'Dogs stumble in five-set battle with Rams

Thursday, October 13

Fresno, CA

6 P.M. PT

Fresno State

6-13,0-7Mountain West

Colorado State

13-5,6-1Mountain West

Colorado St.

Fresno St.

Photo by: Cary Edmondson

'Dogs stumble in five-set battle with Rams

10/13/2022 8:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Travis Blanshan / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

FRESNO, Calif. - A hard-fought, back-and-forth five-set battle saw the Fresno State volleyball team fall to Colorado State at the Save Mart Center on Thursday evening.

Fresno State (6-13, 0-7 MW) earned wins in the first and third set, but stumbled in the second, fourth and fifth sets to fall to Colorado State (13-5, 6-1 MW).

How It Happened
Getting off to a hot start to the opening set, the 'Dogs led 15-11 at the media timeout using a 6-3 run to extend a one-point lead to four. A 4-0 run for Colorado State cut the 'Dogs lead to 16-15 and maintaining a one-point lead at 18-17, a service error, kill by Lauren Sabbatini and blocks from Kasey Purry and Ella Rud put the Bulldogs back up four. After a service error by the 'Dogs, the final four points of the set went to the Bulldogs getting a kill by Addison Haluska followed by back-to-back aces from Rud with an attack error from CSU giving Fresno State the opening set.

The second set saw CSU knot the sets at one apiece using a 7-2 run to extend a 10-7 lead to 17-9 and force a Bulldog timeout. Getting within one after a Ram service error, four of the final five points of the set went to CSU for the 10-point set win.

A back-and-forth third set went the way of the Bulldogs who stormed out to a commanding 8-0 lead after a Ram attack error. Winning a challenge that gave a kill to Grace Doyle and put the 'Dogs up 19-14, CSU answered back with an 8-2 run to take a one-point lead. A kill by Purry tied the set, but two quick points for CSU put the Rams on the brink of taking the set. The 'Dogs would not be denied rallying off the final four points of the set getting a pair of kills from Preslee Lillard, a kill from Olivia Keller and a setting error by the Rams for the set win.

The Rams tied the match at two sets apiece in the fourth set using a 9-3 run down the stretch to break a 16-16 tie.

Heading to a fifth set for the seventh time this season, back-to-back kills by Keller tied the set at six apiece. Unfortunately for the 'Dogs, it was all CSU from there scoring nine of the set's final nine points with a kill putting the visitors up five at 13-8 as they went on to win the final set by that margin.

Notables

It was the Bulldogs first home loss to Colorado State since Nov. 7, 2019.
The 'Dogs won the opening set for the first time since Sept. 24 against San Jose State, but drop to 6-5 when winning the opening set.
Doyle led the 'Dogs with 14 kills, her fourth time leading the team in kills and it was her 15th match this season finishing with double figure kills.
Brooke Cowie notched her third double-double finishing with a team-best 23 assists and added 13 digs.
Purry matched her career high with nine blocks.

Up next
The 'Dogs close out the weekend on Saturday afternoon hosting Wyoming (7-12, 3-4 MW) at 1 p.m. at the Save Mart Center for Alumni Day. All Fresno State alumni get in free to the match.

"Fresno State Athletics - For The V: The Central Valley" - Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff proudly wear the "Green V" to show their pride in representing the Central Valley. Stories of why the Bulldogs play for the "Green V" will be shared throughout the next year with #ForTheV. To become a Bulldog Foundation member or join "The Green V Society," please call 559-278-7160 or visit bulldogfoundation.org.

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