Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, September 28
San Jose, CA
2:00 PM PT
Fresno State
9-5, 2-0MW
3
at
0
San Jose State
5-8, 0-2MW
1
2
3
F
Fresno State
25
25
25
3
San Jose State
19
15
18
0
Photo by: Keith Kountz
'Dogs sweep San Jose State
9/28/2019 5:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Opening up Mountain West play with two straight wins for a second straight year, the Fresno State volleyball team completed its fourth straight sweep on Saturday afternoon making quick work of San Jose State in Spartan Gym.
Fresno State (9-5, 2-0 MW), who entered the match with sweeps over San Francisco, CSU Bakersfield and Nevada in its last three matches, won sets, 25-19, 25-15 and 25-18 on its way to its third win at San Jose State (5-8, 0-2 MW) in the last four seasons.
The 'Dogs were led offensively by junior outside hitter Amilya Thompson who totaled 11 kills and a season-high .579 hitting percentage.
Redshirt freshman outside hitter Lauren Sabbatini continued her play as of late with her second straight double-figure kill performance finishing with 10 while freshman middle blocker Grace Doyle added seven.
Senior setter Madelyn Halteman added 28 assists and a career-high five service aces. Junior libero Reagan Leonard tacked on 24 digs, her second-highest total of the season, while she moved into the top 10 in program history in digs in the match.
Junior outside hitter Desiree Sukhov tacked on a season-best 16 digs and added six kills.
How It Happened
The 'Dogs, who outhit the Spartans, .172 to .070 in the match, overcame an early 14-11 deficit in the first set to close out the set on a 14-5 run to claim a 25-19 win (watch). Sabbatini paced the 'Dogs with three kills while Sukhov, Doyle and Thompson added two kills apiece. Halteman added three of the Bulldogs' five aces while Leonard and Sukhov combined for 16 of the 'Dogs 20 aces in the set.
The second set was all Bulldogs as Thompson got the 'Dogs off to a quick 7-3 lead with a kill (watch) and the 'Dogs continued to hold a five-point lead after a kill by Doyle made it 18-13 (watch). The 'Dogs closed the set on a 7-2 run to win 25-15 as a Spartan attack error ended the set (watch).
The final set went to the 'Dogs 25-18 as a key 9-0 run by the 'Dogs (watch) broke open a 6-6 tie. The Spartans cut the 'Dogs lead to four at 20-16 before the 'Dogs wrapped up the match on a Spartan service error (watch).
Notables
The Bulldogs return home to host two MW opponents next week taking on New Mexico (5-9, 0-2 MW) on Thursday at 6 p.m. for Breast Cancer Awareness Night before welcoming UNLV (4-9, 0-2 MW) to the Save Mart Center on Saturday at 1 p.m.for Junior Bulldog Kids Club Day.
"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 (9-5, 2-0 MW), who entered the match with sweeps over San Francisco, CSU Bakersfield and Nevada in its last three matches, won sets, 25-19, 25-15 and 25-18 on its way to its third win at San Jose State (5-8, 0-2 MW) in the last four seasons.
The 'Dogs were led offensively by junior outside hitter Amilya Thompson who totaled 11 kills and a season-high .579 hitting percentage.
Redshirt freshman outside hitter Lauren Sabbatini continued her play as of late with her second straight double-figure kill performance finishing with 10 while freshman middle blocker Grace Doyle added seven.
Senior setter Madelyn Halteman added 28 assists and a career-high five service aces. Junior libero Reagan Leonard tacked on 24 digs, her second-highest total of the season, while she moved into the top 10 in program history in digs in the match.
Junior outside hitter Desiree Sukhov tacked on a season-best 16 digs and added six kills.
How It Happened
The 'Dogs, who outhit the Spartans, .172 to .070 in the match, overcame an early 14-11 deficit in the first set to close out the set on a 14-5 run to claim a 25-19 win (watch). Sabbatini paced the 'Dogs with three kills while Sukhov, Doyle and Thompson added two kills apiece. Halteman added three of the Bulldogs' five aces while Leonard and Sukhov combined for 16 of the 'Dogs 20 aces in the set.
The second set was all Bulldogs as Thompson got the 'Dogs off to a quick 7-3 lead with a kill (watch) and the 'Dogs continued to hold a five-point lead after a kill by Doyle made it 18-13 (watch). The 'Dogs closed the set on a 7-2 run to win 25-15 as a Spartan attack error ended the set (watch).
The final set went to the 'Dogs 25-18 as a key 9-0 run by the 'Dogs (watch) broke open a 6-6 tie. The Spartans cut the 'Dogs lead to four at 20-16 before the 'Dogs wrapped up the match on a Spartan service error (watch).
Notables
- In the lone meeting with the Spartans this season, the 'Dogs improved to 4-3 in San Jose since San Jose State moved into the Mountain West in 2013.
- Fresno State completed its sixth sweep of the season and fourth straight, a feat that has not been accomplished since the 2002 team opened the season with six straight sweeps.
- The 'Dogs are now 4-4 in Mountain West road openers as Saturday's win joins victories at Boise State in 2012, at Utah State in 2015 and at San Diego State in 2018.
- The Bulldogs open Mountain West play 2-0 for a second straight season as 2018 and 2019 are the lone 2-0 starts to conference play in the MW since joining the conference in 2012.
- Leonard moved into the top 10 in program history in digs on Saturday as she surpassed both Jacqueline Hutcheson (2014-17 - 1,016) for 10th place and Shanus Bennett (1995-98 - 1,033) for ninth place.
- Fresno State improves to 7-1 on the season when winning the first set.
- The 'Dogs, who lead the MW in services aces per set, tallied eight on Saturday and have now led their opponent in aces in 10 of 14 matches.
The Bulldogs return home to host two MW opponents next week taking on New Mexico (5-9, 0-2 MW) on Thursday at 6 p.m. for Breast Cancer Awareness Night before welcoming UNLV (4-9, 0-2 MW) to the Save Mart Center on Saturday at 1 p.m.for Junior Bulldog Kids Club Day.
"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
FS
SJ
Kills
37
27
Errors
16
19
Attempts
122
115
Hitting %
.172
.070
Points
50.0
36.0
Assists
35
24
Aces
8
3
Blocks
5.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballVB: 2025 Preseason Practice Highlight
Friday, August 15
VB: Addison Haluska, MW Preseason Player of the Year
Wednesday, August 13
VB: 2025 Adidas Gear Reveal
Wednesday, August 13
VB: 2025 First Day of Practice
Monday, August 04