Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, September 19
Moraga, CA
2 p.m. PT
Fresno State
5-6,0-0Pac-12
3
at
2
Saint Mary's
5-7,0-0WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno St. | 19 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Saint Mary's (CA) | 25 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 12 | 2 |
Bulldogs rally past Saint Mary's in five-set thriller
9/19/2026 6:06:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MORAGA, Calif. – The Fresno State volleyball team battled back twice to defeat Saint Mary's in five sets (19-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 15-12) on Saturday afternoon at UCU Pavilion.
The Bulldogs improved to 5-6 on the season after winning their second straight match and closing the weekend with back-to-back five-set victories.
Jenna Legault led the Bulldogs with 15 kills, three service aces and four blocks. Gabby Lombardi provided a spark on both sides of the ball with six kills on a .400 hitting percentage, nine assists and five digs. Andee May added six kills without an error on 14 swings for a .429 hitting percentage while totaling five blocks.
Fresno State's defense at the net proved pivotal, with the Bulldogs recording 14 total blocks. Olivia Lombardi led the back row with 20 digs and added two aces, while Anna Bolich dished out a team-high 25 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set was even through the first 10 points before Saint Mary's began to create separation. With Fresno State trailing 8-7, the Gaels rattled off six unanswered points to take a 14-7 advantage.
Fresno State attempted to chip away at the deficit, with kills from Legault and Devery helping the Bulldogs get within four at 18-14.
Saint Mary's answered with three straight points to extend its advantage to 21-14. Fresno State made one final push behind an Anna Bolich ace and a pair of Gael attack errors, cutting the deficit to 21-17, but Saint Mary's held off the rally to take the opener, 25-19.
The Bulldogs responded in a back-and-forth second set. Fresno State built an early 9-6 advantage before Saint Mary's eventually pulled even at 13-13 and moved ahead 19-15.
Fresno State continued to battle, with consecutive Legault kills cutting the deficit to 21-18. After the Gaels pushed their advantage to 23-20, May put down a kill to return serve to the Bulldogs.
Legault took over from there. The senior delivered back-to-back aces to tie the set at 23 before May recorded a block to give Fresno State its first lead since 13-12. Brooke Jenkins followed with a block on the next point, completing a 5-0 Bulldog run and sealing the 25-23 comeback victory.
Fresno State carried its momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 9-4 lead. Saint Mary's began to work its way back before a Bolich ace put the Bulldogs ahead 13-8.
The momentum shifted with Fresno State leading 14-10. The Gaels scored six unanswered points to take a 16-14 advantage, but the Bulldogs answered with four straight of their own. A Gabby Lombardi kill started the run before consecutive Saint Mary's attack errors and blocks from Legault and May put Fresno State back in front, 18-16.
Saint Mary's responded again. With the set tied at 19, the Gaels scored five straight points to reach set point at 24-19. Fresno State fought off one set point before Saint Mary's closed the frame, 25-20.
Neither team was able to gain much separation early in the fourth. Fresno State trailed 11-8 before battling back to tie the set at 11 behind a Jenkins kill and consecutive Saint Mary's attack errors.
With the Bulldogs trailing 12-11, a Washington kill sparked a 5-0 Fresno State run. Olivia Lombardi followed with back-to-back aces before Gabby Lombardi put down a kill, helping Fresno State build a 16-12 advantage.
Saint Mary's erased the deficit and tied the set at 17, but Fresno State continued to answer. Jenkins put the Bulldogs ahead 21-20 before back-to-back Legault kills extended the lead to 23-20.
The Gaels responded with three straight points to tie the frame at 23, setting up another tight finish. Legault delivered on consecutive points, putting down two kills to close the set and force a decisive fifth frame, 25-23.
Saint Mary's took the early advantage in the fifth, building leads of 3-1 and 6-4 before Fresno State began to work its way back. A Jenkins kill and Washington kill tied the frame at 6, and the teams continued trading points through a 10-10 tie.
The Gaels scored the next two points to take a 12-10 advantage, putting Fresno State three points away from defeat.
The Bulldogs did not allow another point.
May started the comeback with a block before Legault put down a kill to tie the set at 12. Fresno State then forced consecutive attack errors from Saint Mary's to reach match point at 14-12 before another Gael error completed a match-ending 5-0 Bulldog run and secured the 15-12 victory.
NOTABLE
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs open conference play this week, beginning with a home match against Washington State on Thursday at 6 p.m. PT.
The Bulldogs improved to 5-6 on the season after winning their second straight match and closing the weekend with back-to-back five-set victories.
