FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State volleyball team defeated Colorado State on the road for the first time since October 4, 1996, in a five-set thriller, ending in a 3-2 match score.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State started the opening set down 5-0 and stayed in a close deficit for the first half of the set, sitting at 15-10 at the first media time out. The Bulldogs picked up the pace and tied the set at 20-20. Fresno State and Colorado State exchanged single points back and forth until a kill from Addison Haluska and Brooke Cowie sent the Bulldogs over the edge, winning set one 25-23.
The Dogs and the Rams kept the second set a close race, staying within three scores through the media time out. The Rams found their stride after the time out and took a consistent three-point lead before eventually claiming a 25-19 victory in the set.
The Bulldogs flipped the script in the third set as they started off neck and neck with the Rams and then surged with a six-point run with Dionii Fraga at the service line to give the Dogs a 4-9 advantage. Fresno State led by as much as eight with four kills from Ella Rud in the set and defeated the Rams 25-18.
The fourth set had a slow start with the Bulldogs and Rams staying tied through 12 scores before Colorado State collected 15 kills and a service ace to win the set 25-17.
It all came down to the deciding set with the Bulldogs taking an early 4-1 lead. The Rams answered with three kills to tie the set at 6-6. Colorado State took a brief 10-9 lead, but the Bulldogs stayed resilient, going on a 5-2 run to close out the set at 15-12 and the match overall at 3-2.
NOTES
This is the first time that Fresno State has defeated Colorado State in Fort Collins since 1996, before rally scoring had been adopted by the NCAA.
Fresno State is now 6-1 in matches that play out to five sets.
Brooke Cowie tacked on another double-double for the year with 52 assists and 11 digs on the night, making her total 14 for the season.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs are returning home to face Wyoming in a crucial Mountain West matchup in the Save Mart Center on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT.