'Dogs volleyball "clubs" Stanford
By Kim Anderson
The Collegian
An energetic home crowd encouraged the Fresno State men’s volleyball club to its second win of the season.
The newly organized Stanford team came to challenge the Bulldogs without expectations and in the end found themselves in the doghouse, falling to Bulldogs in all five games played, 25-9, 25-19, 25-19, 25-18, 15-5.
“This was their first game ever,” said head coach Brian Tsukimura. “Our program has been around for a while so we have tables and equipment. They were surprised by it all.”
Although three matches win the game, the teams played all five for first year team Stanford to gain experience.
“We spent time doing good things and got the center involved” Tsukimura said. “Our real test, though will be next week at Cal Poly.”
Freshman outside hitter Kit Maddox had 12 kills on the night and seven digs. Freshman middle hitter Robert Padama earned 10 kills and three blocks.
“Everybody got a chance to play and contributed to a win,” said junior setter Zack Moro.
The Bulldogs made their presence known early on in the first match leading 10-2 with a couple intense kills by Padama and unanswered serves.
The second match consisted of several blocks by Padama and many errors by the Cardinal.
Junior Gabe Pino, who had five kills and three blocks, earned one of his three aces to give the Bulldogs the second match.
Game three started out with the Cardinal on top, keeping it close until the Bulldogs gained a 17-12 lead by kills each from Padama and Pino, respectively.
The Cardinal came within five points but it wasn’t enough to stop the ‘dogs from taking the win.
In the fourth game, the Cardinal hung with the Bulldogs, keeping within three points until Padama threw his weight around a bit and helped the Bulldogs to a seven point win.
The Bulldogs pulled an early lead in game five due largely in part to error by the Cardinal. They took a 15-5 lead to sweep Stanford.
In existence for over 30 years, the men’s volleyball club is part of the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League and has been under the leadership of Tsukimura for 12 years.
The first league championship came in 2000 and good things have happened ever since. In 2001, the Bulldogs took the championship again and in 2004, the Bulldogs took first at the NIRSA Collegiate Volleyball Sport Club Championships after being ranked number two by The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA).
“Our main goal this season is going to be to win the league title. Most of these guys have not played at this level so our real test will come when we play teams such as Berkeley and UC Davis,” Tsukimura said.
Tsukimura is optimistic about his young players and the opponents they will face which include top ranked No. 11 UC Berkeley, No. 12 Cal Poly, No. 18 Santa Clara, and No. 21 UC Davis.
“We are a young team,” said Tsukimura. “We have only three returning players so this is a rebuilding year for us.”
The Bulldogs will face two of the four topped ranked teams at home.
They will go on the road next weekend to visit Cal Poly followed by a weekend at UC Santa Cruz and Santa Clara. Following that will be a home game against UC Davis.
“The best part is being in front of a home crowd,” Moro said.
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