Fresno State Athletics
Thursday, February 18
Fresno, CA
1 P.M. PT
Fresno State
vs
San Jose State
Photo by: CARY EDMONDSON - FRESNO STATE
Bulldogs open home slate vs. SJSU
2/16/2021 12:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team opens its home schedule this week hosting San Jose State at the Save Mart Center.
Fresno State vs. San Jose State
Feb. 18, 2021 • 1 P.M. PT • Save Mart Center • Fresno, Calif.
Watch:Â Mountain West Network
Live: Live Stats • Live Updates on Twitter (@FresnoStateVB)
Series History: SJSU leads 52-35 • Last: FS 3-0 (9/28/19)
Fresno State vs. San Jose State
Feb. 19, 2021 • 6 P.M. PT • Save Mart Center • Fresno, Calif.
Watch:Â N/A
Live: Live Stats • Live Updates on Twitter (@FresnoStateVB)
Series History: SJSU leads 52-35 • Last: FS 3-0 (9/28/19)
Bulldog Bones
3Â - Fresno State ranks third in the nation in blocks per set (3.57)
5Â -Â The 'Dogs won their season opener for a fifth straight season with a four-set win at SDSU
460Â -Â Days since the Bulldogs last played at home - Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Air Force
Scouting San Jose State (1-3, 1-3 MW)
On expectations for the spring…
"Well certainly with COVID, it throws a major wrench into experience. We basically skipped one year of skill and physical development, which is a major part of our program and a major part of experience. Through it all, I believe we'll have the opportunity to be a great team. I believe in this group. They have been through a lot, we have had a lot of stuff happen in the last year and we are still here, still getting better. The best days are ahead of us."
Â
On what he is most looking forward to this spring...
"Just the journey. It is going to be memorable. I really don't know what to expect with the level of play in our conference, travel, empty gym, etc, there will be so much new and different. Part of that journey is the character of this group and I love this group of athletes and coaches. I am really excited to see how we all respond, how we show our competitiveness and character."
2021 Spring Openers
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateVB
Instagram:Â FresnoStatevball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateVB
Fresno State vs. San Jose State
Feb. 18, 2021 • 1 P.M. PT • Save Mart Center • Fresno, Calif.
Watch:Â Mountain West Network
Live: Live Stats • Live Updates on Twitter (@FresnoStateVB)
Series History: SJSU leads 52-35 • Last: FS 3-0 (9/28/19)
Fresno State vs. San Jose State
Feb. 19, 2021 • 6 P.M. PT • Save Mart Center • Fresno, Calif.
Watch:Â N/A
Live: Live Stats • Live Updates on Twitter (@FresnoStateVB)
Series History: SJSU leads 52-35 • Last: FS 3-0 (9/28/19)
Bulldog Bones
- The 'Dogs got off to a 1-1 start to the season last weekend splitting a pair of matches at SDSU.
- Fresno State opens play at home with its 88th & 89th meeting against the Spartans.
- The Bulldogs have won three of their last four home openers with wins in 2016, 2017 & 2018 before falling to CSUB in four sets a season ago.
- The 'Dogs are 6-6 against SJSU as members of the MW and 2-3 at home with their last win in 2014.
3Â - Fresno State ranks third in the nation in blocks per set (3.57)
5Â -Â The 'Dogs won their season opener for a fifth straight season with a four-set win at SDSU
460Â -Â Days since the Bulldogs last played at home - Nov. 16, 2019 vs. Air Force
Scouting San Jose State (1-3, 1-3 MW)
- San Jose State comes into Thursday's match with a 1-3 overall record & a 1-3 mark in the MW.
- The Spartans are coming off splitting a pair of road matches last weekend at Air Force winning in five sets on Saturday and falling in four sets on Friday.
- SJSU opened the season at Boise State falling in four sets in both matches on Feb. 4-5.
- Trent Kersten is in his first season on the sideline for the Spartans after spending the last five seasons at TCU.
