‘Dogs 3-0 in MW after defeating 14-time champion Colorado State, 3-1

Saturday, September 29

Fresno, Calif.

1 P.M. PT

Fresno State

11-5, 3-0MW

Colorado State

11-5, 3-1MW

Colorado State

Fresno State

‘Dogs 3-0 in MW after defeating 14-time champion Colorado State, 3-1

9/29/2018 4:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

Video: Match Highlights
Video: Winder Postgame Interview

FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State dominated at the net, posting a 13.0-5.0 edge in blocks, and controlled the service game while holding Colorado State to just .170 hitting to defeat the reigning MW-champion Rams, 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-18, 26-24), on Saturday in the Save Mart Center.

League-leading Fresno State (11-5, 3-0 MW) has opened MW play with three straight wins for the first time since joining the conference and is 3-0 in conference matches for the first time since doing so in 2001 as a member of the WAC. The Bulldogs had lost nine consecutive matches against Colorado State (11-5, 3-1 MW) since a home victory in 2012. In fact, during the nine-match losing streak against the Rams the 'Dogs had only won two total sets while being swept seven times.

The Rams received votes this week in the AVCA Top-25 poll and were ranked No. 25 in the nation earlier this season. Colorado State has won the MW title in eight of the last nine seasons, was 17-1 in MW play to claim the league title last year, had lost just four MW matches over the last four seasons, and has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 23 consecutive seasons.

In the absence of starting middle blocker Montez Uigaese, senior Jessica Gilbert filled her role for the second consecutive match on Saturday and had a match-high six blocks while also hitting .350 with nine kills. Aubrey Folk hit .400 with 12 kills in just 25 swings and had five blocks while Taylor Slover tallied her ninth double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs. Reagan Leonard (22 digs) and Jocelyn Rodriguez (13) also had double-digit digs and Madelyn Halteman totaled 35 assists.

How it Happened
Fresno State came out strong, holding Colorado State to just eight kills and eight attack errors to limit the Rams to .000 hitting in the first set. The 'Dogs never trailed in the set, jumping to an 11-5 lead and extending to a 16-8 advantage after a 5-0 run. Fresno State had two service aces and just one service error in the set while benefiting from six CSU service errors, reaching set point at 24-15 and winning it 25-17 (watch).

Colorado State turned the tables in the second set, hitting a match-best .355 while holding the 'Dogs to .114 hitting. The Rams led 5-1 early and were ahead 10-6, but Fresno State battled back and took a slight lead at 12-11. A 9-1 run from the Rams gave the visitors a 20-13 advantage and they reached set point at 24-17. Fresno State responded with four straight points, forcing a timeout, but the Rams won the set 25-21 on a kill from Sasha Colombo.

Fresno State had a 4-0 edge in blocks in the third set to limit Colorado State to .105 hitting. Slover, Haile Watson, and Kava Durr each had three kills in the set and, similarly to the first set, Fresno State never trailed. The Bulldogs jumped to an 11-6 lead and led by at least four points the rest of the way, winning the set on Slover's second ace of the day (watch).

There were 13 ties and eight lead changes in a hard-fought fourth set. The 'Dogs hit .326 with just four attack errors in the fourth and again had a 4-0 edge in blocks but the Rams had just one service error in the set to keep it close. Both teams had 3-0 spurts late in the set and the Rams held a 23-22 lead before the 'Dogs scored two straight for a match point at 24-23. CSU dodged the first match point, but a block from Watson and Folk followed by a block by Gilbert and Durr won the match for Fresno State (watch).

Notes

Fresno State is the only 3-0 team in MW play but Air Force is also undefeated at 2-0. The Falcons don't play again until they host New Mexico on Sunday.
The Bulldogs have now won 14 of their last 18 home matches dating back to the 2016 season.
Colorado State, which had 18 blocks on Thursday night at San Diego State and came in averaging 2.75 blocks per set this season, did not have a single block in both the third and fourth sets.
Defensive specialists Rodriguez and Emily Dzubak both had their first career kills in the match.
With an 8-5 edge in service aces in the match Fresno State is now 8-0 this season when leading in aces.
Uigaese missed her second match of the week due to injury.
The match attendance of 1,103 fans broke the 1,000 fan challenge and earned all fans free tickets for the Saturday night football game against Toldeo. The 'Dogs are averaging 1,046 fans per home match this season, more than several Pac-12 schools including UCLA and Cal.

Quotes

Head Coach Jonathan Winder (Full Postgame Interview)

On the match…
"The girls are playing hard and we're just getting more and more consistent in the things that we're doing. Players coming off the bench are doing really well and playing in new positions. Emily Dzubak did a great job for us tonight and she hasn't played a ton this season. Aubrey continues to do a really good job out there and Jess playing middle continues to be phenomenal. I thought we did a good job to take advantage when they weren't playing great in that first set and we didn't let up. Just being able to be good over time was huge for us."

What's Next
The Bulldogs are on the road next week, playing at Utah State on Thursday and at Boise State 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.

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