Dec. 31, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. - One National Championship, four WAC Championships, seven All-Americans, a National Coach of the Year, the announcement of two new sports and the WAC Commissioners Cup is just a small list of what went on in Fresno State Athletics in 2008, making it one of the greatest year's in the history of the University. Below we will take a look month-by-month as to how the exciting year unfolded.

January
3 - The men's basketball team opened WAC play on the road picking up at win at Louisiana Tech with NBA legend Karl Malone looking on.

The women's basketball team also won its WAC opener against Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs defeated the Lady Techsters at home 75-52 in what would just be the beginning of a great WAC season.

7 - Athletics Director Thomas Boeh announced the addition of women's swimming and diving and women's lacrosse to begin in the 2008-09 season.

8 - Women's tennis doubles team of Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe ranked No. 1 in the preseason rankings. In singles, sophomore Anastasia Petukhova earned the top Bulldog ranking at No. 11 Gloria earned a No. 39 ranking and Rowe a No. 43 ranking. Sophomore Renata Kucerkova got a No. 94 ranking. Kucerkova and Petukhova earned a No. 29 ranking in doubles.

10 - Football senior Ryan Wendell was selected to play in the East-West Shrine All-Star game.

15 - Rudolph Siwy (men's tennis) ranked No. 92 in the preseason rankings.

16 - The preseason WAC coaches poll has the Bulldog baseball team picked to win its third-straight WAC title with seniors Steve Susdorf and Clayton Allison picked as the preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year.

18 - In its first fall tournament, the women's tennis team was nearly flawless at the Cal Winter Invitational, sweeping the doubles and winning seven of eight singles matches.

20 - Men's tennis wins season opener 5-2 vs. Cal Poly.

21 - The Second Annual run For the Dream concludes in the Save Mart Center with a high school and college meet than professionals competing on national television.

22 - Baseball America selects the baseball team as No. 18 in the preseason poll.

The softball team is picked to finish second in the preseason WAC coaches poll. Jenna Cervantez, Haley Perkins and Nicole Angene earn preseason honors.

23 - The National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll list Fresno State as receiving votes in the preseason top 25 poll.

24 - The football team is honored by Mayor Autry for their win over Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl.

25 - The fall Academic All-WAC team is announced and 35 Fresno State student-athletes are named from football, soccer, men's and women's cross country and volleyball.

26 - Winning its ninth-straight game, the women's basketball team tied a school record and with the win over San Jose State went to 6-0 in WAC play, its best-ever start to conference play.

27 - Sophomore Mirko Zapletal defeated No. 76 Blake Strode of Arkansas as the men's tennis team defeated the Razorbacks 4-3. Arkansas is the alma mater of head coach Jay Udwadia. It was the Bulldogs first road victory of 2008.

29 - The ESPN.com/USA Softball poll ranks the Bulldogs in the top 40 in the preseason poll.

February
2 - Four former Bulldog football players head to the Super Bowl: Logan Mankins, James Sanders, Stephen Spach and Derrick Ward.

4 - For the first time ever, the women's basketball team defeats Louisiana Tech on the road. It was also the first time since the 1990-91 season that the Lady Techsters were swept in the regular season by a conference opponent.

5 - Ranked No. 12 in the country, their highest of the year, the women's tennis team earned a berth to the ITA Team Indoor Championships.

9 - The softball team sweeps Pacific in its home opener behind 16 strikeouts from freshman Morgan Melloh.

Men's tennis defeats Hawai'i, 6-1, its first victory over a conference foe on the year.

10 - The women's indoor track and field team wins its first meet of the season, at the NAU Four-Way Challenge.

12 - Men's golf earns its first win of the season at the San Marcos Invitational. Grant Doverspike wins the individual title as well.

13 - Lauren Netherby-Sewell named head women's volleyball coach.

14 - On Valentines Day, the women's basketball team was one of 600 programs from colleges and universities across the country celebrating `Think Pink' night to raise breast cancer awareness. The `Dogs win the game over Idaho 68-38.

15 - After 28 years of coaching, Director of track and field Bob Fraley announces he will retire at the end of the season.

16 - Junior Sharon Ayala breaks the Fresno State school record in the hammer throw with a throw of 193-0 at the Fresno State Weight Pentathlon. Several other Bulldogs set personal records on the day on both the men's and women's side.

21 - Morgan Melloh gets her fifth win of the year and the Bulldogs defeat their first ranked team of the season, shutting out No. 21 UNLV 2-0.

22 - The softball team beats second ranked team in two days with a 9-7 win over No. 25 Texas.

