Fresno State Holds Off TCU in Volleyball, 3-1
2/22/2000 12:00:00 AM
FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 23) - TCU (6-14, 0-5 WAC) ended its 16-game losing streak but could not do the same to a six-match losing streak in a WAC volleyball match, falling at the hands of visiting Fresno State (10-9, 4-2 WAC), 3-0 (12-15, 15-4, 15-6, 17-15).
The two hour, four minute match was highlighted by a sparkling fourth game in which TCU fought off five match points, before eventually losing the decisive point. Fresno State outside hitter Anamie Buckelew topped the 30 kill mark with 31 for the match in 66 attempts. She finished with a .348 attack percentage, to lead the Bulldogs who had a .255 percentage as a team. Three Frogs topped the 10-kill plateau, led by junior outside hitter Amy Atamanczuk (Fort Worth, Texas/Paschal HS) with 15. The Frogs hit .179 as a team.
TCU opened the match in grand style, taking game one to break a 16-game losing streak which dated back to game three of the Sept. 22 Sam Houston State match. Using a vastly different starting lineup than in previous matches, TCU was able to come out victorious in game one with 17 kills and a pair of service aces. Despite 13 kills from Buckelew in the first, TCU thwarted the Bulldogs in part due to its five team blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Marci King (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) led the Frogs with four kills in game one.
The Bulldogs retaliated with easy wins in games two and three. Holding TCU to just 10 combined points in the two games, Fresno State took a 2-1 advantage. Fresno State hit .433 in game two and .276 in game three and held TCU to a combined .015 attack percentage for the two games to push to a lead in the best-of-five match.
The stubborn Frogs fought valiantly in the fourth before losing the match. Fresno State jumped to a 10-6 lead in the final frame, but TCU was able to answer to tie the match at 12-12, after recording service aces from King, senior outside hitter Jill Pape (San Antonio, Texas/East Central HS) and Atamanczuk. The Frogs held game point at 14-12, but two service aces from Buckelew, who finished with four on the night, evened the contest. An ace by outside hitter Adrianne Sankey gave FSU its first game point, but TCU was able to hold off and tie the game at 15. However, a Buckelew kill and a kill by outside hitter Malia Malu secured the match for Fresno State.
TCU continues its season on Thursday, Oct. 28 with a match against Tulsa at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
