Fresno State Athletics
Thursday, September 26
Fresno, CA
6:00 PM PT
Fresno State
8-5, 1-0MW
3
vs
0
Nevada
10-3, 0-1MW
1
2
3
F
Nevada
21
20
20
0
Fresno State
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Bulldogs open Mountain West action with sweep over Nevada
9/26/2019 9:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team opened Mountain West play on Thursday evening at the Save Mart Center with a sweep over visiting Nevada.
Fresno State (8-5, 1-0 MW) put an end to the Wolf Pack's seven-match winning streak taking sets, 25-21, 25-20 and 25-20.
The Bulldogs outhit Nevada (10-3, 0-1 MW) in the match, .314 to .169 while edging the Wolf Pack in kills, 45-39. Leading the way offensively for the 'Dogs was redshirt freshman outside hitter Lauren Sabbatini who tallied a career-high 13 kills and hit a career-high .385 in the match.
Junior libero Reagan Leonard was one of two 'Dogs with double figure digs ending with a match-best 18 surpassing 1,000 digs in her career in the contest.
Junior outside hitter Desiree Sukhov had her team-leading 12th double-digit kill performance with 10 and added 12 digs for her eighth double-double of the season.
Senior setter Madelyn Halteman led the 'Dogs with 37 assists and added eight digs and two service aces.
How It Happened
The opening set saw the two teams trade points back and forth as neither team led by more than two. With the set locked at 14-14 in the early going, a kill by Sabbatini was followed by block assists by Halteman and Grace Doyle as the Bulldogs closed out the set on an 11-7 run. Junior outside hitter Amilya Thompson ended the first set with a kill (watch).
The second set saw a 6-6 draw to start before a 6-1 run by the Wolf Pack pushed Nevada to a 12-7 lead. The 'Dogs refused to let Nevada tie the match rallying back with five straight points getting three kills and two service aces by Halteman to force a Wolf Pack timeout. After a kill by Nevada tied the score at 17-17, the 'Dogs closed out the set with eight of the final 12 points as the set again ended on a kill by Thompson.
With Nevada jumping out to a 13-10 lead to start the third set, a 4-1 run by the 'Dogs tied the set at 14-14 and after the teams traded the next four points, four straight points by the 'Dogs on a pair of Nevada attack errors, a kill by Sukhov and an ace by Jocelyn Rodriguez (watch) pushed Fresno State in the lead for good. The 'Dogs closed out the set with five of the final nine points as a kill by Sabbatini closed out the sweep.
Notables
Head Coach Jonathan Winder
On how dynamic the Bulldog offense was tonight against Nevada....
"Every day and every time we play, one of the players learn something and clearly tonight, Lauren Sabbatini was awesome and Desiree Sukhov struggled early, but found her way, especially in the second set and we are getting better every time out."
On Lauren Sabbatini breaking out over the last few matches....
"Two weeks ago she had two really good practices and things have started to click. She played her role and was not trying to be perfect or kill every single ball and she is an incredible example to the team. She has worked really, really hard, in the weight room, off the court, absorbing everything and it is starting to click for her."
Up next
The Bulldogs hit the road on Saturday traveling to San Jose State (5-7, 0-1 MW) on Saturday for their MW road opener. The Spartans fell on the road on Thursday at San Diego State in five sets.
"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:Â @FresnoStateVB
Instagram:Â FresnoStatevball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateVB
Fresno State (8-5, 1-0 MW) put an end to the Wolf Pack's seven-match winning streak taking sets, 25-21, 25-20 and 25-20.
The Bulldogs outhit Nevada (10-3, 0-1 MW) in the match, .314 to .169 while edging the Wolf Pack in kills, 45-39. Leading the way offensively for the 'Dogs was redshirt freshman outside hitter Lauren Sabbatini who tallied a career-high 13 kills and hit a career-high .385 in the match.
Junior libero Reagan Leonard was one of two 'Dogs with double figure digs ending with a match-best 18 surpassing 1,000 digs in her career in the contest.
Junior outside hitter Desiree Sukhov had her team-leading 12th double-digit kill performance with 10 and added 12 digs for her eighth double-double of the season.
Senior setter Madelyn Halteman led the 'Dogs with 37 assists and added eight digs and two service aces.
How It Happened
The opening set saw the two teams trade points back and forth as neither team led by more than two. With the set locked at 14-14 in the early going, a kill by Sabbatini was followed by block assists by Halteman and Grace Doyle as the Bulldogs closed out the set on an 11-7 run. Junior outside hitter Amilya Thompson ended the first set with a kill (watch).
The second set saw a 6-6 draw to start before a 6-1 run by the Wolf Pack pushed Nevada to a 12-7 lead. The 'Dogs refused to let Nevada tie the match rallying back with five straight points getting three kills and two service aces by Halteman to force a Wolf Pack timeout. After a kill by Nevada tied the score at 17-17, the 'Dogs closed out the set with eight of the final 12 points as the set again ended on a kill by Thompson.
With Nevada jumping out to a 13-10 lead to start the third set, a 4-1 run by the 'Dogs tied the set at 14-14 and after the teams traded the next four points, four straight points by the 'Dogs on a pair of Nevada attack errors, a kill by Sukhov and an ace by Jocelyn Rodriguez (watch) pushed Fresno State in the lead for good. The 'Dogs closed out the set with five of the final nine points as a kill by Sabbatini closed out the sweep.
Notables
- Fresno State won its Mountain West opener for the fourth time in its eight years in the Mountain West joining wins in 2012, 2013 & 2018.
- The Bulldogs take the lead in the all-time series over Nevada, 28-27 with the win.
- The 'Dogs defeated Nevada for the third straight time at home and sixth time in eight meetings in Fresno since joining the Mountain West in 2012.
- Leonard now has 1,010 career digs and sits only seven shy of moving into the top 10 in program history in digs.
- Halteman moved into fourth place in program history in assists passing Traci Sliester (3,348) as the fifth-year senior now has 3,361 career assists.
- Fresno State improves to 6-1 on the season when winning the first set.
- The 'Dogs, who lead the MW in services aces per set, added six more on Thursday and has now led its opponent in aces in nine of 13 matches
Head Coach Jonathan Winder
On how dynamic the Bulldog offense was tonight against Nevada....
"Every day and every time we play, one of the players learn something and clearly tonight, Lauren Sabbatini was awesome and Desiree Sukhov struggled early, but found her way, especially in the second set and we are getting better every time out."
On Lauren Sabbatini breaking out over the last few matches....
"Two weeks ago she had two really good practices and things have started to click. She played her role and was not trying to be perfect or kill every single ball and she is an incredible example to the team. She has worked really, really hard, in the weight room, off the court, absorbing everything and it is starting to click for her."
Up next
The Bulldogs hit the road on Saturday traveling to San Jose State (5-7, 0-1 MW) on Saturday for their MW road opener. The Spartans fell on the road on Thursday at San Diego State in five sets.
"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:Â @FresnoStateVB
Instagram:Â FresnoStatevball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateVB
Team Stats
NV
FS
Kills
39
45
Errors
19
12
Attempts
118
105
Hitting %
.169
.314
Points
47.0
61.0
Assists
37
41
Aces
3
6
Blocks
5.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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