CENTRAL CAL CHALLENGE
Fresno State vs. Pacific
Friday, September 20 | 6 p.m. PT | Save Mart Center | Fresno, Calif.
Watch Live: Mountain West Network
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateVB
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Fresno State vs. Sac State
Saturday, September 21 | 6 p.m. PT | Save Mart Center | Fresno, Calif.
Watch Live: Mountain West Network
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateVB
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Fresno State vs. CSU Bakersfield
Sunday, September 22 | 3 p.m. PT | Save Mart Center | Fresno, Calif.
Watch Live: Mountain West Network
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateVB
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State volleyball team is back at home for the first time in 2024 to host the Central Cal Challenge at the Save Mart Center this weekend.
The Bulldogs will face Pacific, Sacramento State and CSU Bakersfield in the three-day tournament presented by Axis Hotel Group.
BACK ON THE 'FLEX
The Bulldogs are returning to the Save Mart Center and will compete in their first full season with their brand new Taraflex court unveiled last season.
Fresno State played its last two home matches of 2023 on the Taraflex court that replaced the wooden surface that has been used since the program's inception.
The Taraflex court provides higher shock absorption that prevents long-term, debilitating injuries for athletes of all ages.
The court features the four-paw Bulldog logo in the center with the "Bulldogs" script logo in the bottom right and "Fresno State" in block letters in the top left corner.
The iconic Green V logo, representing California's Central Valley, is also displayed on the top right and bottom left corners of the court.
The installation of the court has been in the works since early July and was kept a secret from the team until its finalization on October 31, 2023, for a grand reveal for the team in the Save Mart Center.
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Three Bulldogs on the volleyball squad are keeping the family tradition alive as second-generation college volleyball players.
Freshmen Gabby Lombardi's mom Kari played volleyball at Minnesota-Mankato, and Keely Hummel's mom played volleyball at Pacific-an opponent in the Central Cal Challenge.
Sydney Gazzaniga's parents both played volleyball in college: her father Steve at CSUN and her mother Amy at Cal Poly: Pamona.
HOME SWEET HOME
Fresno State is back at home for the first time in the 2024 season and will host five matches in the next seven days.
The Bulldogs' home opener will be against the Pacific Tigers as part of the Central Cal Challenge, followed by Sacramento State on Saturday and CSU Bakersfield on Sunday.
Mountain West play will then open at the Save Mart Center as part of the MW Tuesday Night Block Party against San Jose State.
The 'Dogs will close out the week of volleyball with a match against Boise State on Thursday night.
THE CHAMPS ARE BACK
The Bulldogs made history in 2023 by claiming the program's first Mountain West Championship since joining the conference in 2012.
Fresno State clinched the fifth seed in the tournament hosted in Las Vegas and won three straight matches in three straight days to claim the Tournament Champion title.
The 'Dogs started the tournament with a redemption game over the Boise State Broncos, who had beat Fresno State 3-1 to conclude the regular season.
After sweeping Boise State in three straight sets, the Bulldogs had to face the Regular Season Champions, Utah State. The Bulldogs sent the Aggies home with a 3-1 victory.
The Bulldogs went into the championship match in dramatic fashion, dropping the first two sets to Colorado State. The Rams took an early lead in the third set, but Fresno State powered past, winning the set 26-24.
Fresno State kept it close in the fourth set and forced a fifth set with a 28-26 win.
The fifth set was a nail-biter with the Rams and Bulldogs exchanging the lead. Fresno State surged past Colorado State to win the set 15-12 and complete a reverse sweep over the Rams to be named MW Champions.