SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Fresno State volleyball team dropped its final game of the Santa Clara Invitational with a 3-2 loss to the host Broncos.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State had a slow start to the first set before going on an 8-1 scoring run to pull ahead of the Broncos. Santa Clara chipped away at the Bulldog lead, tying the game at 17, and forcing a Fresno State time-out. The Broncos kept it close but could not overcome the Bulldogs' offense with three kills and a service ace following the last tie score of the set, giving the 'Dogs a 25-21 victory in the set.
The Bulldog defense was the star of the show at the start of the second set with three blocks in the first nine points played. Fresno State's offense also picked up in the set with a .361 hitting percentage compared to a .250 hitting percentage in the first set and the Broncos' .205 hitting percentage in the set. After breaking a 2-2 tie, the Bulldogs remained in the lead for the entire second set before ultimately winning the set 25-20.
Fresno State's momentum pushed them through the third set, but the Broncos were not going down without a fight, narrowly avoiding a Bulldog sweep by two points with a 25-23 win. Ella Rud led the 'Dogs with four kills in the set, assisting in Fresno State's .226 hitting percentage.
Santa Clara pulled away early in the fourth set and did not relent the lead to the Bulldogs for the full set. The Broncos outkilled the Bulldogs 17-11 for the second straight set in the 25-22 win for Santa Clara.
Fresno State had a slow start to the fifth set and fell 8-5 behind the Broncos. After swapping benches, the Bulldog offense picked up steam, scoring three of the first four points to tie the set at nine. Santa Clara won the next two points, but the Bulldogs stayed close behind with kills from Addison Haluska and Ella Rud. Fresno State tied the game at 14 but back-to-back Bronco kills pushed them ahead 16-14 and 3-2 overall.
NOTES:
Fresno State had an overall .250 hitting percentage against Santa Clara, the second-best of the season.
Ella Rud totaled a career-high 29 kills, one more than her previous career-high set in the Bulldogs' most recent match (vs. Georgia).
The Bulldogs had a season-high 13.0 blocks against Santa Clara.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will host the Central Cal Challenge, beginning on Friday, September 20 at the Save Mart Center.