Bulldogs post a 30-16, 30-20, 38-36 victory to improve to 3-1 in league play.
Oct. 5, 2002
Box Score
EL PASO, Texas - Fresno State wrapped up its two week Western Athletic Conference road swing with a three-game victory (30-16, 30-20, 38-36) over UTEP to improve to 3-1 in league play and 15-2 overall.
With the match delayed one hour due to the late arrival of officials, the Bulldogs improved to 10-1 on the road while recording their 12th sweep of the season.
The Bulldogs had four players record double-digit kills, three had 10 or more digs and one posted a double-double.
Outhitting the Miners (.257-.126) and winning the blocking battle (12-8), senior outside hitter Christy Burnett posted a double-double after recording 14 kills and 11 digs while adding a career-high five total blocks. The double-double was her 35th of her career as she now ranks 10th all-time at Fresno State with 904 career digs.
Junior middle blocker Carrie Hartt collected a team-high 16 kills and had a match-high seven blocks. Hitting .357, sophomore outside hitter Kristen Fenton had 13 kills and three blocks while senior middle blocker Java Johnson chipped in 11 kills with four blocks while hitting .450.
Freshman setter Robyn Keune, who started the match for an injured Whitney Arena, had a season-best 44 assists to go along with two kills, one service ace while also posting a season-high 10 digs.
UTEP, which is 1-1 in the WAC and 6-6 overall, was led by junior outside hitter Jennifer Abbruzzese who had a match-high 18 kills with 14 digs and two blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Ana Beatriz Fontez was the only other Miner to post a double-figure kill match as she tallied 10 kills with eight digs and three blocks.
In game one, Fresno State broke open a 2-2 tie with a 9-4 run and a had five point lead at 11-6 when UTEP called its first time out. The Bulldogs then built a nine-point lead at 20-11 before the Miners called their final time out. Fenton closed out the game with a kill for the 30-16 win. Fenton and Burnett, who each had four kills, paced Fresno State as the Bulldogs hit .273 (14-5-33) while UTEP was held below .100 (-.029).
In game two, Fresno State trailed early (1-5) before tying the game at 5-5. UTEP would tie the game at 6-6 and even take leads at 11-8 and 15-11 before the Bulldogs rallied back. With Fresno State calling a time out at 15-11, the `Dogs went on a 5-0 run for a 16-15 lead as UTEP called a time out to keep pace. After getting the game tied at 17, UTEP would get no closer as Fresno State closed out the game with a 13-3 run that included a game-ending block by Hartt and Keune in the 30-20 victory. Hartt paced the Bulldogs with seven kills and hit .429 (7-1-14) while adding two blocks as the team hit .319 to UTEP's .073.
Game three appeared to be in hand for the Bulldogs who jumped out to leads of 7-3, 8-4, 16-12, 18-14 and 23-18. However, UTEP would not hand the match over graciously. Calling a time out at 23-18, the Miners roared back to get back within one at 25-24 and 27-26 before tying the game at 29-29. Seven ties would take place within the next 14 side outs (30-30, 31-31, 32-32, 33-33, 34-34, 35-35 and 36-36). Fighting tooth and nail against each other, the Bulldogs closed out the 38-36 victory with consecutive kills by Hartt. Hartt totaled seven kills and had three blocks in the finale while Johnson hit .417 (6-1-12) and Fenton and Burnett each had five kills. UTEP's Abbruzzese picked up 10 of her 18 kills in game three.
"One of our goals was to be consistent this season," head coach Lindy Vivas said. "We had a couple of distractions [delay of match and loss of a starter] that could have affected the team but they stayed focus. They stepped onto the court and played well.
"Robyn (Keune) was composed and did a good job on her play selection. The team is confident with her setting a match and she responded like she has all season, with composure and confidence.
"I think our left side hitters did a nice job. Overall, Kristen (Fenton) is getting more consistent and Christy (Burnett) came through in clutch hitting situations.
"We got key kills from the middles (Hartt and Johnson) and our overall game, defensively, was solid."
Fresno State returns home for three matches in the next two weeks beginning with Louisiana Tech on Friday, Oct. 11, 7:00 p.m. On Monday, Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m., the Bulldogs will host Rice before hosting SMU on Thursday, Oct. 16, 7:00 p.m.
All three home matches can be heard live on KFSR 90.7 FM and broadcasted on the web at www.gobulldogs.com. In addition, the Fresno State vs. Louisiana Tech match will be broadcast live on local cable by AT&T Broadband - The Home Team (channel 14).
Fresno State will have a special promotion for its Rice match on Oct. 14. Trying to pack the gym at 1,000 strong, those in attendance will have a chance to win special give-a-ways and prizes.