Jenna Legault led the Bulldogs with 15 kills, three service aces and four blocks. Gabby Lombardi provided a spark on both sides of the ball with six kills on a .400 hitting percentage, nine assists and five digs. Andee May added six kills without an error on 14 swings for a .429 hitting percentage while totaling five blocks.
Fresno State's defense at the net proved pivotal, with the Bulldogs recording 14 total blocks. Olivia Lombardi led the back row with 20 digs and added two aces, while Anna Bolich dished out a team-high 25 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set was even through the first 10 points before Saint Mary's began to create separation. With Fresno State trailing 8-7, the Gaels rattled off six unanswered points to take a 14-7 advantage.
Fresno State attempted to chip away at the deficit, with kills from Legault and Devery helping the Bulldogs get within four at 18-14.
Saint Mary's answered with three straight points to extend its advantage to 21-14. Fresno State made one final push behind an Anna Bolich ace and a pair of Gael attack errors, cutting the deficit to 21-17, but Saint Mary's held off the rally to take the opener, 25-19.
The Bulldogs responded in a back-and-forth second set. Fresno State built an early 9-6 advantage before Saint Mary's eventually pulled even at 13-13 and moved ahead 19-15.
Fresno State continued to battle, with consecutive Legault kills cutting the deficit to 21-18. After the Gaels pushed their advantage to 23-20, May put down a kill to return serve to the Bulldogs.
Legault took over from there. The senior delivered back-to-back aces to tie the set at 23 before May recorded a block to give Fresno State its first lead since 13-12. Brooke Jenkins followed with a block on the next point, completing a 5-0 Bulldog run and sealing the 25-23 comeback victory.
Fresno State carried its momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 9-4 lead. Saint Mary's began to work its way back before a Bolich ace put the Bulldogs ahead 13-8.
The momentum shifted with Fresno State leading 14-10. The Gaels scored six unanswered points to take a 16-14 advantage, but the Bulldogs answered with four straight of their own. A Gabby Lombardi kill started the run before consecutive Saint Mary's attack errors and blocks from Legault and May put Fresno State back in front, 18-16.
Saint Mary's responded again. With the set tied at 19, the Gaels scored five straight points to reach set point at 24-19. Fresno State fought off one set point before Saint Mary's closed the frame, 25-20.
Neither team was able to gain much separation early in the fourth. Fresno State trailed 11-8 before battling back to tie the set at 11 behind a Jenkins kill and consecutive Saint Mary's attack errors.
With the Bulldogs trailing 12-11, a Washington kill sparked a 5-0 Fresno State run. Olivia Lombardi followed with back-to-back aces before Gabby Lombardi put down a kill, helping Fresno State build a 16-12 advantage.
Saint Mary's erased the deficit and tied the set at 17, but Fresno State continued to answer. Jenkins put the Bulldogs ahead 21-20 before back-to-back Legault kills extended the lead to 23-20.
The Gaels responded with three straight points to tie the frame at 23, setting up another tight finish. Legault delivered on consecutive points, putting down two kills to close the set and force a decisive fifth frame, 25-23.
Saint Mary's took the early advantage in the fifth, building leads of 3-1 and 6-4 before Fresno State began to work its way back. A Jenkins kill and Washington kill tied the frame at 6, and the teams continued trading points through a 10-10 tie.
The Gaels scored the next two points to take a 12-10 advantage, putting Fresno State three points away from defeat.
The Bulldogs did not allow another point.
May started the comeback with a block before Legault put down a kill to tie the set at 12. Fresno State then forced consecutive attack errors from Saint Mary's to reach match point at 14-12 before another Gael error completed a match-ending 5-0 Bulldog run and secured the 15-12 victory.
NOTABLE
- Legault led the Bulldogs with 15 kills, three aces and four blocks.
- May finished with six kills on .429 hitting and a team-high five blocks.
- Gabby Lombardi recorded six kills without an attack error, hitting .400 while adding nine assists and five digs.
- Jenkins added nine kills, while Washington finished with four kills and three blocks.
- Olivia Lombardi led the Bulldogs with 20 digs and added six assists and two service aces.
- Bolich recorded a team-high 25 assists to go with six digs and two aces.
- Fresno State finished with 14 total blocks and eight service aces.
- The Bulldogs closed both the second and fifth sets on 5-0 runs to secure the match.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs open conference play this week, beginning with a home match against Washington State on Thursday at 6 p.m. PT.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
Fresno
SMC
Kills
44
67
Errors
22
37
Attempts
145
173
Hitting %
.152
.173
Points
66.0
94.0
Assists
40
65
Aces
8
15
Blocks
14
12
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
3
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
5
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