Fresno State Athletics
Friday, May 14
4:00 p.m. PT
Fresno State
vs
Stanford
Photo by: FRESNO STATE BRAND STRATEGY AND MARKETING - PHOTO BY CARY EDMONDSON
No. 10 Bulldogs take on No. 2 Cardinal in NCAA Quarterfinal
5/13/2021 1:31:00 PM | Water Polo
2021 NCAA Tournament (May 12-16) • Los Angeles, Calif. (Spieker Aquatics Center)
vs. No. 2 Stanford •  Quarterfinal  • Fri., May 14 • 4:00 p.m. PTÂ
Live Stats | Live Stream | Tournament CentralÂ
Follow:Â @FresnoStateWPÂ on Twitter for live updates.
The No. 10 Fresno State water polo team is set to face No. 2 Stanford in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal matchup on Friday, May 14 at 4 p.m. PT in the Spieker Aquatics Center on UCLA's campus.Â
The winner of the game between the Bulldogs and the Cardinal will face the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 3 UCLA and No. 5 Hawai'i.Â
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BULLDOG BITES
SERIES HISTORY
Stanford owns the overall series between the teams 4-0. The last time the squads met, the Cardinal defeated the Bulldogs 8-6 at the Aggies Invite in 2020.
FRESNO STATE SEASON REVIEW
Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 12-5 (6-1 GCC). The Bulldogs took a piece of the GCC regular season championship after recording a program-best six wins in conference play, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific. This marked the first GCC regular season title in program history. Concluding regular season play, the Bulldogs tabbed two first team, one second team and two freshman team All-GCC selections. The five selections are the most honorees that Fresno State has earned in a single season in program history.
Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson were named All-GCC First Team honorees. Callie Woodruff earned an All-GCC Second Team nod. Kaitlin Howarth and Cynthia Rosa rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards. Howarth was named a GCC All-Freshman First Team selection while Rosa tallied All-Freshman Second Team honors.
The 'Dogs won their first GCC Tournament Championship in program history with a 14-10 victory over the second-seeded and 13th-ranked San Diego State. Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring a hat trick with two assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Nicholson led all-scorers in the contest with four goals. Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game. Nicholson and Woodruff joined Schade on the GCC All-Tournament Team.
BENSON NAMED GCC COACH OF THE YEAR
Fresno State water polo coach Natalie Benson was named the 2021 Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year. The award was voted on by the eight GCC head coaches.Â
Benson was named the inaugural head coach of the program in 2016, and the Bulldogs opened competition for the first time in 2018. She truly grew the program from the ground up based on the values of pride, preparation, focus, fight and win. Fresno State has increased its win total in conference play each year under the leadership of Benson.
Benson has led the Bulldogs to their first regular season GCC Championship, GCC Tournament Title and NCAA bid. In just its fourth year of competition, Fresno State has recorded a historic season and it's not over yet.
The winner of the contest between the Bulldogs and the Regals will face Stanford (12-5) on Friday, May 14.
"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 FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â FresnoStateWP
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
vs. No. 2 Stanford •  Quarterfinal  • Fri., May 14 • 4:00 p.m. PTÂ
Live Stats | Live Stream | Tournament CentralÂ
Follow:Â @FresnoStateWPÂ on Twitter for live updates.
The No. 10 Fresno State water polo team is set to face No. 2 Stanford in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal matchup on Friday, May 14 at 4 p.m. PT in the Spieker Aquatics Center on UCLA's campus.Â
The winner of the game between the Bulldogs and the Cardinal will face the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 3 UCLA and No. 5 Hawai'i.Â
Â
BULLDOG BITES
- Fresno State is ranked No. 10.
- Fresno State has been ranked inside the Top 15 for 13 consecutive weeks.
- Fresno State owns an overall record of 13-5 (6-1 GCC).
- Fresno State is coming off a 15-7 victory over Cal Lutheran in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. This victory marked the first NCAA Tournament win in program history.
- Fresno State is the 2021 GCC Tournament Champion.
- The Bulldogs also took a piece of the GCC regular season championship, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific.
- Fresno State has won nine out of the last 10 games.
- Fresno State has outscored its opponents 278-186, and is averaging 15.4 goals per game.
- Fresno State has six players that have scored 20+ goals this season.
- Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson have reached the 30+ goal mark this season with 37 and 35 goals, respectively.
- Fresno State has had three different goalkeepers record minutes. The unit has recorded .403 save percentage.
- Junior Hope Stokes has recorded the most minutes in goal for the Bulldogs. Stokes has recorded 72 saves and a .477 save percentage.Â
- Stanford is ranked No. 2.
- Stanford 12-5 (8-4 MPSF) this season, will make its 20th consecutive appearance in 2021.
- Stanford, the only women's water polo team that has competed at every NCAA Championship since its inception in 2001.
- Stanford is the defending champion. The Cardinal will be looking for its seventh NCAA championship in 10 seasons and eighth in program history.
- Stanford has advanced to the title game each of the past 10 years.
- Stanford is coming off a 9-6 loss to No. 1 USC in the MPSF Championship game.
- Stanford's five losses this season have all been against Top 5 opponents.
SERIES HISTORY
Stanford owns the overall series between the teams 4-0. The last time the squads met, the Cardinal defeated the Bulldogs 8-6 at the Aggies Invite in 2020.
FRESNO STATE SEASON REVIEW
Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 12-5 (6-1 GCC). The Bulldogs took a piece of the GCC regular season championship after recording a program-best six wins in conference play, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific. This marked the first GCC regular season title in program history. Concluding regular season play, the Bulldogs tabbed two first team, one second team and two freshman team All-GCC selections. The five selections are the most honorees that Fresno State has earned in a single season in program history.
Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson were named All-GCC First Team honorees. Callie Woodruff earned an All-GCC Second Team nod. Kaitlin Howarth and Cynthia Rosa rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards. Howarth was named a GCC All-Freshman First Team selection while Rosa tallied All-Freshman Second Team honors.
The 'Dogs won their first GCC Tournament Championship in program history with a 14-10 victory over the second-seeded and 13th-ranked San Diego State. Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring a hat trick with two assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Nicholson led all-scorers in the contest with four goals. Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game. Nicholson and Woodruff joined Schade on the GCC All-Tournament Team.
BENSON NAMED GCC COACH OF THE YEAR
Fresno State water polo coach Natalie Benson was named the 2021 Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year. The award was voted on by the eight GCC head coaches.Â
Benson was named the inaugural head coach of the program in 2016, and the Bulldogs opened competition for the first time in 2018. She truly grew the program from the ground up based on the values of pride, preparation, focus, fight and win. Fresno State has increased its win total in conference play each year under the leadership of Benson.
Benson has led the Bulldogs to their first regular season GCC Championship, GCC Tournament Title and NCAA bid. In just its fourth year of competition, Fresno State has recorded a historic season and it's not over yet.
The winner of the contest between the Bulldogs and the Regals will face Stanford (12-5) on Friday, May 14.
"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 FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â FresnoStateWP
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
Players Mentioned
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