Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, March 27
Fresno, CA
1 P.M. PT
Fresno State
7-6, 7-6MW
3
vs
1
New Mexico
3-9, 3-9MW
1
2
3
4
F
New Mexico
28
17
12
14
1
Fresno State
26
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Keith Kountz
'Dogs top Lobos in four sets on Senior Day
3/27/2021 5:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State volleyball team defeated New Mexico in four sets on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center.
Fresno State (7-6, 7-6 MW) claimed sets 26-28, 25-17, 25-12, 25-14 to snap a three-game losing skid and close out its spring home slate with a 5-3 mark in Fresno.
The Bulldogs were led on the afternoon by sophomore outside hitter Amaria Kelley who had a team-high 16 kills as the Sacramento native notched her fifth straight match with double-digit kills.
Senior outside hitter Desiree Sukhov registered her seventh double-double of the spring and her fourth in a row finishing with 14 kills and 14 digs as the dig mark matches her season high.
Sophomore middle blocker Grace Doyle notched her first double-double of the season finishing with 10 kills and 10 blocks. Fellow sophomore Mikayla Weiss had a career-high 42 assists blowing past her previous high of 17 set last Saturday at Colorado State.
Senior libero Jocelyn Rodriguez led the way with 16 digs to make it 12 straight matches with double-figure digs for the Clovis native.
As a team, the Bulldogs matched a season-high with 17.0 blocks and added nine service aces and 54 kills.
How It Happened
After honoring seniors Rodriguez, Amilya Thompson and Reagan Leonard prior to the match, the first set saw the 'Dogs and Lobos go back-and-forth with 10 ties and three lead changes before New Mexico (3-9, 3-9 MW) was able to edge out a hard-fought 28-26 win.
The Bulldogs battled back in set two taking a 14-10 lead after a kill by Sukhov (watch) and extended that lead to 22-16 after a kill by Savanah Smith (watch). The 'Dogs closed out the set with three straight points getting a pair of blocks by Smith and Doyle (watch) to clinch a 25-17 win to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set saw Fresno State get hot early going on a 5-0 run (watch) to take a 11-6 lead and extend it 16-8 after blocks by Sukhov and Rebecca Rendahl (watch). The 'Dogs closed out the set on a 6-1 run to take a 25-12 win (watch) and go up two sets to one.
The Bulldogs used a key 7-0 run in the fourth set to take a 12-11 lead to 19-11 and ease to a 25-14 win (watch) to wrap up the match.
Quotes
Head Coach Jonathan Winder
On matching a season high with 17 blocks today....
"We blocked more balls today since the first game of the season. It has been a journey this season in and out of lineups and this is a lineup we felt pretty comfortable with. We practice and we train to do it and it is nice when it shows up a little bit more."
On the 'Dogs three seniors...
"Reagan is phenomenal and has been the best defensive players in our conference the past couple of season and it is really tough that she is not able to play, but we are just glad she is back and here with our program these last couple of weeks and she is an amazing person. It has been awesome to see her development on and off the court and she is passionate about changing the world and she has a heart for female athletics and for what is right in the world. Jocelyn was the first recruit that I had, a Clovis East kid that was told she wasn't good enough to be here and that has been a chip on her shoulder and here she is as one of the best defensive players in our conference this season and just phenomenal to see the growth and what happens when you get someone who is motivated and driven to learn the skills and to go through the tough moments. This year her stepping into the libero role has been phenomenal, she has done great passing and serving, digging and has been really fun to see her journey on the court and off the court, she is a 4.0 student, going to go to vet school and will have a huge impact on the community. She is a tremendous role model for anyone growing up in the Valley, I think knowing her story is really good for young people and she is a great person to model. Mil has been phenomenal for us, played so many different positions, done everything that we asked. We would not have won as many games as we have over the course of the season without her. Mil's biggest part to that is her adaptability and a really highly skilled player and a really great teammate, incredibly kind and great about spending time with her teammates off the court and has been a significant lift to everyone's lives with her here so we could not be proud of all theses seniors."
