Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, September 21
Bakersfield, CA
12:00 PM PT
Fresno State
6-5
3
vs
0
San Francisco
4-6
1
2
3
F
San Francisco
23
23
22
0
Fresno State
25
25
25
3
‘Dogs dominate Dons, Roadrunners in two 3-0 sweeps
9/21/2019 11:24:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Fresno State put together a pair of dominant performances on Saturday in the Roadrunner Classic, sweeping San Francisco 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-22) before closing the tournament with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-16) win over host CSU Bakersfield.
Fresno State (7-5) recorded its third and fourth sweeps of the season and won two matches in one day for the second time this year. The 'Dogs beat San Francisco (4-7) for the third time in the last three seasons and avenged a home loss earlier this year to CSU Bakersfield (5-7) by sweeping the Roadrunners on their home floor.
The Bulldogs led for the entirety of all three sets against Bakersfield, jumping to a 5-1 lead in the first set, an 8-1 lead in the second set, and a 6-1 lead in the third set. Fresno State hit .313 against CSUB, its second highest hitting percentage this season, and had its best defensive performance of the year holding the Roadrunners to a .048 average with a 9-2 edge in service aces. Former Roadrunner Desiree Sukhov led the 'Dogs with 15 kills on a .300 hitting percentage against her old team, Madelyn Halteman had 32 assists and eight digs, and Reagan Leonard had 22 digs in just three sets.
Fresno State had fewer kills and hit for a lower percentage than San Francisco but had a 10-8 edge in blocks and benefited from 10 USF service errors. Sukhov had her seventh double-double of the season with 11 kills, 12 digs, and four blocks while Grace Doyle hit .450 with 10 kills and six blocks. Halteman had 36 assists and tied her career high with five blocks, Leonard had 19 digs, and Julia Handy had career highs of 16 digs and five kills against the Dons.
Sukhov was named to the Roadrunner Classic All-Tournament team as she had a pair of double-doubles averaging 4.10 kills and 2.60 digs per set while also contributing 10 blocks over three matches.
How it Happened – vs. San Francisco
The Dons jumped to a 4-0 lead and led until the 'Dogs came even at 13-13. Five service errors and five unblocked attack errors in the set by San Francisco aided Fresno State's comeback as the 'Dogs held a 22-17 lead following a 4-1 run. USF stormed back with a 6-1 run to pull even at 23-23 but, after a Bulldog timeout, the Dons committed a service error and an attack error to give the set to the 'Dogs.
Doyle had three blocks among the first 12 points of the second set as the 'Dogs had an early 7-5 lead. USF pulled even and the set was still locked up at 18-18 before the 'Dogs scored four straight points on three kills and a San Francisco ball handling error. Fresno State reached set point up 24-20 put USF stayed alive with three straight points. In similar fashion to the first set, the 'Dogs called timeout and San Francisco followed with a service error for a 25-23 Fresno State win.
After hitting .125 or lower in the first two sets Fresno State had 15 kills and just three attack errors in the third set to hit .293. The 'Dogs also recorded six blocks in the set while USF had just one, but the Dons kept it close and trailed by just a point late at 22-21. Handy had a kill and Doyle and Halteman teamed for a block to reach match point at 24-21, and after USF saved the first attempt Doyle had her 10th kill of the day to win it.
How it Happened – vs. CSU Bakersfield
The domination started quickly for the 'Dogs as they hit .424 with 16 kills and just two attack errors in the first set. Sukhov hit .462 with six kills in the set and it was never close, with Fresno State turning a 10-4 lead into an insurmountable 15-4 advantage after a 5-0 run. The 'Dogs went on to lead 18-5 and 24-13 and won it on the second kill of the set from Lauren Sabbatini.
The 'Dogs held the 'Runners to .000 hitting in the second set as the home team had just seven kills and seven errors. Sabbatini and Sukhov both had five kills in the set as the 'Dogs carried the momentum of the first set win into a quick 4-0 lead that grew to 8-1, 11-2, 13-3, and 15-4. The lead peaked at 13 points at 19-6 and Sabbatini ended it again with a kill at 25-16.
Fresno State hit .280 in the fourth and had four service aces to put the match away. Again the 'Dogs pulled away early with the first three points and a 6-1 lead. The visitors used a 5-0 run to stretch a 9-5 lead into a 14-5 edge and led by at least six points the rest of the way. The Roadrunners saved the first two Fresno State match points before a block from Handy and McKenzie Kramer ended the night.
Notes
Fresno State opens MW conference play on Thursday, hosting Nevada at 6 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. The 'Dogs will also play a road conference match next Saturday at San Jose State.
"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.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateVB
Instagram: FresnoStatevball
Facebook: FresnoStateVB
Fresno State (7-5) recorded its third and fourth sweeps of the season and won two matches in one day for the second time this year. The 'Dogs beat San Francisco (4-7) for the third time in the last three seasons and avenged a home loss earlier this year to CSU Bakersfield (5-7) by sweeping the Roadrunners on their home floor.
