The Fresno State volleyball team had a tough weekend in its first set of home games for the 2024 season, dropping two of three games.
The Bulldogs hosted the Central Cal Challenge, which featured games against the University of the Pacific, California State University, Sacramento and California State University, Bakersfield.
The reigning Mountain West Champions kicked off their tournament on Friday, facing off against the Pacific Tigers.
Pacific 3, Fresno State 1
The Tigers opened the game with a kill by middle blocker Margherita Giani. Fresno State tied the opening set at 2-2 but Pacific went on a 6-1 scoring run.
The momentum stayed with the Tigers for most of the set as Fresno State could not find any answers.
Down by seven late in the set, the Bulldogs looked to go on a run, scoring twice off an attack error by the Tigers and a kill by outside hitter Ella Rud.
Pacific responded with a run of their own to take the first set in dominant fashion, ending in a 5-0 score run for a final score of 25-15.
Determined to start off better than in the first set, the Bulldogs came out fighting and took an early 2-0 lead.
The second set was back and forth, with nine ties and four lead changes.
Down by two, the Bulldogs went on a run late in the second set.
Fresno State went on a 5-0 scoring run before Pacific called their first timeout of the set but it had no effect on its rhythm, as Fresno State went on a 4-2 scoring run with kills by Rud and Addison Haluska.
With the score at set point, a kill by Haluska won the set for the Bulldogs, 25-19.
The next set started off strong again for the Bulldogs, as they were up 3-0 early, but a 6-2 run by the Tigers forced the Bulldogs to take a timeout to try to stop the momentum.
Coming out of the time out, the Bulldogs went on a 6-3 run of their own to take back the lead. Following a timeout by Pacific, the Tigers regained the lead at 21-20.
A 3-0 run by Pacific forced a late timeout by Fresno State.
With the score at 22, it looked to be anyone’s game.
A 3-0 run ending with an ace by Megan Nishimura, capped off the third set at 25-22.
Despite being down for most of the fourth set the Bulldogs fought to tie the set at 17-17.
Pacific went on a 7-4 scoring run late in the game to end the Bulldogs’ chance at a comeback, 25-22.
Pacific beat Fresno State 3-1 on the Bulldogs’ home floor.
Fresno State 3, Sacramento State 1
The first set saw the Hornets take control early, getting up a 7-3 lead. The Bulldogs rallied though to tie the score at 14 points apiece.
A late 5-1 scoring run made it a set point at 24-18 in favor of Sacramento State.
Fresno State added 2 points, but the comeback was cut short with a kill by Sacramento State’s Caitlin Volkmann giving the Hornets the first set, 25-20.
The second set was in favor of Fresno State from the start as it never trailed.
After Sacramento State tied the set at 7-7, Fresno State took over.
Going on multiple runs, the Bulldogs made the second set out of reach early for the Hornets. The second set went to the Bulldogs 25-13, ending the set with a 5-0 run.
The third set was a repeat of the second, as the Bulldogs cruised to a 25-16 win. They managed multiple 4-0 runs in their third set win.
The fourth set saw Sacramento State battle to try and come back.
The Hornets went on a 4-0 run, just one behind the Bulldogs at 11-10.
A 3-0 run by Fresno State made it 18-14 in favor of the Bulldogs.
Sacramento State would not be denied, coming within two late in the set, but a service error and kill by Jenna Legault ended any comeback opportunities.
The Bulldogs took the fourth set 25-21 and the match, three sets to one.
Fresno State beat Sacramento State 3-1 for their first home win of the year.
CSU Bakersfield 3, Fresno State 2
The Roadrunners got out to an early 6-2 lead, but a 4-0 scoring run by the Bulldogs put them back into the set.
The Bulldogs found their rhythm with a 3-1 scoring run off of three kills by Haluska, giving them a 21-17 lead late in the first set.
Bakersfield found a rhythm of their own with a 6-0 scoring run.
The first set was neck and neck, with both teams trading kills, ending 27-25 in favor of the Roadrunners.
The second set, much like the first, was back and forth. The first real run came from Fresno State late in the set. The Bulldogs took a 21-18 lead with a 3-0 scoring run.
The set ended with another 3-0 run by Fresno State with a kill by Legault, 25-20.
CSU Bakersfield came out firing in the third set, starting on a 5-0 run.
Despite a 3-0 run by the ‘Dogs, the Roadrunners ran away with the third set with a pair of runs scoring four and six consecutive points.
Down 21-10, the Bulldogs went on a 4-0 scoring run of their own, but it was too little too late. The Roadrunners took the third set 25-15.
Looking to force a fifth set, the Bulldogs battled hard in the fourth. Multiple 3-0 scoring runs gave the Bulldogs a 9-7 lead. A 4-0 run gave the Bulldogs a 17-12 lead, setting their eyes on a fifth set.
The Roadrunners stormed back, tying the set at 23.
A kill by Haluska and an attack error by Bakersfield ended the set 25-23 for the Bulldogs, forcing a fifth and final set.
The Roadrunners took an early 2-0 lead in the fifth set.
Multiple attack errors by Bakersfield helped fuel a 3-0 run for the Bulldogs. Another 3-0 run by the ‘Dogs gave them an 11-8 lead, with the comeback in sight.
It was too little, too late however as Bakersfield took the final set 15-12 and the game, 3-1.
Fresno State finished the tournament at 1-2 and its non-conference schedule with a 4-7 record. Haluska and Rud were both named to the All-Tournament team as the Bulldogs came in second place in the Central Cal Challenge.
The reigning conference champions will open Mountain West Conference play against San Jose State in the Save Mart Center on Sept. 24. The match will begin at 6 p.m.
