Bulldogs remain undefeated with 3-2 win over Saint Francis (PA)

Saturday, August 25

Charleston, Ill.

10:30 A.M. PT

Fresno State

3-0

Saint Francis (PA)

0-3

Saint Francis

Fresno State

Photo by: Sandy King/Eastern Illinois

Bulldogs remain undefeated with 3-2 win over Saint Francis (PA)

8/25/2018 1:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Playing its second five set match in as many days, Fresno State outlasted Saint Francis (PA) 19-17 in a marathon fifth set to earn a 3-2 (25-16, 23-25, 25-18, 19-25, 19-17) victory and improve to 3-0 after closing its season-opening weekend by winning the EIU Panther Invitational.

Fresno State (3-0) survived two Saint Francis (0-3) match points in the decisive fifth set. The 'Dogs also missed on a pair of their own match points before consecutive kills from Haile Watson and Taylor Slover gave the Bulldogs the victory.

Madelyn Halteman had her second double-double of the weekend with 40 assists and 15 digs to lead the Bulldogs. Slover had 17 kills, seven digs, two blocks, and two aces while Jessica Gilbert had another big match with 17 kills, six blocks, and four digs. Montez Uigaese had a career-high seven blocks as the 'Dogs outblocked the Red Flash 13.0-5.0.

How it Happened
Saint Francis led the first set 12-11 before five straight points gave the Bulldogs a 16-12 lead. The 'Dogs extended the run to 8-1 to pull away while outhitting the Red Flash .323-.053 in the set. The Bulldogs closed the opening set on a 14-4 run to easily win it 25-16.

Fresno State had five blocks in the second set but Saint Francis led it most of the way. A 7-1 run gave Saint Francis a 22-17 lead but the 'Dogs answered with five straight points to come level at 22-22. The set was tied again at 23-23 before the Red Flash got consecutive kills from Nicole Adams for a 25-23 win.

The Bulldogs held SFU to .000 hitting in the third set and had five blocks and four aces, using a big late run to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The set was tied at 18-18 before the 'Dogs ended it on a 7-0 run, which included two service aces from Jocelyn Rodriguez.

After hitting .143 or worse in each of the first three sets, Saint Francis hit .444 with 14 kills and just two errors in the fourth set. The set was tied at 18-18 before a 6-0 run gave the Red Flash six set points. The 'Dogs dodged the first one but SFU would force a fifth set with a 25-19 win.

There will 12 ties and five lead changes in the fifth set as neither team led by more than four points and both teams also hit above .300. Slover had five kills while hitting .364 and Watson and Gilbert each had two kills in the period.

Notes

Reagan Leonard was named MVP of the EIU Panther Invitational and Slover also made the All-Tournament team.
Fresno State has started the season 3-0 for the second time in the last three years. The 2016 Bulldogs began the year at 5-0.
There were a total of 51 ties and 20 lead changes in the Saint Francis match. There were at least eight ties in all five sets.
Fresno State won the first set and lost the second set in all three of its matches at the season-opening tournament.
The Bulldogs have started the year 2-0 in 5-set matches after going 2-4 in 5-setters during the 2017 season.
Gilbert is averaging 3.50 kills, 1.79 digs, and 0.86 blocks per set with six service aces and hitting .294 through three matches.

What's Next
Fresno State plays its first four home matches next week. The 'Dogs face local rival Fresno Pacific at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Save Mart Center before hosting the Fresno State Invitational Thursday through next Saturday.

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