Volleyball welcomes champs to SMC arena
Andrew Riggs / The Collegian
Fresno State freshman middle blocker Jamie Temperino attempts a block at the net in the Bulldogs’s match against Santa Clara. |
By Darrell Copeland III
The Collegian
It hasn’t exactly been an easy road so far for the Fresno State volleyball team.
In fact, it is quite a ways from it. Think of a Honda Civic racing against a funny car on a half-mile speedway.
The Bulldogs (1-8) have faced a menace of a schedule through their first nine games of the season, and it doesn’t get any easier for the 10th game.
Fresno State head coach Ruben Nieves and his team will welcome in defending national champion and the current No. 4 Washington Huskies to the Save Mart Center, the fourth top 25 team the Bulldogs have faced this season.
“We knew that when we put the schedule together, we would be the underdog’s for all 10 matches,” Nieves said.
On the surface, it’s easy to see why many wouldn’t, but the fact that six of the core players that see time on the court are freshmen would have you think otherwise.
Because of that youth, the Bulldogs have had a definite growth period that has them believing they can contend with any team across the net.
That includes the defending national champion Huskies, who on Thursday will be the first visiting team to play in the Bulldogs new permanent home — the Save Mart Center.
“I think you’ll see an enthusiastic team that wants to take advantage of the defending national champions,” Nieves said.
That confident outlook comes from what can be said is Fresno State’s team motto this season.
“Respect all opponents and fear none,” Nieves said.
Regardless of how the final pre-conference schedule ends, the Bulldogs will continue to have much to play for, as long as they follow Nieves’ game plan.
“Focus on the things we can control,” Nieves said.
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