24 - Men's tennis wins its sixth-straight match with an upset over conference favorite and No. 28 Boise State 4-2. Mirko Zapletal defeats No. 60 Clancy Shields in straight sets.

25 - Head softball coach Margie Wright wins her 1,100 game at Fresno State.

26 - The women's golf team opens the season with a second place finish at Kitahara Invitational in Fresno. Taylor Siebert earned her first collegiate win for the `Dogs.

27 - Doug Nussmeier named football's new offensive coordinator. He spent the past two seasons with the St. Louis Rams.

The football team donates 402 pounds of Certified Angus Beef they won during a pre-bowl competition to the Poverello House.

28 - The softball team jumps into the top 25 poll for the first time in 2008 at No. 22. They would remain in the poll the rest of the year.

29 - After 28 years as an Athletic Trainer for Fresno State, Ed Ferreira announced he would retire at the end of the year. He worked under six men's basketball coaches in his time with the Bulldog program.

March
1 - In the final WAC women's basketball game of the regular season, Haley Munro hit 75-foot shot at the buzzer to propel the `Dogs to 85-84 victory at New Mexico State. Munro's shot would be featured on the top 10 plays on Sportscenter.

Sharon Ayala wins women's hammer throw at WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. As at team, the Bulldogs finish seventh.

3 - No. 15 women's tennis wins an exciting match over No. 31 TCU, 4-3. Renata Kucerkova clinched the match with her three-set victory in singles.

8 - Seniors Erica Henry and Tierre Wilson lead the women's basketball team to a regular season WAC title for the first time in school history with a 82-68 victory over Nevada.

Men's tennis moves to No. 45 in the rankings and defeats UNLV 6-1.

9 - Senior guard Kevin Bell (men's basketball) was named First Team All-WAC by the WAC coaches. Bell became the first Bulldog since the 2002-03 season to be honored.

Tierre Wilson (WAC Player of the Year), Jaleesa Ross (WAC Newcomer of the Year) and Adrian Wiggins (WAC Coach of the Year) were honored at the women's basketball WAC banquet by the WAC coaches.

The 1998 National Championship softball team is honored at Bulldog Diamond to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the universities first-ever National Title.

Both the men's and women's track and field teams win the opening meet of the outdoor season at the UC Davis Quadrangular. Gary Lee and Sharon Ayala both qualified for the NCAA Regional meet in their respective events in what would be great spring season for both of them. Oscar Rodriquez also qualified for the NCAA Regionals.

11 - Mirko Zapletal moves into the men's tennis rankings at No. 99.

13 - The season ends for the men's basketball team after a seven-point loss to regular season champion Nevada in the WAC Tournament. Kevin Bell leaves Fresno State as the schools all-time assist leader with 599 and fifth all-time amongst WAC players.

The No. 18 ranked softball team and Morgan Melloh shutout No. 8 Oklahoma 1-0.

15 - For the first time in the programs 43-year history, the women's basketball team wins the WAC Tournament Championship and advances to the NCAA Tournament. Tournament MVP Jaleesa Ross along with tournament team members Tierre Wilson and Emma Andrews guided the `Dogs to a 72-56 win over New Mexico State in the title game.

Five more Bulldog track and field athletes qualify for NCAA Regionals with win at Cal Poly: Rosario Sanchez, Sarah Salvage, Dondre McDonald, Brian Vazquez and Chris Witscher in their respective events.

16 - No. 21 `Dogs win battle of top 25 softball teams as they defeat No. 16 DePaul 4-2 to open the Bingham Toyota Classic at Fresno State.

17 - On selection Monday, the women's basketball team with staff, family and friends gathered in the Josephine Theater and found out they would be a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament and take on No. 3 Baylor at the Pit in Albuquerque, N.M.

18 - The men's golf team broke the Elco, Inc. Tournament record by shooting an 846 to win its second tournament of the season. Freshman Michael Gideon won the individual title for the `Dogs, the first of his career.

Freshman Caitlin Stiglich leads the No. 14 softball team past No. 6 Michigan 6-5 in the opening game of the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton.

21 - The No. 16 women's tennis team defeated No. 21 Denver, 4-3, in a tiebreaking second set win by senior Jacqueline Haskett.

22 - The women's basketball teams' season ends with an 88-67 loss to Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The softball team defeats No. 20 Long Beach State and wins the Judi Garman Classic by being the only team that goes 5-0 in the tournament that is loaded with top 25 teams and the eventual national champions Arizona State.

24 - The softball team jumps up to No. 10 in the NFCA top 25 coaches poll; it would be the Bulldogs highest ranking all season and their highest since they reached No. 10 in 2002.

27 - Tierre Wilson becomes the first women's basketball player in school history to be invited to the WNBA pre-draft camp.

