Current Fresno State assistant volleyball coach Mallori Gibson and former Bulldog middle blocker Brianna Clarke were selected to play professionally for the Premier Volleyball League's Dream Team.
Last updated: June 13, 2012
Mallori Gibson joined the Bulldog coaching staff as an assistant in August 2011 and begins her second season with Fresno State.
Gibson works primarily with the Bulldogs' outside hitters and defensive specialists. Her other duties include, recruiting, community service and summer camp coordination, travel operations, equipment, offensive attacking principles and additional academic support.
In 2012, the Bulldogs saw their best season since 2004. The `Dogs finished the year 18-13 and in fourth place in their first season as Mountain West members. The season was highlighted by wins against the PAC-12's Colorado and MW volleyball powers Colorado State and Wyoming. Fresno State spent half the conference season among the top three in the MW standings before finishing in fourth.
The Bulldogs also saw their best RPI score in the last eight seasons at the conclusion of the 2012 season. The `Dogs had an RPI score of 90, which is the best score since 2003 when Fresno State had an RPI score of 45.
Two Bulldogs, Wild and Barbara Alcantara, earned MW Player of the Week awards. Alcantara became the first volleyball student-athlete to garner All-MW honors.
Gibson, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., has played professionally for the Premier Volleyball League's Dream Team and the Olympiacos Sport Club in Greece. In 2011, she helped lead the Olympiacos in capturing the Greek Cup Gold Medal.
She started her collegiate playing career at the University of Colorado before transferring to the University of the Pacific, where she was a two-time first-team All-Big West Conference outside hitter.
During her experience at the two top Western volleyball programs, Gibson helped her team secure a series of big wins over nationally ranked opponents. Most notably, the CU Buffaloes toppled No. 1 Nebraska, the eventual 2006 NCAA national champion. Gibson recorded 16 kills and three blocks in the five-set thriller that handed the Huskers its only loss of their 33-1 campaign.
As a senior at Pacific, Gibson sparked the Tigers past No. 20 Long Beach State with a .400 hitting percentage and an impressive double-double of 21 kills and 15 digs. In her junior year, Gibson led Pacific to a sweep of then-No. 22 LBSU, when she posted 13 kills and a .409 hitting percentage.
While playing for Colorado in 2006, Gibson's match-high 11 kills launched the Buffs to a sweep of No. 11 California and a first round NCAA Tournament victory over No. 19 New Mexico State. She had 13 kills, eight digs, four aces and three blocks in the win against the Aggies.
Overall, Gibson finished with 694 kills in her two seasons at Pacific and 1,372 total kills in her collegiate career.
Gibson also earned many academic awards while at Pacific. A two-time Academic All-Big West Team honors, she was selected as Senior of the Year for Sports Management, and graduated with honors, Magna Cum Laude.
Following her senior year at Pacific, Gibson was invited to play in the United States Volleyball Open National Championships in Phoenix, Ariz., where she and her team took home the silver medal.
Gibson then served as a volunteer assistant coach at Pacific while completeing coursework toward her Masters of Arts in Sports Sciences.
She graduated as a prep standout at Bakersfield's Foothill High School. As one of PrepVolleyball.com's Top 250 in the nation, Gibson also earned Kern County Player of the Year honors after leading the country in kills, digs and aces all four years in high school and setting the school's all-time kill record.
A four-time all-South East Yosemite League selection in volleyball and basketball, she won six league titles in track and field - three times in the shot put, twice in the long jump and once in the pole vault. Gibson also served as Foothill High's Associated Student Body President with a 4.5 GPA.
She is a past recipient of the U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award and the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete Award while additionally garnering CIF Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors.
