Fresno State Athletics
Friday, April 26
Fresno, Calif.
5 P.M. PT
Fresno State
vs
Azusa Pacific
No. 4 Fresno State set to face No. 5 Azusa Pacific in GCC Championship quarterfinals
4/25/2019 4:35:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State water polo team, host of the 2019 Golden Coast Conference Championship, will open the tournament on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Fresno State Aquatics Center. The Bulldogs, the tournament's No. 4 seed, will face fifth-seeded Azusa Pacific in the quarterfinals on the opening day.
Fresno State and Azusa Pacific both finished the season with 4-3 conference records.The Bulldogs earned the No. 4 seed by defeating the Cougars in the regular season head-to-head 11-8 on March 26.
The GCC tournament will feature four games each day starting with the quarterfinals on Friday. Day two will be Semifinal Saturday, along with two consolation games, followed by Championship Sunday, and three consolation games.
TICKETS
Single day tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children while all-session passes are $30 for adults and $15 for children. Tickets can be purchased one hour prior to the start of the first game each day (there are no advance sales). Fresno State students will receive free admission.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can watch live streams of the games or follow along with live stats. Both links are available on the water polo schedule at Gobulldogs.com. Live scores and updates will be available on Twitter (@FresnoStateWP). Fans can visit the GCC Championship Central for all results throughout the tournament.
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State finished the regular season 12-14 (4-3 GCC).
Game Notes:
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 18 in the national rankings. The Bulldogs' have reached as high as No. 13 this season. Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 20 for 12 consecutive weeks.
RANKED WINSÂ
Fresno State has knocked off six ranked opponents this season. Fresno State, unranked at the time, upset No. 13 Indiana 12-7 on Jan. 20. A week later, then-No. 17 Fresno State defeated No. 11 Long Beach State 11-9 on Jan. 26. Then-No. 13 Fresno State defeated No. 15 Long Beach and No. 21 Marist in the 2019 Wolverine Invitational, March 2-3. Then-No. 15 Fresno State defeated No. 23 Azusa Pacific 11-9 on March 29. Most recently, Fresno State posted a 14-10 win over GCC foe No. 25 Cal Baptist on April 6.
WELL BALANCED OFFENSEÂ
Fresno State has four players with 30+ goals this season in Emily Nicholson (54), Trystyn Vuori (45), Callie Woodruff (45) and Daphne Guevremont (33).
Nicholson leads the Bulldogs on the attack with 54 goals, averaging 2.07 goals per game. Nicholson has logged 15 multi-goal games this season. She ranks No. 3 in the GCC in total goals. Freshman Daphne Guevremont has been a major contributor for Fresno State this season. Guevremont has scored 33 goals, dished 26 assists, swiped 31 steals and logged 14 field blocks.
IN GOAL
Senior Mackenzie Richards has spent the majority of the minutes in the goal for the Bulldogs this season. Richards has recorded 163 saves and has a .418 save percentage. Richards has logged seven games with 10+ saves. Richards ranks No. 6 in the GCC in total saves.
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THREE BULLDOGS GARNER 2019 ALL-GCC ACCOLADES.
Emily Nicholson was named to the All-GCC first team roster. Callie Woodruff earned All-GCC second team honors. Daphne Guevremont rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards with a GCC All-Freshman Team honor.
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.Â
The eight Golden Coast Conference women's water polo head coaches tabbed reigning GCC champion 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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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 Emily Nicholson, who also received AWPC All-America honors.
The Bulldogs returned 10 letterwinners for the 2019 season, including their top two scorers in 2018 All-GCC selections Nicholson and Callie Woodruff. Fresno State also returned goalkeeper Madelynn Garcia, after emerging as the primary goalie in 2018. Garcia finished last season with 132 saves and a team-high 25 steals. The Bulldogs bolstered their roster with eight freshman.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Azusa Pacific finished the regular season with a 17-13 (4-3 GCC) record.
Team Notes:
The winner of the game between the Bulldogs and the Cougars will face the winner of the the quarterfinal between No. 1 Pacific and No. 8 Concordia, in the semifinals on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. The team defeated will play in a consolation game that begins at 12 45 p.m. on 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.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Fresno State and Azusa Pacific both finished the season with 4-3 conference records.The Bulldogs earned the No. 4 seed by defeating the Cougars in the regular season head-to-head 11-8 on March 26.
The GCC tournament will feature four games each day starting with the quarterfinals on Friday. Day two will be Semifinal Saturday, along with two consolation games, followed by Championship Sunday, and three consolation games.
