SAN DIEGO – The Fresno State volleyball team fell in five sets to San Diego State in Thursday night's match at Peterson Gym.
The Bulldogs are now 9-4 in conference play and 13-11 overall.
HOW IT HAPPENED
San Diego State started strong, opening with a 5-2 lead. Fresno State struggled with early service errors and attack errors, allowing the Aztecs to go on a 7-1 run, bringing the score to 9-3. Fresno State attempted to regain momentum with a few key kills, but San Diego State's blocking, particularly by Kat Cooper and Talea Mitchell, kept the Bulldogs at bay. The set finished 25-16 in favor of San Diego State, with Fresno State unable to overcome the early scoring deficit.
Fresno State came out with a much-improved attack in the second set, marked by an impressive .341 hitting percentage. Ella Rud and Kasey Purry delivered several powerful kills, which initiated a 4-0 run, giving Fresno State a lead of 12-8. The Bulldogs capitalized on San Diego State's errors and built up their defense, slowing the Aztecs' momentum. With strong service pressure from Rud and digs from libero Dionii Fraga, Fresno State held off San Diego State's late attempts to close the gap, taking the set 25-22.
San Diego State regained control in the third set, exploiting Fresno State's hitting errors to build a steady lead. Despite kills from Rud and Addison Haluska, the Bulldogs struggled to string together consecutive points. A series of blocks by the Aztecs and a few Bulldog attack errors allowed San Diego State to go on a 6-1 run. Despite a late rally by the Bulldogs, San Diego State closed out the set 25-18.
Determined to push the match to five sets, Fresno State maintained composure and reduced errors in the fourth. The Bulldogs' blocking game intensified, with Purry and Haluska setting up several crucial blocks that thwarted the Aztecs' attack. Brooke Cowie's setting helped Fresno State take a 5-0 run late in the set, pulling them ahead 20-16. Strong serves and solid digs from Fraga helped Fresno State keep control, winning the set 25-20.
In the decisive fifth set, the teams traded points early on. A kill from Purry gave Fresno State a brief lead, but San Diego State's defense and timely kills regained momentum. The Aztecs ultimately took control with a 5-0 run, ending the set and the match with a 15-10 victory.
NOTES
The Bulldogs are now 5-3 in five-set matches this season, and 4-1 in MW play.
Addison Halsuka earned her ninth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs.
Kasey Purry hit .421 today, her 10th match with a hitting percentage over .400.
UP NEXT
Fresno State is headed to Las Vegas to face UNLV for the second time this season. The match will begin at 12:30 on November 9th in Cox Pavilion.