- San Jose State was selected ninth in the MW Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing 10-19 in 2019 with a 5-13 mark in the MW (T-9th).
- Junior libero Sarah Smevog earned Preseason All-Mountain West honors while junior middle blocker Haylee Nelson returns after earning All-MW accolades in 2019.
- Redshirt senior Latahevai Lousi leads the Spartans with 57 kills and Nelson is close behind with 55 kills along with 52 digs.
- The Spartans lead the MW in digs (225), rank second in assists (183), kills (196) & total attacks (552).
- The Bulldogs have won three of their last four home openers with wins vs. UC Irvine (2016), CSU Bakersfield (2017) & Fresno Pacific (2018) before falling to CSUB in 2019.
- Julia Handy nearly doubled her previous career high of 20 assists in the season-opening win over SDSU finishing with 38 assists.
- Rebecca Rendahl (7) & Amaria Kelley each set career highs in blocks in the win over SDSU. Rendahl ranks 13th in the nation in blocks per set (1.71).
- The Bulldogs won their season opener for a fifth season in a row and now 10 of the last 13 seasons.
- The 'Dogs opened the season on the road in a true road match for the first time since 2012.
On expectations for the spring…
"Well certainly with COVID, it throws a major wrench into experience. We basically skipped one year of skill and physical development, which is a major part of our program and a major part of experience. Through it all, I believe we'll have the opportunity to be a great team. I believe in this group. They have been through a lot, we have had a lot of stuff happen in the last year and we are still here, still getting better. The best days are ahead of us."
Â
On what he is most looking forward to this spring...
"Just the journey. It is going to be memorable. I really don't know what to expect with the level of play in our conference, travel, empty gym, etc, there will be so much new and different. Part of that journey is the character of this group and I love this group of athletes and coaches. I am really excited to see how we all respond, how we show our competitiveness and character."
2021 Spring Openers
- Fresno State brings back 12 returners this spring while welcoming a pair of newcomers.
- The 2019 Bulldogs finished 14-16Â overall and 7-11Â in the MW to tie for sixth in the MW with Nevada.
- The Bulldogs have combined to win 36 matches in head coach Jonathan Winder's first two years, the most wins in a two-year span since 2002 & 2003 (44).
- Sukhov was also named the MW Newcomer of the Year in 2019, the second 'Dog to earn the award after Holly Franks won the award in 2013.
- Fresno State was selected sixth in the preseason MW Coaches Poll on Jan. 28.
- The 'Dogs tied for sixth in the MW a season ago after being picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll.
- Senior outside hitter Desiree Sukhov was one of eight players named to the Preseason All-MW team.
- She was one of four All-Mountain West selections from 2019 to be named to this year's preseason team.
- Sukhov became the third Bulldog to be named to the Preseason All-MW team since joining the conference in 2012.
- The 'Dogs return 86 percent of their kills from a season ago (1115/1295), 85 percent of their digs (1249/1468) and 73 percent of their service aces (138/190).
- The Bulldogs bring back their top five players in kills, five of their top six in service aces and digs and five of the top seven in blocks.
- A year after welcoming 10 newcomers, the Bulldogs only have two new players this spring.
- Junior libero/defensive specialist Moana To'oto'o joins the Bulldogs after two seasons at San Francisco where she played in 28 matches and 84 sets.
- Freshman middle blocker Kasey Purry joins the 'Dogs from Arizona after leaving Sahuaro High School as the school's all-time leader in kills and blocks.
- With the typical non-conference opponents off the schedule, the 'Dogs will play five MW opponents at home and five MW opponents on the road.
- The 'Dogs will open and close the season on the road with all eight of its home matches coming in a 12-match stretch.
- The winner of the regular season will represent the Mountain West in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
- The tournament will be held April 13-24 in Omaha, Neb.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateVB
Instagram:Â FresnoStatevball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateVB
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
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