Bulldogs host Fresno State Invitational

Friday, September 2

Fresno, CA

10 A.M. PT

Fresno State

Seattle

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs host Fresno State Invitational

8/31/2022 3:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Fresno_State_Invitational_Notes.pdf Tournament Central

The Bulldogs open their home slate this weekend hosting the Fresno State Invitational presented by Axis Hotel Group on Friday and Saturday at the Save Mart Center.

By: Travis Blanshan / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

Fresno State Invitational presented by Axis Hotel Group
Fresno State vs. Seattle
Sept. 2, 2022 • 10 A.M. PT • Save Mart Center • Fresno, Calif.
Watch: CW59/Mountain West Network
Live: Live Stats • Live Updates on Twitter (@FresnoStateVB)
Series History: Fresno State leads 1-0

Fresno State vs. Louisiana Tech
Sept. 2, 2022 • 7 P.M. PT • Save Mart Center • Fresno, Calif.
Live: Live Stats • Live Updates on Twitter (@FresnoStateVB)
Series History: Fresno State leads 17-3

Fresno State vs. San Francisco
Sept. 3, 2022 • 4 P.M. PT • Save Mart Center • Fresno, Calif.
Watch: CW59/Mountain West Network
Live: Live Stats • Live Updates on Twitter (@FresnoStateVB)
Series History: Fresno State leads 28-5

Promotions

FREE entrance with a Sept. 1 football ticket!

BULLDOG BONES

Fresno State opens its home slate on Friday with the start of the Fresno State Invitational presented by Axis Hotel Group.
The Bulldogs opened the season last weekend at the College of Charleston Classic defeating The Citadel in straight sets while falling in five sets to College of Charleston and four sets to Rutgers.
The 'Dogs will take on Seattle, Louisiana Tech and San Francisco in the tournament.
The Bulldogs are 6-4 in their last 10 home openers with wins over Belmont (2013), UC Riverside (2015), Portland State (2016), Nevada (2017), Fresno Pacific (2018) & San Jose State (Spring 2021).
Fresno State ranks third in the MW in team attacks (434) and digs (174).
Hannah Waters checks in third in the MW in assists (118) & Ella Rud is third in the conference in attacks per set (10.83).

By The Numbers
6 - The Bulldogs have won six of their last 10 home openers
3 - The 'Dogs rank third in the Mountain West in team attacks & digs
4 - Four newcomers enter the fold in 2022 with two freshmen & a pair of transfers

Scouting Seattle

Seattle opens up its season this weekend after going 4-21 in 2021 with a 1-13 mark in the WAC.
The Redhawks defeated Seattle Pacific in an exhibition in four sets on Aug. 22.
Seattle was picked 13th in the WAC preseason poll.
Senior outside hitter Amaris Carter is Seattle's top returning leader in kills (88).
Senior setter Ezgi Ozkan tallied 380 assists last season while sophomore Kaitlyn Sipes is the Redhawks' top returner in digs (262).

Scouting Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech has started the season 2-2 with four-set wins over Presbyterian & Grambling State while falling to Austin Peay and Clemson.
The Bulldogs went 9-19 overall and 1-11 in Conference USA play in 2021 while finishing seventh in the C-USA West Division.
The Dogs topped Grambling State in four sets at home on Wednesday evening
LA Tech is fifth in C-USA and 96th nationally in hitting percentage (.246) while also being fifth in aces per set (1.64).
Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Taylor was named to the Orange Bash All-Tournament Team last weekend.
The Bulldogs were selected 11th in the Conference USA preseason poll.

Scouting San Francisco

San Francisco is off to a 3-0 start with wins over Montana State, St. Thomas & Grand Canyon at the Bobcat Classic.
The Dons went 0-25 and 0-17 in the WCC last season.
USF is second in the WCC in assists (140) & kills (149) while checking in third in service aces (20).
Diogo Silva is in his second season at the helm of the Dons.
San Francisco was picked 10th in the WCC preseason poll.

'DOGS OPEN AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CLASSIC

The Bulldogs opened the season at the College of Charleston Classic last weekend defeating The Citadel in straight sets.
The 'Dogs fell in five sets to host College of Charleston and four sets to Rutgers.
It was the second straight season the 'Dogs first win of the season was a sweep after also sweeping CSUN for the first victory of 2021.
It was only the second season-opening loss for the 'Dogs in the last seven seasons.

DOYLE NAMED TO COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Senior middle blocker Grace Doyle was named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing with 41 kills, 12 blocks, five service aces, three digs and two assists while hitting .456.

2022 MW/NCAA rankings

Team attacks: 434 (3rd MW/56th NCAA)
Digs: 174 (3rd MW/84th NCAA)
Attacks per set: 36.17 (4th MW/57th NCAA)
Digs per set: 14.50 (5th MW/114th NCAA)
Kills: 152 (5th MW/81st NCAA)
Assists: 141 (5th MW/84th NCAA)

INDIVIDUAL HIGHS

Ella Rud set a new single match high for kills with 21 against the College of Charleston surpassing her previous high of 16 set at San Jose State in 2021.
Hannah Waters notched 52 assists in her Bulldog debut against the College of Charleston which were the most by a Bulldog since Amilya Thompson recorded 53 at Wyoming on March 12, 2021.
Lauren Sabbatini notched a double-double against the Cougars with 11 kills and 12 digs while Sydney Gazzaniga recorded a career high 20 digs in the contest.
Doyle set new single match highs for kills (17) and service aces (4) against Rutgers. Her 17 kills bested her previous high of 14 set against Wyoming in the spring of 2021 and she had reached three aces in 12 matches.
Waters kept up her strong start to the season with a double-double against the Scarlet Knights tallying 27 assists and added 12 digs.

POSTSEASON

For the second time since 2011, the Mountain West will host a postseason tournament to determine the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament after Boise State claimed the title in 2021.
The top six teams in the regular season will head to Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo. on Nov. 23-25.
This will be the 12th postseason tournament having also had a MW Tournament from 1999-2007.

"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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