Bulldogs hold off New Mexico in four-set victory

Friday, September 18

Moraga, CA

5 p.m. PT

Fresno State

4-6,0-0Pac-12

New Mexico

2-8,0-0Mountain West

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
New Mexico	20	22	25	25	1
Fresno St.	25	25	12	27	3

9/18/2026 8:09:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Holly Cassina / Strategic Communications Coordinator

MORAGA, Calif. – The Fresno State volleyball team defeated New Mexico in four sets (25-20, 25-22, 12-25, 27-25) on Friday evening at UCU Pavilion. The Bulldogs improved to 4-6 on the season with the win.

Jenna Legault led Fresno State with 18 kills on .286 hitting, adding 11 digs, three service aces and three blocks for her third double-double of the season. Kiley Devery added 11 kills on .348 hitting and four blocks, while Brooklyn Washington finished with eight kills on .417 hitting and five blocks. The Bulldogs recorded a season-high 15 blocks as a team.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams traded points early before Fresno State created the first separation of the opening set. With the score tied at 7, kills from Legault and Washington helped the Bulldogs build a 10-7 advantage.

Fresno State extended its lead to 15-10 behind consecutive kills from Devery and Legault. New Mexico pulled within two at 17-15, but the Bulldogs responded with back-to-back Devery kills to push the advantage to 19-15.

The Lobos made another push late, cutting Fresno State's lead to 22-20, but Legault answered with a kill before the Bulldogs closed the set with consecutive New Mexico attack errors to take the opener, 25-20.

Fresno State jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set behind four consecutive Legault kills. The Bulldogs maintained their advantage throughout the middle of the frame, with Devery and Washington helping push the lead to 19-14.

New Mexico responded with a 4-1 run to cut the Bulldogs' advantage to 20-18, but Fresno State held off the rally. Legault delivered an ace to make it 23-19 before Devery put the Bulldogs at set point with a kill. Washington finished the frame with a solo block to give Fresno State a 2-0 lead in the match.

New Mexico responded quickly in the third set, opening the frame with a 4-0 run before extending its advantage to 9-1.

The Lobos continued to control the set, building a 21-6 lead. Fresno State made a late push behind an Isabel Smart kill, a Legault ace and a Brooke Jenkins kill, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome as New Mexico forced a fourth set.

The fourth set featured 12 ties and five lead changes as the teams battled throughout the frame. Fresno State trailed 17-14 before three straight New Mexico attack errors, including a Devery block, sparked a 4-0 Bulldog run that gave Fresno State an 18-17 advantage.

After New Mexico regained a 21-19 lead, Fresno State responded with five unanswered points. Smart started the run with a kill before Washington and Legault combined for a block. Two more New Mexico attack errors and a Legault kill gave the Bulldogs match point at 24-21.

The Lobos fought off three match points to tie the set at 24 and again answered after Washington gave Fresno State a 25-24 advantage. Legault delivered a kill to put the Bulldogs back in front, 26-25, before Devery finished the match with a kill for the 27-25 victory.

NOTABLE

Legault recorded 18 kills tonight, making her career kill count exactly 1,000.
Devery finished with 11 kills on .348 hitting and four blocks.
Washington recorded eight kills on .417 hitting and five blocks.
Andee May led Fresno State with six blocks while adding four kills.
Anna Bolich recorded a team-high 23 assists and 11 digs.
Gabby Lombardi added 22 assists, nine digs and a service ace.
Olivia Lombardi finished with 11 digs and three assists.
Fresno State hit a match-best .486 in the opening set, recording 18 kills with just one attack error.
The Bulldogs totaled a season-high 15 blocks, including 11 solo blocks, while holding New Mexico to .200 hitting for the match.