Bulldogs suffer heartbreaking five-set loss at New Mexico

Saturday, November 2

Albuquerque, NM

12:00 PM PT

Fresno State

12-12,5-7MWC

New Mexico

6-18,1-11MWC

Fresno State

UNM

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs suffer heartbreaking five-set loss at New Mexico

11/2/2019 5:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Travis Blanshan / Assistant Director of Communications

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Despite holding a 2-1 lead after three sets, the Fresno State volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking five-set loss at New Mexico on Saturday afternoon at the Johnson Center.

Only the third five-set match of the season, Fresno State (12-12, 5-7 MW) was led by the duo of junior outside hitter Amilya Thompson and freshman outside hitter Amaria Kelley who each tallied a season-high 20 kills. Thompson added 12 digs for her third straight double-double while Kelley added three block assists.

Fifth-year senior setter Madelyn Halteman dished out a season-high 56 assists while adding 12 digs. Junior libero Reagan Leonard recorded a team-high 20 digs while junior libero Jocelyn Rodriguez had a career-best 18 digs.

Redshirt freshman Rebecca Rendahl matched her season high with six block assists as six different Bulldogs finished the match with multiple block assists.

Despite being outhit .162 to .143, the 'Dogs had an advantage in kills, attacks, assists and digs.

How It Happened
Getting off to a slow start, New Mexico (7-17, 2-10 MW) jumped out to a 8-2 lead in the opening set only for the 'Dogs to rally on a 9-3 run to tie the set at 11 after a kill by Kelley. Keeping pace with one another, the teams stayed within two points of each other before a Lobo attack error gave the Bulldogs' a three-point cushion at 20-17. Keeping that lead to 24-21, UNM made a late rally with a kill and a solo block, but the 'Dogs closed out the 25-23 set win on a kill by Thompson (watch).

The second set saw the Lobos respond with a 25-21 win despite the 'Dogs opening up with a 12-8 lead after a kill by Thompson (watch). A 5-1 run by the Lobos tied the set at 13 and after ties at 14 through 20, a 5-1 run by the home team closed out the set as a service error by freshman middle blocker Grace Doyle.

The 'Dogs got back on the winning side in the third set with a hard-fought 26-24 win. A kill by Doyle got the 'Dogs out to a 8-3 lead (watch) and the visitors extended it to six after a Lobo attack error made it 15-9. A 5-1 run by UNM kept the 'Dogs within a pair, but four straight points by Fresno State got the lead back to six at 20-14 (watch). Not going away easily, the Lobos took back the momentum with five straight points to cut the 'Dogs lead to 20-19, but four straight Fresno State points, which included three kills, pushed the lead back to five, 24-19. UNM answered back with five straight points of their own to tie the set at 24 apiece, but the 'Dogs halted the momentum with a service error and a kill by Kelley (watch).

Needing only more set win to claim their third road win of the season, the Bulldogs fought tough in each of the next two sets, but were unable to come up on the winning side in either one. Seemingly close throughout the entire fourth set, the teams were tied at 11 after block assists by Rendahl and Kelley. A kill by Doyle again tied the score at 15-15, but the Lobos were able take six of the next nine points for a 21-18 lead. A kill by Julia Handy and a solo block by Thompson brought the 'Dogs within one and forced a New Mexico timeout. Out of the break, the Lobos scored the next two points, but a kill by Doyle kept the 'Dogs hanging around at 24-23. A kill by UNM's Rachel Murphy allowed the Lobos to clinch the 25-23 set four win and send the match to a fifth set.

The fifth and decisive set saw a 5-5 tie to start off, but three of the next four points went to the Lobos as UNM went ahead 8-6 as the teams traded sides. A Lobo attack error allowed the 'Dogs to tie the set at 9-9, but that would be the final time the 'Dogs did not trail as UNM opened up a 14-10 lead on a kill by Kaitlynn Biassou. Back-to-back kills by Thompson and Doyle and a Lobo attack error brang the Bulldogs within one at 14-13, but a service error by Leonard ended the comeback threat.

Notes

Kelley's previous season high of 17 kills came against Boise State on Oct. 26.
Thompson's previous season high of 18 kills came Ohio in the season opener on Aug. 30.
Halteman's previous season high of 55 assists came against Santa Clara on Sept. 6. She was three shy of matching her career high of 59 set on Sept. 9, 2017 at San Francisco.
Doyle's also set a new career high in kills with 12, surpassing her previous best of 10 against San Diego State on Oct. 14.
Rodriguez's previous career high of 17 digs came against San Jose State on Nov. 15, 2018.
It was Leonard's fifth match this season with 20 or more digs.
The 'Dogs fall to 1-2 in five set matches this season and are now 7-5 in head coach Jonathan Winder's two seasons at Fresno State.

Up next
The 'Dogs are back home next week hosting No. 14 Colorado State (22-1, 12-0 MW) on Thursday at 6 p.m. and Wyoming (15-8, 10-2 MW) on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Prior to the 'Dogs match with the Cowgirls next Saturday, the Fresno State volleyball program will hold the Ruth Lawanson Jersey Unveiling Celebration to honor a Bulldog legend who was the first Fresno State student-athlete to have her jersey number retired in 1985.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley"" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.

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