Volleyball fights through the pain

Bulldogs sweep Wolf Pack as team nurses bumps and bruises

By Darrel Copeland

Meet the mummy’s separated-at-birth sisters—Fresno State’s volleyball team.

The bandaged up Bulldogs defeated Western Athletic Conference opponent Nevada in three games (30-20, 30-27, 30-21).

With the win, Fresno State improved to 18-5 on the season and moved back into a second-place tie with SMU—both with 8-2 conference records.

Bulldogs seniors Tina Brennan and Carrie Hartt played the match with wraps on their arm and leg, respectively. By the end of the match more wraps appeared, this time in the form of ice and on the knees of more than one Bulldog team member, including junior Tiffany Bishop.

“ It does drain us a lot when we travel,” Bishop said.

For the Bulldogs, it was a night of thousands. For the first time this season, the attendance in the North Gym surpassed 1,000, with 1,016 showing up for the match.

Fresno State junior Kristen Fenton reached the 1,000-kill plateau—the ninth Bulldog volleyball player to do so. Fenton is also the second-fastest Bulldog to tally over 1,000 kills.

The match between the Bulldogs and Wolfpack was fast-paced and full of energy. Carrie Hartt said the team fed off the energy provided by the crowd.

Hartt led the Bulldogs with 15 kills and hit .519—both match highs.

Bishop also played well for the Bulldogs, recording 11 kills and seven blocks.

Fresno State played like a rejuvenated team, following a loss to SMU and traveling for a large part of the season.

“ [The loss] was kind of a rude awakening for us,” Hartt said.

With SMU losing to Rice this past Thursday, Fresno State seized the opportunity to regain a tie with the Mustangs in conference play.

The key for the Bulldogs to defeat the Wolfpack was to stop their leading hitter, Salave`a Salaia.

“ We focused on stopping (Salaia),” coach Lindy Vivas said.

Fresno State succeeded in containing Salaia, holding her to 13 kills and a hitting percentage of .269. That didn’t stop Salaia from taunting the Bulldogs, as every kill she earned was followed by a loud yell and stare down directed at the Bulldogs.

“ She thinks she’s the best player in the conference,” Bishop said.

For Fresno State, three of the remaining four matches will be at home, including a Nov. 9 game against No. 2 Hawaii in the Save Mart Center.

The Bulldogs, however, are not about to look past their next opponent, San Jose State.

“ We’re looking at Hawaii, Bishop said, “but we know we have to beat San Jose to get to Hawaii.”

Fresno State will face San Jose State this Thursday for a 6 p.m. match against the Spartans.

“ San Jose is the match we have to win,” Vivas said.