Up next
The Bulldogs close out the regular season at Nevada (3-11, 3-11 MW) & Boise State (10-5, 10-5 MW) next week.
"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 (7-6, 7-6 MW) claimed sets 26-28, 25-17, 25-12, 25-14 to snap a three-game losing skid and close out its spring home slate with a 5-3 mark in Fresno.
The Bulldogs were led on the afternoon by sophomore outside hitter Amaria Kelley who had a team-high 16 kills as the Sacramento native notched her fifth straight match with double-digit kills.
Senior outside hitter Desiree Sukhov registered her seventh double-double of the spring and her fourth in a row finishing with 14 kills and 14 digs as the dig mark matches her season high.
Sophomore middle blocker Grace Doyle notched her first double-double of the season finishing with 10 kills and 10 blocks. Fellow sophomore Mikayla Weiss had a career-high 42 assists blowing past her previous high of 17 set last Saturday at Colorado State.
Senior libero Jocelyn Rodriguez led the way with 16 digs to make it 12 straight matches with double-figure digs for the Clovis native.
As a team, the Bulldogs matched a season-high with 17.0 blocks and added nine service aces and 54 kills.
How It Happened
After honoring seniors Rodriguez, Amilya Thompson and Reagan Leonard prior to the match, the first set saw the 'Dogs and Lobos go back-and-forth with 10 ties and three lead changes before New Mexico (3-9, 3-9 MW) was able to edge out a hard-fought 28-26 win.
The Bulldogs battled back in set two taking a 14-10 lead after a kill by Sukhov (watch) and extended that lead to 22-16 after a kill by Savanah Smith (watch). The 'Dogs closed out the set with three straight points getting a pair of blocks by Smith and Doyle (watch) to clinch a 25-17 win to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set saw Fresno State get hot early going on a 5-0 run (watch) to take a 11-6 lead and extend it 16-8 after blocks by Sukhov and Rebecca Rendahl (watch). The 'Dogs closed out the set on a 6-1 run to take a 25-12 win (watch) and go up two sets to one.
The Bulldogs used a key 7-0 run in the fourth set to take a 12-11 lead to 19-11 and ease to a 25-14 win (watch) to wrap up the match.
Quotes
Head Coach Jonathan Winder
On matching a season high with 17 blocks today....
"We blocked more balls today since the first game of the season. It has been a journey this season in and out of lineups and this is a lineup we felt pretty comfortable with. We practice and we train to do it and it is nice when it shows up a little bit more."
On the 'Dogs three seniors...
"Reagan is phenomenal and has been the best defensive players in our conference the past couple of season and it is really tough that she is not able to play, but we are just glad she is back and here with our program these last couple of weeks and she is an amazing person. It has been awesome to see her development on and off the court and she is passionate about changing the world and she has a heart for female athletics and for what is right in the world. Jocelyn was the first recruit that I had, a Clovis East kid that was told she wasn't good enough to be here and that has been a chip on her shoulder and here she is as one of the best defensive players in our conference this season and just phenomenal to see the growth and what happens when you get someone who is motivated and driven to learn the skills and to go through the tough moments. This year her stepping into the libero role has been phenomenal, she has done great passing and serving, digging and has been really fun to see her journey on the court and off the court, she is a 4.0 student, going to go to vet school and will have a huge impact on the community. She is a tremendous role model for anyone growing up in the Valley, I think knowing her story is really good for young people and she is a great person to model. Mil has been phenomenal for us, played so many different positions, done everything that we asked. We would not have won as many games as we have over the course of the season without her. Mil's biggest part to that is her adaptability and a really highly skilled player and a really great teammate, incredibly kind and great about spending time with her teammates off the court and has been a significant lift to everyone's lives with her here so we could not be proud of all theses seniors."
Up next
The Bulldogs close out the regular season at Nevada (3-11, 3-11 MW) & Boise State (10-5, 10-5 MW) next week.
"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
NM
FS
Kills
39
54
Errors
27
19
Attempts
127
141
Hitting %
.094
.248
Points
49.0
80.0
Assists
37
50
Aces
2
9
Blocks
8.0
17.0
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
3
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
10
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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