Sept. 6, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. -
In one of the most anticipated showdowns of the season, Fresno State will welcome the NAIA's Fresno Pacific Sunbirds to the Save Mart Center on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. for an exhibition volleyball match. The Bulldogs are looking for their first win over their crosstown rivals and expect an electric atmosphere in the building.
Wednesday evening will celebrate "Greek Night" with the highest attending fraternity or sorority winning a date with the entire volleyball team.
BULLDOG VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW:
Sept. 8 (7 p.m.): Fresno State vs. Fresno Pacific (Save Mart Center)
• Radio: ESPN 790 AM (Play-by-Play: Christian Lutkens)
Bulldog Block Party Tops WAC For Second-Straight Week
After two weekends of non-conference play by Western Athletic Conference schools, Fresno State averaged 2.95 blocks per set to lead all WAC programs. Netherby-Sewell instilled a renewed focus on elevating the team's defensive play throughout the offseason. Junior Brianna Clarke ranked third (1.58 bps) individually among WAC student-athletes.
`Dogs Fly By Air Force, Drop Road Finale in Beehive State
Junior Brianna Clarke and the Bulldog offense took flight in a 3-1 victory over Air Force. Clarke delievered the second-best kill efficiency clip in a rally scoring match by an individual student-athlete in program history with kills on 17 of her 23 attacks (.739) with no attack errors. She also paced the team with eight blocks in the four-set win over the Mountain West opponent. Fresno State jumped ahead early against Utah Valley University, but the `Dogs dropped their road finale by set scores of 3-1 to end the trip to Utah with a 1-1 record.
Fresno State Picked to Finish Third in WAC, Ready to Make Charge
The resurgence of the Fresno State volleyball program garnered notice with the selection of the Bulldogs to finish third during the upcoming 2010 WAC season in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll for the highest predicted finish in the poll since 2004. Hawai'i is the conference favorite with eight first-place votes and the Rainbow Wahine's Kanani Danielson was the unanimous pick for WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
Clarke Named to 2010 Preseason All-WAC Team
The WAC coaches honored Fresno State's
Brianna Clarke as one of 12 student-athletes on the 2010 Preseason All-WAC team. Clarke, a native of Clovis, Calif. and Buchanan High School graduate, enters her junior year after two impressive seasons in a Bulldog uniform. She became the first `Dog since 2003-04 to earn back-to-back All-WAC honors as a member of the 2009 Second-Team All-WAC and 2008 All-WAC Freshman Team.
Volleyball Team Earns AVCA Academic Award for 2009-10 Season
The American Volleyball Coaches Association has recognized the Fresno State volleyball program as the only Western Athletic Conference volleyball team to earn their academic honor in 2009-10, averaging at least a 3.30 grade point average. The AVCA announced that 450 teams earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2009-10 season. This award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom.
Fresno State's Centennial Celebration in Full Swing
Founded in 1911, Fresno State will celebrate its 100th anniversary during the 2010-11 academic year. The campus community will hold several special events during the year and the Fresno State Athletics Department will host a Centennial event for each of its 19 sports. The Bulldog volleyball Centennial celebration will be Oct. 28 against longtime rival Nevada. The event will serve as a reunion for all former players.
"We Are Your Team!" -- Fresno State welcomes the NAIA's Fresno Pacific Sunbirds to the Save Mart Center on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. for an exhibition match. The evening will celebrate "Greek Night" with the highest attending fraternity or sorority winning a date with the entire volleyball team and one lucky and spirited fan will take home a free flat screen TV.
