Solid wins keeps 'Dogs positive
Despite loss to Hawaii on Saturday, the win over WAC heavyweight Utah State last week gives Bulldogs confidence as they face WAC foes for a second time
Joseph Vasquez / The Collegian
Blocking is one of the team’s concern heading into Thursday’s match against New Mexico State. Utah State’s Amanda Orgill finds a hole between Jessica Peterson and Angela Wiggins during last week’s match at the North Gym. The Bulldogs found a way to win, though, taking the Aggies to five games. |
By Maggie Thach
The Collegian
The Utah State game last week was a turning point for the volleyball team, or at least, the team hopes so.
The Aggies walked into the North Gym undefeated in the conference but the Bulldogs took the match to five games and shocked the Aggies behind Alison Pitton’s 26 kills.
The game was a much-needed win after the Bulldogs lost 10 straight and gave the team a confidence boost heading to No. 11 University of Hawaii. Fresno State started out the match with a 6-0 lead but eventually succumbed to the Warriors in three games. Despite the loss, the team now knows it can beat quality teams.
“We know that it’s possible to win,” head coach Ruben Nieves said. “It depends on what we do, not how the opponent does. [The Utah game] was probably one of the best performances of the season but its just one game.”
Fresno State will face New Mexico State tomorrow and Louisiana Tech on Saturday, two teams the Bulldogs have lost to before. But this time around, the Bulldogs know what to expect.
Fresno State ran into problems with Aggies middle hitter Amber Simpson, who had 18 kills, most of them coming from quick attacks. Louisiana Tech posed the same problem with Shannon Phillips and her 21 kills. In that game, the Bulldogs also had 17 service errors when the team average is between four and eight.
“LA Tech was our worst serving match.” Nieves said. “Serving and blocking are two main things. We’re going to have to slow down their quick attack and make sure there is one solid blocker in front of these players.”
The Bulldogs used the Utah game as an indication of what they can do. Pitton said the team is playing with more unity.
“We’re playing together and we’re supportive more now,” Pitton said. “We’re getting comfortable playing with each other, we know we can beat these two games.”
Even though the victory over the Aggies was an accomplishment, dwelling on the win isn’t something the team is trying to do.
“We’re gearing the defense to shut their players down,” Brianna Rempel. “We’re at the level where we’re pushing through that. We’re coming together.”
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