April
1 - First baseman Alan Ahmady (baseball) was named the National Player of the Week as he hit .583 with 14 hits, eight runs scored, six doubles, three home runs, and 14 RBI as Fresno State went 5-1 on the week.

2 - Tierre Wilson earns AP All-America Honorable Mention.

4 - Sophomore golfer Pia Escandon was selected to the Mexico National Team.

Rudolph Siwy defeats No. 6 Andre Begemann of Pepperdine 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in men's tennis.

9 - Six Bulldogs ranked in the top 30 by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Association (USTFCCCA).

10 - Tierra Wilson becomes the first women's basketball player to ever sign with a WNBA team as she signs a free agent contract with the Washington Mystics.

11 - Former Bulldog golf Nick Watney made his way onto the leaderboard at the Masters.

It was announced that Bob Fraley will be inducted into the Mt. Sac Relay's Hall of Fame.

Hali Coppin records the second-ever hole-in-one in Fresno State history women's golf history at the Peg Barnard Collegiate tournament.

Ed and Alanna Jackson named assistant volleyball coaches.

16 - Kevin Bell named team MVP at the Timeout Club's annual basketball award's banquet.

18 - Jeanne Fleck named the women's swimming and diving head coach. The program is brought back, last competing in the 2003-04 season. Fleck spent the last 17 years at Ohio State.

19 - Regular season play concludes for No. 15 women's tennis team as they defeat Pacific 7-0.

Volleyball completes spring tournament, its first matches under new head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell, finishes with a 3-1 record.

20 - Men's tennis moves back up in the rankings to No. 48 and Rudolph Siwy moves to No. 78 and the `Dogs win the regular season home finale 7-0 over Pacific. They finish the regular season 15-8 and 13-1 at home.

22 - Head football coach Pat Hill ranked third amongst the 53 non-BCS coaches by The Sporting News.

23 - Women's golf wins its first-ever WAC Championship and earns first-ever berth to NCAA Regionals. Laura Luethke wins the individual title with a three-round score of 220.

Head men's basketball coach Steve Cleveland announces the signing of Paul George to an athletic aid agreement. George hails from Palmdale, Calif., and was one of the top recruits in the state.

25 - Another ranked team goes down at the hands of the softball team as No. 24 Hawai'i is defeated 4-3 in WAC play.

26 - The No. 19 women's tennis team wins its seventh-straight WAC title with a 4-1 victory over Boise State. Melanie Gloria was named the WAC Player of the Year for the third-straight season. Gloria, Petukhova and Kucerkova were named first-team All-WAC performers, while Rowe earned second-team honors. Gloria and Rowe, as well as Kucerkova and Petukhova, were named to the first-team All-WAC in doubles.

27 - Rudy Siwy named WAC Men's Tennis Player of the Year. Siwy also earned First Team All-WAC in singles and doubles. Mirko Zapletal earned First Team All-WAC in doubles and Second Team in singles along with Tejesvi Veerepalli. Team loses heartbreaker to Hawai'i in WAC Championship match. They finish the season with a 17-9 record.

28 - The women's golf NCAA pairings are announced and Fresno State found out it was heading to the Western Regional in Lincoln, Calif.

29 - Former Bulldogs Marcus Riley and Ryan Wendell sign NFL contracts.

Women's tennis earns No. 16 overall seed in NCAA Tournament, will host NCAA Regional and make their 13th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

30 - Men's golf finishes third at WAC Championships. Grant Doverspike, the 2007 individual champion led the `Dogs by finishing second.

May
1 - Athlon's Magazine ranks Bulldogs football team No. 25 in preseason poll.

2 - The NCAA's all-time winningest softball coach Margie Wright earned her 1,300 career victory with the Bulldogs win over New Mexico State 3-2.

3 - Morgan Melloh breaks the single-season school record for wins by picking up her 37th in a 4-1 victory over New Mexico State.

5 - The first ever Fresno State Night of Champions event is held at the Royal Saroyan Theater in downtown Fresno. The event honored all student-athletes for their academic achievements, athletic accomplishments and community service involvement.

7 - At the softball WAC banquet, Morgan Melloh was named WAC Freshman and Pitcher of the Year. Melloh and Jenna Cervantez earned First Team All-WAC honors as well.

At the annual track and field awards banquet, Bob Fraley was inducted into the Fresno State Hall of Fame.

8 - Morgan Melloh breaks school's single-season strikeout record.

Haley Perkins and Aja Scheuber (softball) were named to the District 8 All-Academic Team.

9 - Women's tennis ranked No. 16, defeats Lamar 4-0 in first round of NCAA's.

