Bulldogs match best start since 2002 with sweep of Portland State

Friday, September 7

Portland, Ore.

10 A.M. PT

Fresno State

7-1

Portland State

1-6

Fresno State

Portland State

Bulldogs match best start since 2002 with sweep of Portland State

9/7/2018 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – Fresno State held Portland State to .082 hitting, the team's lowest opposing hitting percentage against a Div. I team this year, and tallied nine blocks and eight service aces to sweep the Vikings 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 26-24) Friday morning in the first match of the Les Schwab West Coast Challenge.

With the win, Fresno State has started a season 7-1 for the first time since 2002. That 2002 team went on to start the year 12-1 and was the last Bulldog program to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. On Friday morning the 'Dogs beat Portland State (1-6) for the second time in the last three seasons.

Taylor Slover led the 'Dogs with 16 kills and 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Jessica Gilbert had nine kills, four digs, and three blocks and Haile Watson had six kills and a match-high five blocks. Setter Madelyn Halteman just missed a double-double with 32 assists, nine digs, and three blocks and Reagan Leonard led all players in the match with 13 digs.

How it Happened
The Bulldogs outhit the Vikings .333-.129 to win the first set with relative ease. The Vikings had five service errors in the opening period as the 'Dogs turned a 7-6 lead into a big 16-8 advantage with a 9-2 run. Slover had kills on four straight points for the Bulldogs, who reached set point at 24-14 and won it on a Portland State service error.

Serving played an even bigger role in the second set as the 'Dogs scored eight points in the service game with seven aces along with a Viking service error. Gilbert had three aces and two kills in the set, with all three of her aces coming during a 6-0 run that turned a 5-4 Bulldog lead into an 11-4 advantage. Fresno State led by at least six points for the remainder of the set and won it 25-12.

The 'Dogs held Portland State below .000 hitting for most of the third set with four blocks. Fresno State opened up a quick 10-4 lead and was ahead 19-11 before a Portland State timeout. The home team had the better of the service game in the set with a 4-0 edge in aces and used an ace to cap a 10-3 run that cut the Bulldog lead to 22-21. Fresno State fought back for two match points at 24-22 before the Vikings were able to level the set at 24-24, but Gilbert followed with consecutive kills to end the Bulldog win.

Notes

Fresno State had a 41-22 edge in kills despite totaling just two more attacks, hitting .264 overall.
The 'Dogs had played at least four sets in each of their first six matches of the year against Div. I opponents.
Portland State, which had a 21-9 record last season, won a set against fellow Big Sky member Boise State earlier this year, with the Broncos winning the match 3-1.
The Bulldogs remained undefeated this season (6-0) when winning the first set.

What's Next
Fresno State is back in action at 5 p.m. Friday against Gonzaga. The Bulldogs will wrap up play in Portland facing Cal on Saturday at 10 a.m.

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