory shy of the program record for wins by a first-year coach. Lindy Vivas won 21 matches in her first season in 1991.
- Head Coach Jonathan Winder
"It was fantastic to see the team put some things together tonight on offense, defense, and culturally. We are continuing to improve in new areas late in the season, which is fantastic to see. We served well, passed well, and were able to hit well when we were out of system. Kava has continued to improve and put together her best weekend of the season, which is a huge boost for our team."
On Jessica Gilbert…
"Jess today was fantastic in her blocking and hitting. She has always been a great slide hitter and she has been working hard to learn the blocking from the middle. She approaches the game with curiosity, patience, and persistence. Thus she has been continuing to improve and getting more consistent in her serving and blocking to go along with her hitting."
On closing the regular season at home…
"We're excited to be back home this week to finish the season strong. They are three good matches that will give us more opportunities to compete with and for each other."
What's Next
Fresno State plays its final three matches of the regular season at home. The 'Dogs host San Jose State at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nevada at 1 p.m. next Saturday, and Air Force the following Monday, Nov. 19.
"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
Team Stats
FS
UNLV
Kills
51
56
Errors
13
25
Attempts
110
134
Hitting %
.345
.231
Points
70.0
67.0
Assists
50
53
Aces
6
6
Blocks
13.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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