'Dogs open inaugural Pac-12 campaign at home

Thursday, September 24

Fresno, CA

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

Washington State

9/23/2026 5:57:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Fresno State Notes - Week 5

By: Holly Cassina / Strategic Communications Coordinator

PAC-12 OPENER
Washington State vs. Fresno State
Thursday, September 24th | 6 p.m. PT | Fresno, Calif.
Watch: YouTube
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Updates on X: @FresnoStateVB
Series History: Fresno State leads 5-1

San Diego State vs. Fresno State
Saturday, September 26 | 1 p.m. PT | Fresno, Calif.
Watch: YouTube
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Updates on X: @FresnoStateVB
Series History: San Diego State leads 22-39-2

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State volleyball team is opening its inaugural Pac-12 campaign this week at home after finishing 5-6 in non-conference action.

Fresno State opens conference play on Thursday, September 24, against Washington State at 6 p.m. PT. The Bulldogs will then host San Diego State on Saturday, September 26, at 1 p.m. PT. Both games are available to stream at YouTube.com/Pac12.

NON-CON WRAP UP

Fresno State concluded nonconference play with a 5-6 record, including a 2-1 mark at home, 1-2 record on the road and 2-3 record at neutral sites.
The Bulldogs closed the nonconference slate with back-to-back wins, defeating New Mexico in four sets before earning a five-set road victory at Saint Mary's.
Fresno State went 4-3 over its final seven nonconference matches after opening the season 1-3.
Four of the Bulldogs' 11 nonconference matches went five sets, with Fresno State posting a 2-2 record in five-set contests.
The Bulldogs went 2-1 in four-set matches and 1-3 in three-set matches.
Fresno State played 44 sets during nonconference action, averaging 10.77 kills, 10.18 assists, 1.55 aces, 13.23 digs and 2.61 blocks per set.

PLAY HARD. PLAY SMART. WIN TOGETHER.

Head Coach Leisa Rosen likes to create a motto for each team she coaches, letting the identity and personality of that group shape the message organically throughout the preseason.
For the 2026 Bulldogs, that process led to three simple principles: "Play Hard. Play Smart. Win Together."
Play Hard represents the standard of effort Fresno State wants to bring every day, whether in practice, training or competition. The Bulldogs want their energy, toughness and work ethic to be constants regardless of the opponent or situation.
Play Smart emphasizes discipline and decision-making. It is a reminder to stay composed, execute the game plan and understand that effort is most effective when paired with purposeful volleyball.
Win Together reflects the team-first mentality Rosen and the Bulldogs have emphasized. Success is not defined by one player or one performance, but by the entire group working toward the same goal.
The three phrases build on one another: competing hard creates opportunities, playing smart puts the Bulldogs in position to capitalize on them and doing both together gives the team its best opportunity to succeed.
Rather than beginning the year with a predetermined slogan, Rosen allows each team's motto to develop naturally, making it specific to the group that will carry it throughout the season.
For Fresno State's first season in the Pac-12, "Play Hard. Play Smart. Win Together." serves as both the Bulldogs' identity and a reminder of how they want to approach every point.

BUILDING MOMENTUM

Fresno State enters its inaugural Pac-12 campaign with its first winning streak of the season after defeating New Mexico and Saint Mary's on consecutive days.
The Bulldogs showed their ability to win close sets during the final weekend of nonconference play, defeating New Mexico 27-25 in the fourth set to close out the match.
One day later, Fresno State twice came from a set down against Saint Mary's, winning the fourth set 25-23 before taking the deciding fifth set 15-12.
The Saint Mary's victory was Fresno State's first true road win of the season.

LEGAULT LEADS THE WAY

Jenna Legault continues to lead the Fresno State offense with 177 kills and 4.02 kills per set through 11 matches.
Legault has accounted for 37.3% of the Bulldogs' 474 kills this season.
The senior also leads Fresno State with 223.5 points, averaging 5.08 points per set.
Legault has recorded 101 digs, making her one of only two Bulldogs with at least 100 digs this season.
She has also totaled 24 blocks, including a team-high nine solo blocks.

BRICK WALL

Fresno State's blocking remained one of its biggest strengths throughout nonconference play.
The Bulldogs totaled 115 blocks compared with 86 by their opponents, a 29-block advantage.
Fresno State averaged 2.61 blocks per set, while its opponents averaged 1.95.
The Bulldogs also finished nonconference play with 43 solo blocks, seven more than their opponents, and 144 block assists, 44 more than the opposition.
Brooklyn Washington leads Fresno State with 43 total blocks, while Andee May is close behind with 40.
Kiley Devery has added 28 blocks, Legault has 24 and Isabel Smart has 17.

FINDING WAYS TO WIN

Fresno State has already shown an ability to win matches in a variety of ways, earning one sweep, two four-set victories and two five-set victories.
The Bulldogs' five wins have come against Southern Utah, UC Irvine, San Francisco, New Mexico and Saint Mary's.
Fresno State won three of its final four nonconference matches that went beyond three sets.
The Bulldogs' final two wins were particularly tight: Fresno State won the fourth set against New Mexico by two points and captured both the fourth and fifth sets against Saint Mary's by three points.

SETTING THE TABLE

Fresno State has continued to use a two-setter system with Anna Bolich and Gabby Lombardi combining for 377 of the Bulldogs' 448 assists.
Bolich leads Fresno State with 203 assists, averaging 4.61 per set.
Lombardi has added 174 assists and averages 3.95 per set.
Bolich closed nonconference play with consecutive 20-assist matches, recording 23 against New Mexico and a season-high 25 against Saint Mary's.
Both setters have contributed defensively, with Bolich and Lombardi each recording 80 digs.

DIGGING IT

Olivia Lombardi anchors the Fresno State back row with a team-high 153 digs, averaging 3.48 per set.
Lombardi has reached double figures in digs in eight of the Bulldogs' 11 matches.
She has posted at least 20 digs three times, including 24 against Northern Kentucky and 20 apiece against UNLV and Saint Mary's.
Lombardi finished nonconference play with 20 digs and two service aces at Saint Mary's.
She has also recorded 56 assists, ranking third on the team.

SPREADING THE OFFENSE

Eight Bulldogs have recorded at least 20 kills through nonconference play.
Behind Legault's 177 kills, Kiley Devery ranks second with 64, followed by Washington with 53, Brooke Jenkins with 43, Peyton Bitter with 41, Andee May with 34, Isabel Smart with 30 and Alivia Schneider with 21.
Washington (.325) and May (.229) have provided Fresno State with its most efficient attacking numbers among players with at least 100 attempts.
Seven different Bulldogs are averaging at least 1.20 kills per set, giving Fresno State multiple options around Legault.

THE PAC IS BACK

Fresno State is entering its inaugural season in the new Pac-12 after a 14-year stint in the Mountain West.
The Bulldogs are joined in the Pac-12 by former Mountain West foes Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State and San Diego State.
Gonzaga, Oregon State, Washington State, and Texas State are also members of the new Pac-12.
"Joining the Pac-12 Conference is a transformative moment for Fresno State," said Garrett Klassy, Fresno State's Director of Athletics. "This move not only elevates our national profile but also brings tremendous opportunities for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level. We are committed to upholding the values and traditions of both Fresno State and the Pac-12 while embracing the innovative future ahead. Together with our new conference peers, we will continue to grow, succeed and lead in both athletics and academics. The Red Wave is ready for this historic journey."