'Dog Bites

After losing seven seniors from his 2006 Western Athletic Conference champion team, Fresno State soccer coach Steve Springthorpe had some work to do on the recruiting front.

That’s where the 12 new Bulldogs signees come in. Springthorpe signed a variety of talented freshmen, many of whom will be expected to contribute to the 2007 Bulldogs squad immediately.

“I’m certainly excited about the number of great student-athletes that we’re adding,” Springthorpe said. “It’s a large class, and we were able to address all of our needs. This class will provide additional depth and give us good practice competition while also taking care of the future of this program.”

The biggest hole that needed to be addressed by the Bulldogs was at goalkeeper, where the Bulldogs lost All-WAC goalie Angie Larsen. Three newcomers will vie for the opening, and all may see playing time. That includes Natalie Otto, who comes to the Bulldogs from Virginia Beach, Va., as a four-time letterwinner.

Three Valley athletes were also signed by Springthorpe, including: Chrissy Smith of Clovis West, Alex Jensen of Clovis West and Lauren Satterlee of Bullard.

She may be only a sophomore, but Fresno State women’s tennis player Melanie Gloria set a new premium for Bulldogs tennis players.

The latest version of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings has pinned Gloria as the nation’s No. 2 singles player, surpassing her previous career best of No. 4.

“Melanie is right there with the best in the country,” Fresno State head coach Simon Thibodeau said. “It’s not a surprise to see how far she has come. She’s been very consistent and she continues to improve.”

Gloria has a 17-4 record overall this season, including a 3-1 record in dual matches.

The athlete who previously held the Bulldogs record, Jelena Pandzic, held the No. 3 ranking during the 2004 season as a freshman.

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