Fresno State Athletics

Photo by: Keith Kountz
Fresno State to host Fresno Pacific in 2019 home opener
2/7/2019 4:49:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State women's water polo team will host its 2019 home opener against Fresno Pacific on Friday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. PT at the Fresno State Aquatics Center. The No. 15 Bulldogs return home after 10 consecutive road games.
Admission to all Fresno State water polo games is free of charge.
How to follow – Fans can watch the game on the Mountain West Network or follow along with live stats throughout the match. Both links will be available on the water polo schedule page at GoBulldogs.com. Fans can also check in on Twitter (FresnoStateWP) for live scores and updates throughout the game. Â
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 2-8 (0-0 GCC) this season.
Game Notes:
RANKED WINS
Fresno State has knocked off two ranked opponents this season. Fresno State, unranked at the time, upset No. 13 Indiana 12-7 on Jan. 20. A week later, No. 17 Fresno State defeated No. 11 Long Beach State 11-9 on Jan. 26.
Â
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 15 in the national rankings. Fresno State has reached as high as No. 14 this season.
Â
TWO BULLDOGS EARN GCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fresno State leads the Golden Coast Conference with two GCC Player of the Week selections this season. Emily Nicholson was named the GCC Co-Player of the Week on on Jan. 24. Nicholson scored a career-high five goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-7 win over No. 13 Indiana. Trystyn Vuori was named the GCC Player of the Week on Jan. 29. Vuori led the Bulldogs to victory over the No. 11 49ers, scoring a career-high four goals. This was the first time in program history that Fresno State recorded back-to-back GCC Player of the Week Awards.
Â
WELL-BALANCED OFFENSE
Fresno State has five players that have scored ten or more goals this season in Trystyn Vuori (15), Emily Nicholson (14), Callie Woodruff (13), Sydney Coachman (11) and Daphne Guevremont (10).
Â
2019 GCC PRESEASON POLL
The eight Golden Coast Conference women's water polo head coaches tabbed reigning GCC champion the University of the Pacific to win the 2019 regular season title. In just its second season of competition, Fresno State was picked to finish fourth. The poll put Pacific (48 votes, 5 first place votes), Loyola Marymount (43 votes, 2 first place votes) and San Diego State (38 votes) at the top of the conference. Fresno State (29 votes) and California Baptist (27 votes) were slated to finish in the middle. Azusa Pacific (18 votes), Santa Clara (14 votes) and Concordia (7 votes) filled the last three spots to round out the preseason rankings.
Â
OVERVIEW
The Bulldogs return 10 letterwinners, including their top two scorers and All-GCC selections in Emily Nicholson and Callie Woodruff. Fresno State also returned goalkeeper Madelynn Garcia, after emerging as the primary goalie last season. Garcia finished the 2018 season with 132 saves and a team-high 25 steals. The Bulldogs bolster their roster with eight freshman for the upcoming season.
Â
LAST SEASON
Fresno State wrapped up the program's inaugural season with a 7-18 (3-4 GCC) record and finished sixth in the Golden Coast Conference Championships. The first-year program had two All-GCC selections, including the Co-Newcomer of the Year Nicholson, who also received AWPC All-America honors.
Â
SCOUTING THE SUNBIRDS
Fresno Pacific is 0-4 this season, 0-3 on the road.
Â
Team Notes:
Admission to all Fresno State water polo games is free of charge.
How to follow – Fans can watch the game on the Mountain West Network or follow along with live stats throughout the match. Both links will be available on the water polo schedule page at GoBulldogs.com. Fans can also check in on Twitter (FresnoStateWP) for live scores and updates throughout the game. Â
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 2-8 (0-0 GCC) this season.
Game Notes:
- Fresno State is nationally ranked No. 15.
- All the opponents that the Bulldogs have faced this season have been ranked nationally within the top 16.
- Fresno State's offense is averaging 7.90 goals per game.
- Sophomore Trystyn Vuori leads the Bulldogs with 15 goals this season, averaging 1.5 goals per game.
- Senior Mackenzie Richards has spent a majority of the minutes in the goal for the Bulldogs. Richards has recorded 10 or more saves in three games this season.
- Fresno State hosts Fresno State in its home opener for the second consecutive season. The Bulldogs own the all-time record 1-0, after defeating the Sunbirds 16-6 on Feb. 9, 2018.
RANKED WINS
Fresno State has knocked off two ranked opponents this season. Fresno State, unranked at the time, upset No. 13 Indiana 12-7 on Jan. 20. A week later, No. 17 Fresno State defeated No. 11 Long Beach State 11-9 on Jan. 26.
Â
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 15 in the national rankings. Fresno State has reached as high as No. 14 this season.
Â
TWO BULLDOGS EARN GCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fresno State leads the Golden Coast Conference with two GCC Player of the Week selections this season. Emily Nicholson was named the GCC Co-Player of the Week on on Jan. 24. Nicholson scored a career-high five goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-7 win over No. 13 Indiana. Trystyn Vuori was named the GCC Player of the Week on Jan. 29. Vuori led the Bulldogs to victory over the No. 11 49ers, scoring a career-high four goals. This was the first time in program history that Fresno State recorded back-to-back GCC Player of the Week Awards.
Â
WELL-BALANCED OFFENSE
Fresno State has five players that have scored ten or more goals this season in Trystyn Vuori (15), Emily Nicholson (14), Callie Woodruff (13), Sydney Coachman (11) and Daphne Guevremont (10).
Â
2019 GCC PRESEASON POLL
The eight Golden Coast Conference women's water polo head coaches tabbed reigning GCC champion the University of the Pacific to win the 2019 regular season title. In just its second season of competition, Fresno State was picked to finish fourth. The poll put Pacific (48 votes, 5 first place votes), Loyola Marymount (43 votes, 2 first place votes) and San Diego State (38 votes) at the top of the conference. Fresno State (29 votes) and California Baptist (27 votes) were slated to finish in the middle. Azusa Pacific (18 votes), Santa Clara (14 votes) and Concordia (7 votes) filled the last three spots to round out the preseason rankings.
Â
OVERVIEW
The Bulldogs return 10 letterwinners, including their top two scorers and All-GCC selections in Emily Nicholson and Callie Woodruff. Fresno State also returned goalkeeper Madelynn Garcia, after emerging as the primary goalie last season. Garcia finished the 2018 season with 132 saves and a team-high 25 steals. The Bulldogs bolster their roster with eight freshman for the upcoming season.
Â
LAST SEASON
Fresno State wrapped up the program's inaugural season with a 7-18 (3-4 GCC) record and finished sixth in the Golden Coast Conference Championships. The first-year program had two All-GCC selections, including the Co-Newcomer of the Year Nicholson, who also received AWPC All-America honors.
Â
SCOUTING THE SUNBIRDS
Fresno Pacific is 0-4 this season, 0-3 on the road.
Â
Team Notes:
- Last week, Fresno Pacific suffered a 12-11 overtime loss to Cal State East Bay.
- The Sunbirds' offense is averaging 7.0 goals per game.
- Junior Sam Witt leads the Sunbirds with eight goals, averaging 2.0 goals per game
- Witt was named the Western Water Polo Association Player of the week on Jan. 30.
- Sophomore Madeline Frey has played in the goal for Fresno Pacific this season, recording a save percentage of .293 and a goals against average of 15.26.
Players Mentioned
GCC Semifinal Postgame (HC Natalie Benson)
Saturday, April 11
WP: Hailey Andress feature
Friday, April 10
Water Polo GCC Championship Media Availability
Thursday, April 09
WP Media Availability [1/12/26]
Monday, January 12











