Joseph Vasquez / The Collegian
DALLAS РThe Fresno State men̢۪s club volleyball team kicked off its run for a national title on Thursday at the Dallas Convention Center.
Over 100 teams were in attendance from all over the United States. Both men̢۪s and women̢۪s teams are competing to be No. 1 in the nation.
As the No. 1 seed in a four-team bracket, Fresno State played against University of Buffalo, University of Colorado and Michigan State.
The Bulldogs won the first game 25-21, 25-22 over the University of Buffalo.
Coach Brian Tsukimura said the team made some technical errors in the 9 a.m. match.
“We are not a morning team,â€Â he said.
The next match, which took place at 11 a.m., was expected to have fewer mental errors, Tsukimura said.
The Bulldogs came out strong, winning the first set over the University of Colorado, 25-11.
Solid spikes from outside hitter Kit Maddox kept the Bulldogs ahead by at least seven throughout the set.
Set two started out with the Bulldogs falling behind early. Fresno State would fall behind 13-7 at one point, but managed to tighten the score and keep it close.
Colorado dominated, despite Fresno State̢۪s late catch-up, and won the set, 25-22.
In game three, the score stayed close, but Colorado pulled ahead and ended up taking the game, 15-8.
The Bulldogs came out fired up in the third game of the day and showed that intensity against Michigan State.
Outside hitter Jake Wiens was solid in spiking and led the Bulldogs to a 16-7 lead.
Fresno State would continue to knock down the ball and win the set, 25-13.
The second set of the match rallied back and forth with both teams earning the lead throughout.
The score was tied numerous times, with the last being at 23 points.
A spike that hit the line put the Bulldogs ahead, 24-23. A long rally with an intense series of spikes and digs ended with a point for Fresno State and the game with a score of 25-23.
After the game, the Bulldogs̢۪ fate depended on a game between the University of Colorado and the University of Buffalo.
A hopeful and nervous team anxiously watched as the University of Buffalo won the second set over Colorado to even up the game.
Tsukimura paced up and down the sideline of the court with a distraught expression on his face.
“It’s all out of our control and there’s nothing we can do,â€Â he said. “Sometimes you just get lucky, though.â€Â
The third set remained close with both teams taking the lead. Buffalo would eventually pull ahead to beat Colorado, 15-10.
The loss for Colorado, the only team that beat the Bulldogs on Thursday, kept Fresno State in first place in the pool.
The Bulldogs will continue their quest today for a national title to be determined on Saturday.