Brianna Campbell / The Collegian

It was a good year for Fresno State athletics in 2009 as several sports, both men and women, won conference championships.

The diamond dogs, the defending national champions, captured yet another Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship. The baseball team won its fourth straight WAC Tournament Title.

Junior third basemen Tom Mendonca led the way throughout the season, as he became the Bulldogs’ all-time home run leader — hitting 57 balls over the fence in his three-year career. The diamond dogs finished the season with a record of 32-20, losing to San Diego State in the NCAA regionals in Irvine, Calif.

The softball team mirrored the results of the men’s baseball team, as they not only won the regular season WAC Title but the WAC Tournament Title as well.

The lady diamond dogs ended their season losing in the regional championship game to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament. The softball team finished the season with a record of 38-20.

Men’s and women’s tennis also made a splash in the WAC this year, as the women captured its eighth straight WAC Championship. However, the men fell short, losing to Hawaii in the semifinals of the WAC Tournament.

Matt Weir / The Collegian

Two of Fresno State’s tennis standouts, juniors Renata Kucerkova and Anastasia Petukhova, were named the 2009 Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) National Women’s Doubles Team of the Year.

Women’s basketball continued its winning ways in 2009 as it captured its second straight regular season WAC title and the conference’s tournament title.

The women’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament, losing to Cal. The loss to Cal was only the ninth loss of the season but it didn’t hinder what the women’s basketball team accomplished throughout the season.

Bryan Cole / The Collegian

The team tied a school record by winning 24 games in a season. The women’s basketball team also shot their way into the school record books by making the most 3-point baskets in a single season.

On the other hand, the men’s basketball team didn’t capture a WAC title like the women’s. But, the team did give a glimpse of how good it can be. As a freshman, guard Paul George excited fans with his highflying dunks and showed off his rebounding abilities ”” he led the team in rebounds during the 2008-09 season.

Women’s volleyball also made a dramatic improvement in 2009. For the first time since 2004, the volleyball team finished the season with a winning record, finishing 15-13. The team also had two games that were nationally televised.

The Fresno State football team finished the regular season with an improbable last second win against Illinois — a 53-52 shootout. The team finished the regular season with an 8-4 record.

Ryan Mathews led the way for most of the year as he broke the record for most rushing yards in a season. He also holds the record for career rushing touchdowns in a Bulldog uniform.

For the third consecutive year, the ‘Dogs went to a bowl game. The gridiron dogs faced Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl, where they lost 35-28 in a decisive double-overtime heartbreaker.

This year, Fresno State athletics also saw the birth of two new sports — women’s lacrosse and swimming and diving.

In all, 2009 was a successful year for the Bulldog athletes.