Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, March 3
Ann Arbor, Mich.
5:45 A.M. PT/8:45 A.M. ET
Fresno State
vs
Michigan
No. 13 Fresno State to host No. 6 Michigan on Friday
3/14/2019 5:35:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State water polo team will host No. 6 Michigan on Friday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m. PT in the Aquatics Center. The Wolverines will be the highest ranked opponent that the Bulldogs have hosted in program history.
"We've played Michigan twice this season," head coach Natalie Benson said. "They know our tricks and we know their tricks. This is a great opportunity for our young team to be able to game plan against a really good Michigan team."Â
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Admission to Fresno State water polo games is free of charge.
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How to follow – Fans can watch the game on the MW Network, or follow along with live stats via TheFosh.net. Both links are available on the water polo schedule page at GoBulldogs.com. Live scores and updates will also be available on Twitter (@FresnoStateWP).
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 8-9 this season.
Game Notes:
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 13 in the national rankings. This is the Bulldogs' highest ranking this season. Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for six consecutive weeks.
RANKED WINSÂ
Fresno State has knocked off four 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. Last week, Fresno State defeated No. 15 Long Beach and No. 21 Marist College.
LOOKING AROUND THE GOLDEN COAST CONFERENCE
Nicholson ranks No. 4 in goals, with Woodruff coming in at No. 6. Claire Schade is No. 4 in the conference in assists with 21. Daphne Guevremont has logged the fourth most steals in the conference with 26. Richards ranks No. 5 in saves with 92.
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THREE BULLDOGS EARN GCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fresno State leads the Golden Coast Conference with four GCC Player of the Week selections this season. Emily Nicholson was named the GCC Co-Player of the Week 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. 31. 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. Callie Woodruff was named the GCC Player of the Week on Feb. 14, after she helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23-4 win over Fresno Pacific. Woodruff tied her career-high with five goals in the game, she also dished one assist and swiped one steal. Woodruff was named the GCC Player of the Week for the second time this season on March 5, after leading the Bulldogs to a 3-1 week at the Wolverine Invitational. Woodruff scored a team-high 12 goals in three games, averaging three goals per game. She recorded a hat trick in Fresno State's 17-7 victory over St. Francis, and a hat trick in the 14-11 victory over No. 15 Long Beach State. Woodruff tied her season-high with four goals in the 14-6 win over No. 21 Marist College.
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WELL-BALANCED OFFENSE
Fresno State has three players that have scored 20+ goals this season in Emily Nicholson (35), Callie Woodruff (34) and Trystyn Vuori (32).
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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.
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OVERVIEWÂ
The Bulldogs return 10 letterwinners, including their top two scorers and All-GCC selections in Emily Nicholsonand 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.
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LAST SEASONÂ
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.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
Michigan is 12-7 this season.
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Team Notes:
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
"We've played Michigan twice this season," head coach Natalie Benson said. "They know our tricks and we know their tricks. This is a great opportunity for our young team to be able to game plan against a really good Michigan team."Â
Â
Admission to Fresno State water polo games is free of charge.
Â
How to follow – Fans can watch the game on the MW Network, or follow along with live stats via TheFosh.net. Both links are available on the water polo schedule page at GoBulldogs.com. Live scores and updates will also be available on Twitter (@FresnoStateWP).
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State is 8-9 this season.
Game Notes:
- Fresno State is 2-0 at home.
- Fresno State is nationally ranked No. 13.
- Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for six consecutive weeks.
- Fresno State's first 10 games this season were against opponents ranked within the Top 15. Â
- Fresno State is coming off an 18-8 win over George Washington on Wednesday (March 13).
- Fresno State has won six of its last seven games.Â
- Fresno State is averaging 11.44 goals per game.
- Sophomore Emily Nicholson leads the team with 35 goals, averaging 1.94 goals per game.
- Senior Mackenzie Richards has spent a majority of the minutes in the goal for the Bulldogs, recording 92 saves and a .414 save percentage. Richards has recorded 10 or more saves in four games this season.
- Friday's game will mark the third game between the Bulldogs and the Wolverines this season. Last time, Michigan defeated Fresno State 20-8 at the 2019 Wolverine Invitational on March 3.
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 13 in the national rankings. This is the Bulldogs' highest ranking this season. Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 15 for six consecutive weeks.
RANKED WINSÂ
Fresno State has knocked off four 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. Last week, Fresno State defeated No. 15 Long Beach and No. 21 Marist College.
LOOKING AROUND THE GOLDEN COAST CONFERENCE
Nicholson ranks No. 4 in goals, with Woodruff coming in at No. 6. Claire Schade is No. 4 in the conference in assists with 21. Daphne Guevremont has logged the fourth most steals in the conference with 26. Richards ranks No. 5 in saves with 92.
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THREE BULLDOGS EARN GCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Fresno State leads the Golden Coast Conference with four GCC Player of the Week selections this season. Emily Nicholson was named the GCC Co-Player of the Week 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. 31. 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. Callie Woodruff was named the GCC Player of the Week on Feb. 14, after she helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23-4 win over Fresno Pacific. Woodruff tied her career-high with five goals in the game, she also dished one assist and swiped one steal. Woodruff was named the GCC Player of the Week for the second time this season on March 5, after leading the Bulldogs to a 3-1 week at the Wolverine Invitational. Woodruff scored a team-high 12 goals in three games, averaging three goals per game. She recorded a hat trick in Fresno State's 17-7 victory over St. Francis, and a hat trick in the 14-11 victory over No. 15 Long Beach State. Woodruff tied her season-high with four goals in the 14-6 win over No. 21 Marist College.
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WELL-BALANCED OFFENSE
Fresno State has three players that have scored 20+ goals this season in Emily Nicholson (35), Callie Woodruff (34) and Trystyn Vuori (32).
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.
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OVERVIEWÂ
The Bulldogs return 10 letterwinners, including their top two scorers and All-GCC selections in Emily Nicholsonand 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.
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LAST SEASONÂ
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.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
Michigan is 12-7 this season.
Â
Team Notes:
- Michigan is 0-1 on the road.
- Michigan is nationally ranked No. 6. This is the Wolverines' highest ranking this season.
- Michigan is on a five-game wining streak.
- Michigan has eleven wins over ranked opponents, including three Top 10 wins.
- Michigan is averaging 9.74 goals per game.
- Julia Sellers leads the Wolverines' with 29 goals.
- Heidi Ritner is the starting goalkeeper. Ritner has logged 119 saves and a .456 save percentage.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
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Players Mentioned
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