The Fresno State volleyball team’s trip to the Mountain States last weekend didn’t end in winning fashion. However, head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell was able to get a different perspective of the game.

Netherby-Sewell didn’t travel to the games against the Wyoming Cowgirls and Colorado State Rams due to her pregnancy, but she was able to view her team more in-depth than when she is on the sideline during a contest. In preparation for the Bulldogs’ road trip to Boise, Idaho, and Logan, Utah, she looked over her team’s gameplay through video.

“When you’re coaching in a match, you’re managing so many things,” Netherby-Sewell said. “Your assistants are giving you so much information, and you have to filter that and figure out what changes are going to help [the team] and what changes are going to hurt it.

“You really don’t get to watch and quiet that part of your mind out and see what your team is doing well and what it is not. So, seeing it that way is frustrating, but it also gave me a really good insight as to what we need to do and work on this week.”

The Bulldogs enter the matchups on a slump. Their last win was over the San Jose State Spartans, a 3-0 sweep at the Save Mart Center on Oct. 4. However, silver linings exist: outside hitter Zana Bowens has remained consistent over the last two games, and freshmen Carly Scarbrough and Taylor Brubaker made Bulldog appearances that have warmed them up to collegiate volleyball.

Adjustments have been made this season to test different lineups. Middle blockers Maci Murdock and Lauren Torres have seen time on the right side, where Murdock has nine kills and 10.5 points in the past two games. With Scarbrough, Brubaker and Jamiee-Lee Morrow getting some playing time, Murdock has been able to play in her natural spot as of late.

“Lauren and I have both enjoyed being able to hit high balls,” Murdock said. “I played middle my whole life, and I know she has, too. I think it was a good experience, and we’ll be able to move wherever they want us to be.”

The Utah State Aggies (8-9, 4-3 Mountain West) are coming off a 3-1 loss to Boise State. Senior outside hitter Rachel Orr leads them offensively, but the team has been outscored by opponents, 971-894. Setter Paige Neves, Netherby-Sewell said, will be one to watch out for; she has averaged 9.7 sets per game.

“Utah State is not as strong as it was last year,” Netherby-Sewell said. “[Neves] is aggressive, and she likes to jump. She’s going to be an offensive threat. [The Aggies] have pretty good players on the pins,” Netherby-Sewell said, “so we’ll spread out our defense and control that a little bit.”

The Boise State Broncos (11-8, 4-3 MW), historically, have been an easy opponent for Fresno State. The Bulldogs are 20-8 against the Broncos in a series that started in 1994. Last season, the ‘Dogs split the season series with a loss at home and a victory in Boise.

“Boise always runs a lot of combination plays,” Netherby-Sewell said, “so that can be confusing in the beginnings of matches. It’s a hard match to coach, so we just have to be prepared for all the different movements it has going on.”

The matches conclude a four-game road trip for Fresno State. On Oct. 23, the Bulldogs return to the Save Mart Center to host the San Diego State Aztecs.

One thing is for sure, however: Netherby-Sewell is looking forward to improvement as the Bulldogs return home.

“We go on the road again — two tough matches — and it’s going to be challenging. But then November should look bright for us coming back home,” she said.