10 - The women's golf team finishes in 18th place in their first-ever NCAA Regional appearance.

No. 16 women's tennis defeats No. 21 Arizona State, earns trip to Sweet 16 in NCAA Tournament.

11 - The brackets are announced for the NCAA softball tournament and the Bulldogs earn the No. 16 overall seed and the right to host an NCAA Regional for the 21st time in school history and will make their NCAA record 27th-straight tournament appearance.

14 - Morgan Melloh, Aja Scheuber, Haley Gilleland and Jenna Cervantez were all named to the NCAA All-West Region team.

The No. 1 Northwestern women's tennis team defeats the No. 16 Bulldogs 4-1 in the Sweet 16, ending the teams run at a National Championship.

17 - Four Bulldogs win WAC Championships in track and field events: Roxanne Sellick, Sharon Ayala, Tiera Hilliard and Frank Sanders.

18 - Senior closer Brandon Burke (baseball) became the schools all-time saves leader picking up his seventh save of the season to the point vs. Sacramento State.

The softball team sees the season come to an end with a heartbreaking loss to Cal in the NCAA Regional final. The Bulldogs finished the Regional wit ha 3-2 record and the season with a 54-13 record, the best by a Bulldog team since 1999.

21 - The baseball team sweeps the WAC awards before the WAC Tournament. Tanner Scheppers was named WAC Pitcher of the Year; Steve Susdorf, WAC Player of the Year; Danny Muno, WAC Freshman of the Year and Mike Batesole, WAC Coach of the year.

No. 16 Melanie Gloria wins opening singles match of NCAA Tournament over Kirsten Flower of Georgia Tech.

The women's track and field team finishes second at WAC Championships not third as originally thought due to a scoring error.

22 - Melanie Gloria advances to Round of 16 with win. Both doubles teams of Gloria/Rowe and Kucerkova/Petukhova also advance to Round of 16.

23 - Melanie Gloria falls in the Round of 16 in a tough three-set match to Zuzana Zemenova of Baylor. Both doubles teams of Gloria/Rowe and Kucerkova/Petukhova advance to the Elite Eight and been named First Team All-Americans. Fresno State with two doubles teams in the tournament was the only team to do so.

24 - The doubles teams of Gloria/Rowe and Kucerkova/Petukhova both advance to the Final Four on opposite sides of the bracket, looking for an All-Fresno State Championship.

25 - Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe dominated Notre Dame's Brook Buck and Kelcy Tefft, 6-1, 7-5, in the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship advancing to the National Championship match.

26 - Gloria/Rowe finish second at the NCAA Tournament to Tracey Lin and Riza Zalameda from UCLA who knocked out the fellow Bulldog doubles team of Kucerkova/Petukhova in the final four.

25 - Baseball wins its third-straight WAC title, sweeps through WAC Tournament in Ruston, La. Earns berth to NCAA Tournament. Steve Susdorf was named tournament MVP.

27 - Fresno State wins the WAC Commissioners Cup, its' first-ever. The WAC awards its Commissioner's Cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference's 19 men's and women's championships. Points are awarded in order of finish, equal to the number of teams that participate in each sport and are averaged between a team's regular season finish (if applicable) and its WAC championship finish.

28 - Steve Susdorf (baseball) was named to ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Second Team.

Morgan Melloh named Second Team All-American by the NFCA.

Sue Behme is named the schools first-ever women's head lacrosse coach. Behme coached the last nine seasons at Nazareth College in New York.

A school record 21 student-athletes from men's and women's track and field qualify for the NCAA Regionals.

30 - Gary Lee finishes fourth in the long jump at the NCAA Regionals, automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

Soccerbuzz.com ranks Fresno State's recruiting class No. 25 in the West and one of the top 100 for 2008.

31 - On the final day of the NCAA West Regional track and field action, Rosario Sanchez qualified for the NCAA Championships in the shot put by setting a Fresno State freshman record.

June
2 - Fresno State baseball, the fourth seed in the NCAA Regional defeats No. 6 National Seed San Diego to finish with a 3-1 Regional record and become only the second No. 4 regional seed to ever reach a Super Regional.

After spending the previous four years as Director of Operations for the women's basketball team, Kelsi Bond is promoted to assistant coach.

Grant Doverspike is named to the Ping Division-I Southwest All-Region Team.

3 - The baseball team moves up to No. 17 in the National polls after defeating three top 11 teams to reach the NCAA Super Regionals.

Morgan Melloh named First Team Easton All-American.

9 - With two wins on this day over No. 3 National seed Arizona State, the baseball team earns its first trip to Omaha and the College World Series since 1991.

