The Fresno State Bulldogs women’s volleyball team returned home with a tournament title, as it took three out of four matches at the UC Irvine Invitational.
In the last tournament before conference play, the Bulldogs had the best set record (8-4). They split the first two games, winning 3-0 over the Xavier Musketeers and falling 3-2 to the American Eagles.
The third game, played against the hometown UC Irvine Anteaters, was four sets long and the Bulldogs had to fight back to win the match and the tournament.
The Anteaters won the first set 26-24, but Fresno State was not down for long. Freshman libero Maggie Eppright and sophomore outside hitter Zana Bowens tag-teamed on a dig-and-kill combination to throw the Anteaters off.
The Bulldogs led by four points, but the Anteaters rallied to tie the set 19-19. Points went back-and-forth between both teams until setter Christina Lee made a kill to win the set 26-23.
The Anteaters and Bulldogs dueled after halftime. Fourteen tie scores were recorded in the third set, all of them coming after UC Irvine had jumped out to a 5-2 lead.
The Anteaters were close to winning the set, but Fresno State rallied late. An attack error and a Bowens kill tied the match at 24-24. The Bulldogs’ final two points were scored from an attack error by the Anteaters and a service ace for senior right side hitter Holly Franks.
In the fourth set, the Bulldogs took advantage of the Anteaters’ nine errors and Bowens had six kills en route to a 26-24 victory.
Franks, Murdock win honors
Franks, who had 41 kills, 35 digs and 50 total points, was crowned the tournament’s most valuable player.
“Teams keyed on Holly, and she still found ways to be successful,” said Fresno State coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell.
“She concentrated on making good swings and didn’t try to always make the big play and let the match come to her.”
Senior outside hitter Marissa Brand was chosen as a member of the all-tournament squad, totaling 45 kills, 37 digs and 46 points. She had two double-doubles (against UC Irvine and American) giving her a career total of 30.