TICKETS
Single day tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children while all-session passes are $30 for adults and $15 for children. Tickets can be purchased one hour prior to the start of the first game each day (there are no advance sales). Fresno State students will receive free admission.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can watch live streams of the games or follow along with live stats. Both links are available on the water polo schedule at Gobulldogs.com. Live scores and updates will be available on Twitter (@FresnoStateWP). Fans can visit the GCC Championship Central for all results throughout the tournament.
QUICK LOOK AT THE 'DOGS
Fresno State finished the regular season 12-14 (4-3 GCC).
Game Notes:
- Fresno State is nationally ranked No. 18.
- Fresno State is coming off a 1-0 week with an 11-4 victory over Concordia in the regular-season finale.
- Fresno State has won three consecutive games.
- Fresno State is averaging 10.85 goals per game.
- All of Fresno State's losses this season were against ranked opponents.
- The Bulldogs own the all-time record against the Cougars, 3-0.
After starting the 2019 season unranked, the Bulldogs have pushed their way up to No. 18 in the national rankings. The Bulldogs' have reached as high as No. 13 this season. Fresno State has been ranked within the Top 20 for 12 consecutive weeks.
RANKED WINSÂ
Fresno State has knocked off six ranked opponents this season. Fresno State, unranked at the time, upset No. 13 Indiana 12-7 on Jan. 20. A week later, then-No. 17 Fresno State defeated No. 11 Long Beach State 11-9 on Jan. 26. Then-No. 13 Fresno State defeated No. 15 Long Beach and No. 21 Marist in the 2019 Wolverine Invitational, March 2-3. Then-No. 15 Fresno State defeated No. 23 Azusa Pacific 11-9 on March 29. Most recently, Fresno State posted a 14-10 win over GCC foe No. 25 Cal Baptist on April 6.
WELL BALANCED OFFENSEÂ
Fresno State has four players with 30+ goals this season in Emily Nicholson (54), Trystyn Vuori (45), Callie Woodruff (45) and Daphne Guevremont (33).
Nicholson leads the Bulldogs on the attack with 54 goals, averaging 2.07 goals per game. Nicholson has logged 15 multi-goal games this season. She ranks No. 3 in the GCC in total goals. Freshman Daphne Guevremont has been a major contributor for Fresno State this season. Guevremont has scored 33 goals, dished 26 assists, swiped 31 steals and logged 14 field blocks.
IN GOAL
Senior Mackenzie Richards has spent the majority of the minutes in the goal for the Bulldogs this season. Richards has recorded 163 saves and has a .418 save percentage. Richards has logged seven games with 10+ saves. Richards ranks No. 6 in the GCC in total saves.
Â
THREE BULLDOGS GARNER 2019 ALL-GCC ACCOLADES.
Emily Nicholson was named to the All-GCC first team roster. Callie Woodruff earned All-GCC second team honors. Daphne Guevremont rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards with a GCC All-Freshman Team honor.
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.Â
- 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.Â
- 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.Â
- 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.
The eight Golden Coast Conference women's water polo head coaches tabbed reigning GCC champion 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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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 Emily Nicholson, who also received AWPC All-America honors.
The Bulldogs returned 10 letterwinners for the 2019 season, including their top two scorers in 2018 All-GCC selections Nicholson and Callie Woodruff. Fresno State also returned goalkeeper Madelynn Garcia, after emerging as the primary goalie in 2018. Garcia finished last season with 132 saves and a team-high 25 steals. The Bulldogs bolstered their roster with eight freshman.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Azusa Pacific finished the regular season with a 17-13 (4-3 GCC) record.
Team Notes:
- Azusa Pacific is nationally ranked No. 23.
- Azusa Pacific is coming off a 1-0 week with an 11-9 win over Cal Baptist.
- Azusa Pacific has won three consecutive games.
- Azusa Pacific is averaging 8.83 goals per game.
- Azusa Pacific has ranked wins over Wagner, San Diego State and Bucknell. Â
- Mar Pastor Alvarez earned All-GCCÂ second team honors, while Milena Guzman Ortiz was named to the GCC All-Freshman Team.
- Azusa Pacific finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 16-16 (3-4).
The winner of the game between the Bulldogs and the Cougars will face the winner of the the quarterfinal between No. 1 Pacific and No. 8 Concordia, in the semifinals on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. The team defeated will play in a consolation game that begins at 12 45 p.m. on 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.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Players Mentioned
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