11 - The softball team ends at No. 15 in the final NFCA top 25 poll.

Sharon Ayala earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

12 - Gary Lee takes fifth and earns All-America status in the long jump of the NCAA Finals. His second jump broke his own Fresno State freshman record. Rosario Sanchez and Sharon Ayala also compete in the NCAA Championships.

Head baseball coach Mike Batesole named National Coach of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Ryan Purdy named assistant swimming coach.

15 - `Dogs pound No. 5 Rice 17-5 in opening game of College World Series.

17 - Fresno State moves to 2-0 at CWS with 5-3 win over No. 2 North Carolina

22 - For the second time in three games, Fresno State defeats the Tar Heels and advances to its' first-ever CWS National Championship Series.

23 - 42 student-athletes were named to the Academic All-WAC team for winter and spring sports. 31 transfer students and new comers were also named to the Academic All-WAC newcomers team.

24 - After falling to No. 8 Georgia in game one of the CWS Championship series, the Bulldogs rebounded from a 5-0 deficit to tie the series with Georgia at 1-1 after a 19-10 victory and force a deciding game three for the title.

25 - Right fielder Steve Detwiler records all six RBI's as the Bulldogs defeat Georgia in game three of the CWS championship series, 6-1, and win Fresno State's first-ever National Championship in a men's sport and just the second ever in school history. The Bulldogs became the lowest seeded team in any sport in the history of college athletics to win a National Championship. Tommy Mendonca was named the MVP of the CWS for his home runs and defensive plays at third base.

26 - Thousands of fans great the National Championship baseball team at Beiden Field following a parade through Fresno.

28 - Morgan Melloh named team MVP after a record breaking freshman campaign.

30 - After being named the CWS MVP, Tommy Mendonca was asked to play for the USA National Team overseas during the summer.

July
1 - The baseball team is nominated by ESPN for an ESPY Award under the category "Biggest Upset." Mike Batesole, Steve Susdorf, Steve Detwiler and Justin Wilson are all invited to represent the team.

2 - Morgan Melloh and Steve Susdorf are named the Fresno State Female and Male Athletes of the Year.

3 - National Championship baseball team honored by State Senate and Assembly.

Bulldog Sports Properties and Peak Broadcasting reached a new five-year agreement making KMJ 580 AM the radio home for Fresno State football, men's basketball and baseball through the end of the 2012-13 athletic season.

7 - The National Golf Coaches Association named four women's golfers to the All-Academic Scholar Team: Taylor Siebert, Tiffany Derksen, Hali Coppin and Pia Escandon.

9 - Swimming and diving signs first student-athlete for the new team. Elizabeth Torres signed an NLI.

10 - Scott Winsor named head track and field coach.

16 - SI.com ranked Fresno State No. 18 for most successful programs in 2007-08. The points were based on 11 men's and 11 women's sports chosen by SI.com.

17 - Baseball team doesn't win ESPY, but enjoys red carpet experience in Hollywood and chats with celebrities such as Chris Berman and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Quarterback Tom Brandstater is named to the Davey O'Brien Quarterback Watch List, just one of 31 quarterbacks around the country to make the list.

18 - Lindsay Gotham is named assistant lacrosse coach.

22 - Former Bulldog softball greats Laura Berg, Lovie Jung and Robin Mackin set to compete in 2008 Beijing Olympics.

23 - The WAC football coaches selected Fresno State as No. 1 in the preseason poll.

24 - Former women's basketball player Amy Parish is named new Director of Operations for the team.

25 - The Fresno Woodward Park Post Office issues a special commemorative stamp to honor the National Championship Bulldog baseball team.

28 - Tommy Mendonca wins a gold medal with the USA National baseball team.

Carlee Buck named offensive assistant lacrosse coach.

Jay Udwadia guides New York Buzz to World Team Tennis Title as head coach.

30 - Taryn Ignacio, a national championship diver at Kentucky, named head diving coach.

31 - Tight End Bear Pascoe named to the Mackey Award Watch List.

August
1 - Steve Susdorf named the annual male Joe Kearney Award winner by the Western Athletic Conference.

The football team is ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/Coaches top 25 poll.

4 - Women's soccer ranked second in preseason WAC coaches poll. Ali Sill and Selena Gill also earned preseason honors.

New configuration unveiled in the Save Mart Center for the upcoming volleyball season.

13 - Sean McManus named head cross country coach after spending three seasons at Florida State.

14 - Lacrosse announces first-ever schedule for next season, including four home games.

15 - Lee Nickell hired as men's assistant tennis coach.

20 - Former Fresno State baseball player Terance Frazier made a major gift of $100,000 to the Bulldog Foundation in support of the operating budget of Fresno State athletics.