The Bulldogs led for the entirety of all three sets against Bakersfield, jumping to a 5-1 lead in the first set, an 8-1 lead in the second set, and a 6-1 lead in the third set. Fresno State hit .313 against CSUB, its second highest hitting percentage this season, and had its best defensive performance of the year holding the Roadrunners to a .048 average with a 9-2 edge in service aces. Former Roadrunner Desiree Sukhov led the 'Dogs with 15 kills on a .300 hitting percentage against her old team, Madelyn Halteman had 32 assists and eight digs, and Reagan Leonard had 22 digs in just three sets.
Fresno State had fewer kills and hit for a lower percentage than San Francisco but had a 10-8 edge in blocks and benefited from 10 USF service errors. Sukhov had her seventh double-double of the season with 11 kills, 12 digs, and four blocks while Grace Doyle hit .450 with 10 kills and six blocks. Halteman had 36 assists and tied her career high with five blocks, Leonard had 19 digs, and Julia Handy had career highs of 16 digs and five kills against the Dons.
Sukhov was named to the Roadrunner Classic All-Tournament team as she had a pair of double-doubles averaging 4.10 kills and 2.60 digs per set while also contributing 10 blocks over three matches.
How it Happened – vs. San Francisco
The Dons jumped to a 4-0 lead and led until the 'Dogs came even at 13-13. Five service errors and five unblocked attack errors in the set by San Francisco aided Fresno State's comeback as the 'Dogs held a 22-17 lead following a 4-1 run. USF stormed back with a 6-1 run to pull even at 23-23 but, after a Bulldog timeout, the Dons committed a service error and an attack error to give the set to the 'Dogs.
Doyle had three blocks among the first 12 points of the second set as the 'Dogs had an early 7-5 lead. USF pulled even and the set was still locked up at 18-18 before the 'Dogs scored four straight points on three kills and a San Francisco ball handling error. Fresno State reached set point up 24-20 put USF stayed alive with three straight points. In similar fashion to the first set, the 'Dogs called timeout and San Francisco followed with a service error for a 25-23 Fresno State win.
After hitting .125 or lower in the first two sets Fresno State had 15 kills and just three attack errors in the third set to hit .293. The 'Dogs also recorded six blocks in the set while USF had just one, but the Dons kept it close and trailed by just a point late at 22-21. Handy had a kill and Doyle and Halteman teamed for a block to reach match point at 24-21, and after USF saved the first attempt Doyle had her 10th kill of the day to win it.
How it Happened – vs. CSU Bakersfield
The domination started quickly for the 'Dogs as they hit .424 with 16 kills and just two attack errors in the first set. Sukhov hit .462 with six kills in the set and it was never close, with Fresno State turning a 10-4 lead into an insurmountable 15-4 advantage after a 5-0 run. The 'Dogs went on to lead 18-5 and 24-13 and won it on the second kill of the set from Lauren Sabbatini.
The 'Dogs held the 'Runners to .000 hitting in the second set as the home team had just seven kills and seven errors. Sabbatini and Sukhov both had five kills in the set as the 'Dogs carried the momentum of the first set win into a quick 4-0 lead that grew to 8-1, 11-2, 13-3, and 15-4. The lead peaked at 13 points at 19-6 and Sabbatini ended it again with a kill at 25-16.
Fresno State hit .280 in the fourth and had four service aces to put the match away. Again the 'Dogs pulled away early with the first three points and a 6-1 lead. The visitors used a 5-0 run to stretch a 9-5 lead into a 14-5 edge and led by at least six points the rest of the way. The Roadrunners saved the first two Fresno State match points before a block from Handy and McKenzie Kramer ended the night.
Notes
- Sukhov earned All-Tournament honors in three of Fresno State four preseason tournaments, having also been selected for the GBD Invite and the Fresno State Invitational.
- Leonard brought her career digs total to 992 as she looks to become the 11th player in program history to record 1,000 career digs.
- An All-American setter at Turlock HS, Handy started at outside hitter in each of the 'Dogs three matches in Bakersfield and tallied 11 kills, 26 digs, four blocks, and four service aces in three matches.
- Fresno State and San Francisco met for the fourth time in the last three seasons with the 'Dogs picking up their third win in the recent quartet.
- The Bulldogs had lost the first set in five straight matches before winning it against both San Francisco and CSU Bakersfield. The 'Dogs improved to 5-1 this season when claiming the opening set.
- Fresno State improved to 28-5 all-time vs. San Francisco and 21-6 all-time vs. CSU Bakersfield.
- Junior Savanah Smith has now missed six straight matches due to injury.
Fresno State opens MW conference play on Thursday, hosting Nevada at 6 p.m. in the Save Mart Center. The 'Dogs will also play a road conference match next Saturday at San Jose State.
"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.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateVB
Instagram: FresnoStatevball
Facebook: FresnoStateVB
Team Stats
USF
FS
Kills
41
40
Errors
18
20
Attempts
131
133
Hitting %
.176
.150
Points
52.0
53.0
Assists
40
38
Aces
3
3
Blocks
8.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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