FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State equestrian team opens up the 2023-24 season this weekend with a tri-meet against No. 8 South Carolina and South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D. on Friday and Saturday.
Fresno State is making its first trip to South Dakota since the fall of 2017.
Fresno State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. No. 8 South Carolina (2-0, 0-0 SEC)
Friday, Oct. 6 • 11:00 a.m. PT • Brookings, S.D.
Series History: South Carolina leads, 11-3
Last Time: FS def. USC 10-9 at home on Oct. 1, 2021
Fresno State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) at South Dakota State (0-0, 0-0 ECAC)
Saturday, Oct. 7 • 6:30 a.m. PT • Brookings, S.D.
Series History: Fresno State leads, 9-2
Last Time: FS def, SDSU 12-7 on the road on Oct. 21, 2017
A look at the roster
Fresno State announced Julianne Kelley, Emily Maul and Sara Tuck as its team captains for the 2023-24 season.
The Bulldogs had six riders opt to return for their extra year of eligibility in seniors Alex Krebs, Emily Maul, Julianne Kelley, Sara Tuck, Ashley Jackson and Hannah Hieber.
Tuck returns as the only All-Big 12 selection from a season ago, earning the honor in the flat after her 7-4-1 record in the event.
Fresno State added seven true freshmen to its roster this season.
Among the seven true freshmen, a familiar name is set to saddle up for the first time as a Bulldog in Isabella Bertozzi. Isabella is the younger sister to former Bulldog standout Ana Bertozzi who just completed her career last spring. Ana wrapped up her career as one of the winningest jumping seat 'Dogs in program history.
A look at the coaching staff
Head coach Eric Hubbard enters his ninth season as the head coach of the program, but 12th at the helm after serving three seasons as the interim head coach.
Hubbard also retains both assistant coaches from last season in Mary Brown (Western) and Sierra Swaffar (Jumping seat).
Brown enters her seventh season as the western assistant coach, working primarily with the horsemanship group.
Swaffar is in her second year as the jumping seat assistant coach. She was a Bulldog student-athlete from 2014-18.
A look at the schedule
Fresno State has two home meets this fall season – Oct. 20 vs TCU and Nov. 17 vs SMU.
The Bulldogs open their regular season with a tri-meet hosted at South Dakota State. The 'Dogs will face the Jackrabbits and South Carolina on Oct. 6-7.
The Big 12 championships are Mar. 29-30 in Waco, Texas.
The NCEA National Championships are April 18-20 in Ocala, Fla. at the World Equestrian Center.
Fresno State was not ranked in the NCEA preseason poll for the first time since the 2018-19 season
Scouting South Carolina
South Carolina was ranked No. 8 in this week's NCEA national rankings
The Gamecocks opened the season with two home wins over UC Davis (11-8) and UT Martin (14-4)
South Carolina also has a 7-0 jumping seat win over Lynchburg this season.
South Carolina took home three of the four NCEA Rider of the Month awards for September as sophomore Natalie Jayne was the fences and the flat rider of the month and junior Chloe Stephenson was the reining rider of the month
Scouting South Dakota State
South Dakota State opens its season this weekend with meets against Fresno State and South Carolina.
SDSU finished the 2022-23 season with a 4-8 record and 3-3 mark in conference competition
SDSU lost to UT Martin in the ECAC championship a season ago