21 - Laura Berg, Lovie Jung and Team USA softball wins silver medal at Beijing Olympics.

25 - More than 200 runners, including Fresno State cross country student-athletes participate in the annual Watermelon Run.

26 - Pat Waer promoted to assistant baseball coach.

Laura Gordon named assistant women's tennis coach.

28 - Former Bulldog football player Cory Hall has made a major gift of $100,000 to the Bulldog Foundation in support of the operating budget of Fresno State athletics.

29 - The men's and women's cross country teams opened the season with a second place team finish for the men and a third place finish for the women. Erick Garcia finished second in his first race of the year in what would be a historic fall for the sophomore.

The volleyball team wins its season and home opener from coming from behind to defeat Cal State Bakersfield 3-2.

Nine men's and women's tennis players invited to play in the ITA All-American Championship.

September
1 - The football team wins its season opener at Rutgers, 24-7.

2 - Rising to No. 21 in the top 25 poll, the football team earns its highest ranking of the season.

3 - The WAC extends its partnership with ESPN. As part of the agreement that runs through the spring of 2017, over 300 regular season WAC contests and 45 championship events will be aired on the ESPN networks.

4 - Fresno State Athletics and Tachi Palace announced a partnership to help build a stronger athletics program in the San Joaquin Valley. The multi-year deal is the continuation of "Team Fresno State" and includes a $250,000 annual gift for a six-year period resulting in a $1.5 Million commitment to the Bulldog Foundation.

5 - The soccer team earns its first win of the year, a 1-0 decision over Eastern Kentucky with a goal by Nicole Gutierrez.

In the preseason men's tennis fall rankings, Rudolph Siwy was ranked No. 48 while Mirko Zapletal earned a No. 85 ranking.

The women's tennis duo of Gloria and Rowe is ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls while Kucerkova/Petukhova is No. 8. Fresno State is also represented very well in the singles rankings with Gloria at No. 12, Petukhova at No. 16, and Rowe at No. 86.

9 - Women's golf opens the fall season with a ninth place finish at the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic.

10 - Fresno State announces future nonconference football opponents, including Ole' Miss, Colorado and Nebraska.

11 - Fresno State Athletics and student-athletes remember 9/11 by sharing personal stories of the tragic day and honoring those who were lost and those who are still fighting.

18 - Lauren Netherby-Sewell introduces the `Fighting Spirit Award' to the volleyball program.

20 - The No. 25 ranked football team gets a huge win over Toledo in a double overtime thriller in Ohio.

23 - Both the men's and women's golf teams compete in their first tournament of the 2008-09 season up in Oregon.

The women's lacrosse team was featured in an article in US Lacrosse Magazine. 25 - After completing the two best years in their respective sports in Fresno State history, Adrian Wiggins and Mike Batesole signed new letters of appointment with the athletic department.

The volleyball team wins a thrilling five set match in WAC play at Utah State.

27 - Fresno State became the first non-BCS football team to defeat UCLA in the Rose Bowl in 25 years with a 36-31 win over the Bruins.

28 - Rudolph Siwy and Mirko Zapletal defeat No. 30 Salas/Stoisavljevi of New Mexico State to advance to the finals of the H.E.B. Invitational.

October
1 - Bear Pascoe named the John Mackey Tight End of the Week.

2 - Quarterback Tom Brandstater named a Draddy Award Finalist given to the top scholar-athlete.

4 - The second annual Team Smile Day at Fresno State provided dental care to over 100 kids in the South Gym.

Erick Garcia wins first race of the year as the men's cross country team places second at the Pepperdine Invite.

5 - Ali Sill tied the Fresno State women's soccer assist record of 21 with the solo assist in the Bulldogs 1-0 win over Portland.

Rikus DeVilliers wins the 15th Annual Bulldog Classic in men's tennis action. It was his first event as a Bulldog and his first collegiate win.

No. 8 Kucerkova/Petukhova battle in ITA All-American Final.

6 - Kerri Donis, a former Fresno State softball player and current Deputy Chief of the Fresno Fire Department named the Fresno State Alumni Association Top Dog recipient.

8 - Angie DiLiddo was named the 11th recipient of the Bulldog Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award.

10 - Sill becomes Bulldogs all-time assist leader recording her 22nd in the Bulldogs 1-0 win to open conference play against San Jose State.

Men's tennis wraps up play at ITA All-American. No. 48 Rudolph Siwy picked up wins over the No. 3 and No. 82 ranked players in the country before falling in the Round of 16.

11 - The Fresno State homecoming football game was used to help collect food to fight valley hunger. Student-athletes and Fresno State students helped bring in over 166,999 pounds of food for the Community Food Bank.

