Nov. 21, 2009

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FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State Bulldogs head to Las Vegas, Nev., on Sunday to compete in the six-team Western Athletic Conference Tournament at the Orleans Arena Nov. 23-25. Fresno State clinched the fifth seed in the tournament with a win over San Jose State on Thursday and an Idaho sweep of Boise State. The `Dogs finished in the top six in the WAC standings for the first time since 2004 with a 14-15 overall record and a 7-9 record in the WAC. The 14 wins by a Bulldog team are the most since 2004 and the seven WAC wins are the most since 2003. Hawai'i earned the top seed in the tournament followed by New Mexico State and Idaho. Nevada is the fourth seed, Fresno State the fifth and Boise State is sixth. The top two seeds will get a bye on Monday. Idaho takes on Boise State in the first match of the tournament at 5 p.m. on Monday followed by Nevada and Fresno State at 7 p.m.

Fresno State's WAC Tournament History
Fresno State is looking for its first WAC Tournament Championship in school history. If the 'Dogs were to earn the automatic berth, it would be their third trip to the NCAA's. The 'Dogs last made the semifinals in 2004 before dropping a five set match to eventual champion Hawai'i. The 'Dogs have been eliminated in the quarterfinals the last four years. Nevada and Fresno State have only met once in the WAC Tournament in Reno, Nev., in 2002. In the semifinal, Nevada defeated the 'Dogs 3-1. The 'Dogs have made 11 appearances in the WAC Tournament and have a 7-11 record in that time. Christianna Reneau was the last Bulldog to be named to the WAC All-Tournament team in 2004.

Scouting Nevada
Although Nevada, Fresno State and Boise State all finished the WAC regular season with 7-9 records, Nevada earned the fourth seed by virtue of head-to-head competition. The Wolf Pack are 11-19 overall went 0-1 last week with a loss to Utah State on the road. Nevada is 2-0 against Fresno State this year with two, four set victories. Kylie Harrington has been dominating against the Bulldogs with 47 kills in those two matches. Harrington leads the team with 387 kills. Nicole Link had 413 digs and Lindsay Baldwin has 112 kills.

Scouting Hawai'i
The No. 3 Rainbow Wahine meet the winner of the Fresno State/Nevada match on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Hawai'i is 26-2 on the year and won its 14th WAC regular season title this year. Although Hawai'i is 2-0 against Fresno State this year and has never lost a match to the Bulldogs, Fresno State has been one of the toughest opponents for Hawai'i all season. Fresno State won the second set to tie the match on Oct. 29 in Fresno on ESPNU and in that set held the Rainbow Wahine to a .059 hitting percentage, their second-lowest in the 2009 WAC season and fourth-lowest of the year in a single set. They only hit lower in their two loses to nationally ranked Texas and California and in the second match against New Mexico State. Fresno State's set win over Hawai'i was also just one of four they lost in the WAC all season; they lost two in two separate matches to NMSU and one to Utah State. Hawai'i had four hitters with over 200 kills on the year, led by 2008 WAC Freshman of the Year Kanani Danielson with 370 kills. Setter Dani Mafua has 1,065 assists.

The Rest of the Field
On the other side of the bracket Idaho will take on Boise State in the first match. The two teams split during the regular season and Idaho defeated the Broncos last week in three sets. Fresno State also split with Idaho during the regular season and swept Boise State. New Mexico State will face the winner of the match and is 3-1 combined against the two teams, dropping a five set match to Idaho earlier in the year. New Mexico State has also swept the Bulldogs twice this year.

WAC Tournament Lodging
Fans traveling to Las Vegas for the WAC Volleyball Tournament are encouraged to stay at the Orleans Hotel and Casino. Rates are $90.00 per night Friday and Saturday, November 20-21, and $35.00 per night Sunday through Wednesday, November 22-25, single or double occupancy, plus room tax and Resort Fee. For reservations, please call (800) 657-3267 and request WAC Volleyball Championship Fan Block or Group Code 9WACC11.

WAC Tournament Ticket Prices
The 2009 WAC Volleyball Tournament will consist of five matches in three sessions. Ticket prices are as follows:
All-session - $45
Single Session Adult - $20
Single-Session Students/Youth - $10
Kids 2 and under - Free

All-session tickets are on sale now through each WAC member institution's ticket office and the Orleans Arena Web site. Single-session tickets will not be available for purchase until Monday, Nov. 16.

"We Are Your Team" - The `Dogs head to Las Vegas to compete in the six-team WAC Tournament Nov. 22-25. Fresno State will play on Monday against Nevada.