GCU INVITATIONAL
Fresno State vs. Oregon State
Friday, August 30 | 3:30 p.m. PT | Global Credit Union Arena at GCU | Phoenix, Ariz.
Live Stats:StatBroadcast
Watch:ESPN+
Twitter (X):@FresnoStateVB
Series History: Fresno State trails 6-11
Montana vs. Fresno State
Saturday, August 31 | 3:30 p.m. PT | Global Credit Union Arena at GCU | Phoenix, Ariz.
Live Stats:StatBroadcast
Watch:ESPN+
Twitter (X):@FresnoStateVB
Series History: Fresno State leads 1-0
Fresno State at GCU
Sunday, September 1 | 2 p.m. PT | Global Credit Union Arena at GCU | Phoenix, Ariz.
Live Stats:StatBroadcast
Watch: ESPN+
Twitter (X):@FresnoStateVB
Series History: First meeting
PHOENIX – The Fresno State Volleyball team is opening the 2024 season at the GCU Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona this weekend.
The reigning Mountain West Champs will play three matches over the weekend, facing Oregon State, Montana and host GCU.
VALLEY TO VALLEY
Five Bulldogs, Ella Rud, Brooke Cowie, Addison Haluska, Alivia Schneider and Kasey Purry, are returning to their home state of Arizona to open the season.
Of the five, three of them grew up within 30 minutes of each other in Gilbert and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Brooke Cowie, Addison Haluska and Ella Rud will be playing in the season's opening tournament only 30 minutes from their hometowns.
A NEW CHAPTER
The Bulldogs made history in 2023 winning the program's first Mountain West title since joining the conference in 2012 and their fifth NCAA tournament appearance in program history, the first since 2002.
The volleyball squad set the tone for the department in the 2023-24 season as the first of three Fresno State athletic programs to win conference titles this season alongside the baseball and water polo teams.
Second-year Head Coach Leisa Rosen is preparing the team for a clean slate in 2024, putting the success of the previous season behind them.
NEW 'DOGS IN TOWN
Fresno State has four new additions to the team in 2024: Gabby Lombardi, Alivia Schneider, Greta Brown and Keely Hummel.
All four new faces are freshmen, three were recruited out of state.
Lombardi, a setter out from Clive, Iowa is a 6'1" setter and four-year letter winner out of Des Moines Valley High School.
Schneider is a 6'0" outside hitter from Taylor, Arizona. In addition to volleyball, Schneider was a star softball player at Snowflake High School and owns the school's home run record.
Greta Brown attended Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah before joining the 'Dogs as a libero and defensive specialist.
VERY CUTESY, VERY MINDFUL, VERY MATURE
Fresno State has 13 returners on the team for the 2024 season.
Seven of the returners are seniors, making Fresno State one of the most mature teams in the Mountain West.
The Bulldogs also return five sophomores and one junior.
FRESNO CONNECTION
Fresno State will open the season with a match against Oregon State, a team with two former Bulldog staff members on the coaching staff.
Abby Wright was named Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Bulldogs after her stint as the Bulldogs' Interim Head Coach in the 2022 season.
Aaron Samarin, an assistant coach for the Beavers, served as the Bulldogs' Director of Operations and Technical Coordinator in 2021 before being promoted to Assistant Coach in 2021.