14 - The defending WAC champion women's basketball team is picked second in the preseason WAC coaches poll.

Erick Garcia wins his second race of the season, dominating the Santa Clara Invitational.

Tom Brandstater named one 10 finalists for the Unitas Award.

15 - Soccerbuzz.com name Kaitlyn Revel to the National Elite Team of the Week.

18 - The swimming and diving team opened its season at UC Santa Cruz with several student-athletes earning wins in their first collegiate meet. Freshman Heidi Gjoen led the team by winning three swimming races.

19 - The men's basketball team begins practice for the 2008-09 season.

20 - Former baseball player Matt Garza was named the American League Championship Series MVP after guiding the Tampa Bay Rays to the World Series.

At the ITA Northwest Regional Championships, the women's tennis team wins both the singles and doubles titles. Melanie Gloria takes the singles title while Kucerkova/Petukhova defeats Gloria/Rowe for the doubles title.

22 - KMJ Radio (AM 580 and www.kmj580.com) announced the appointment of Paul Loeffler to the position of Sports Director and play-by-play announcer for Fresno State Bulldogs football, baseball, and basketball effective following the Bulldog football season and post season bowl game.

24 - The annual Baseball Wall of Fame inducts former Fresno State greats Stan Busch, Warren Brusstar, Dennis Springer, Ben Fritz and the 1991 baseball team.

25 - The No. 9 Bulldog equestrian team upset No. 5 Oklahoma State 10-9 in the Bulldogs home opener.

Kicker Kevin Goessling kicked a new school record 58-yard field goal to lift the football team to a 30-28 WAC win at Utah State.

27 - The annual men's basketball Tipoff Dinner introduces the 2008-09 `Dogs to the Timeout Club, media, friends and family and community.

The Bulldog Marching Band celebrates its 15th year of its rebirth.

28 - Ashley White, Haley Perkins and Samantha Legorreta named NFCA Scholar-Athletes.

29 - Fresno State student-athletes participate in the 10th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event held in Fresno.

31 - Four women's tennis players selected to play in National Indoor Championships. Gloria, Rowe, Kucerkova and Petukhova will all compete.

November
1 - At the Cross Country WAC Championships the men finished third behind a second place and first team All-WAC performance by Erick Garcia. Frank Sanders and Eric Battles were named second team All-WAC. The women's team would finish seventh and Jennifer Hernandez led the `Dogs with an eighth place individual performance and earned second team All-WAC honors.

2 - Men's tennis finishes the fall season at UNLV Rebel Classic with four Bulldogs in final matches.

5 - Men's golf ends the fall season with it's best finish of the year, a third place finish at the Pacific Invitational.

6 - The 50th Anniversary of the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame inducted former Fresno State stars Tom Goodwin, Amanda Scott, Stephen Baker, Lee Angelich, Peter Mehas and former coach Bob Fraley along with the 1998 Fresno State National Championship softball team.

Moses Harris, Vince Pascoe and Andrew Jackson (football) are named to the CoSIDA All-Academic District VIII team.

Six women's soccer players earn All-WAC honors at the WAC banquet in Reno: Selena Gill, Nicole Gutierrez, Ali Sill, Kaitlyn Revel, Molly Nizzoli and Kendall VanDine.

9 - Women's soccer wins WAC Championship in double overtime vs. Utah State. It was the first WAC Title for the `Dogs since 2005. Elora Martinez scored the winning goal in the second overtime. Ali Sill was named WAC Tournament MVP and Martinez, Kaitlyn Revel and Allison Ventura earned All-Tournament honors.

Kucerkova/Petukhova wins the National Indoor Title defeating Tefft/Frilling of Notre Dame in three sets.

10 - The WAC Champion soccer team draws No. 1 seed UCLA in first round of the NCAA Tournament.

11 - Six men's basketball players earn their degrees: Kevin Bell, Renato Cesar, Hector Hernandez, Eddie Miller, Ajay Riding and Shawn Taylor.

Anastasia Petukhova named WAC Women's Tennis Player of the Month.

12 - National Champion baseball team arrives in Washington D.C. and met President Bush. They also tour the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and other sites around the town.

14 - In its home opener, the men's basketball team defeats Sacramento State 77-65. Sylvester Seay scores 17 points in his Bulldog debut.

The women's basketball team also won its season opener, a 97-88 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on the road.

The Bulldog equestrian team receives its highest national ranking of the year, coming in at No. 7 in the poll.

The soccer team fought hard in its NCAA Tournament appearance but fell to a tough UCLA team 5-0.

Seven swimmers and divers sign National Letters of Intent to join the new team in the 2009-10 season.

15 - After 37 years as the voice of the `Dogs, play-by-play announcer Bill Woodward was honored at his final home football game.

At the NCAA Cross Country Regionals at Stanford, Erick Garcia finished 20th and led the men's team to a 14th place finish, up eight spots from a year ago. Garcia's time of 29:40.85 in the 10k is a new school record. The women's team would place 28th.

17 - Erick Garcia learns he will be just the seventh Bulldog to ever compete in the NCAA Cross Country Championships by finished in the top 25 of the NCAA Regional.

18 - Men's basketball was part of ESPN Tipoff Special in which games are aired 24-straight hours across the country. `Dogs fall however to St. Mary's on the road but freshman Paul Georges' dunk earns No. 1 play of the day on Sportscenter.

20 - The women's basketball team sets a school record with 16 three-pointers in a 71-54 victory over UC Santa Barbara.

Freshmen Baylee Platt and Brianna Clarke on the volleyball team are named to the All-WAC Freshmen team at the WAC banquet in Hawai'i.

24 - At the NCAA Cross Country Championships, Erick Garcia gives a strong performance, finishing 150th.

28 - Sports Illustrated nominates the `Wonderdogs' for the 2008 Sportsman of the Year award.

30 - Tom Brandstater named team MVP at the Annual Awards Banquet.

December
1 - Six football players earn All-WAC honors, Bobby Lepori (first team) and Bear Pascoe, Andrew Jackson, Chris Carter, Ben Jacobs and Moses Harris (second team).

4 - Down 16 with 6:20 remaining in the game, the women's basketball team rally's to defeat No. 22 TCU at the Save Mart Center for the programs first victory over a ranked opponent in two years.

The football team earns its ninth bowl invitation in 10 years as it finds out it is heading to the New Mexico Bowl to face former rival Colorado State.

2009 volleyball freshman Cecilia Agraz named Second Team Under Armour High School All-American.

5 - Tommy Mendonca and Alan Ahmady are named to the Wallace Ward Award Player of the Year watch list for the 2009 season.

6 - Senior Dwight O'Neil hit a last-second shot at Pacific to push the men's basketball team past the Tigers for a 66-64 win on the road.

The swimming and diving team in its final meet of the fall season earned its best placing on the year, a second place finish at the Mustang Invitational where many Bulldogs earned new career-best times.

8 - Men's tennis stars Mirko Zapletal and Tejesvi Veerepalli named to the Craig School of Business Honors Program.

9 - Almost six months after the baseball team won the National Championship they were honored with another award, being named the Field Turf team of the year and Mike Batesole was named Field Turf Coach of the Year.

The Bulldog basketball teams team up to host the Second Annual Children with Cancer Holiday Party. Over 200 children showed up with friends an families as they ate, played games, made arts and crafts and took family pictures with Santa.

In the final coaches poll of 2008, the equestrian team is ranked No. 8 in the country.

11 - Steve Cleveland coaches in his 100th game as the Bulldog men's basketball coach and earns the win, 66-51 over Cal State Bakersfield.

A $2 Million gift from the Meyers Farms Family Trust was announced. The Meyers commitment will serve as the lead gift for the design and construction of a state-of-the-art Sports Medicine Center that every Bulldog student-athlete will utilize for years to come.

12 - Baylee Platt and Allanah Munson named first-ever Fresno State `Fighting Spirit' Award winners.

16 - Former Bulldog football star Clifton Smith, now a rookie for the Tampa Bay Bucs, was named to the Pro Bowl on Special Teams.

18 - The much anticipated `Underdogs to Wonderdogs' book written by Paul Loeffler hits the shelves in the Bulldog Shop. The book tells the story of the Bulldogs improbable run to the National Championship.

19 - Assistant baseball coach Pat Waer and intern Kent Sakamoto meet Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Fresno State campus and present him with an autographed team ball.

Despite two touchdowns each by Anthony Harding and Lonyae Miller, Colorado State defeats the Bulldogs, 40-35 in the New Mexico Bowl.

22 - The defending National Champion baseball team is ranked No. 16 in the preseason polls by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Selena Gill was named a Second Team All-Region Scholar by the NSCAA.

23 - Tommy Mendonca and Alan Ahmady earn preseason All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball. This was the second preseason All-America honor for Ahmady in two days.

29 - In the final sporting event for any Fresno State team of the 2008 year, both the women's and men's basketball teams picked up victories. The women defeated Long Beach State 76-63 at home while the men's team won a overtime thriller at Cal Poly, 90-87, behind a career-high 20 points by freshman Bryce Cartwright.