Spikeoff Features Fresno

Thu., Sept. 17, 1998

College volleyball

The undefeated Fresno State volleyball team will headline Spikeoff Spokane, which runs Friday and Saturday at Gonzaga University.

The ninth annual round-robin tournament - which returns to Martin Centre after last year’s Spokane Arena run - matches Gonzaga (1-7), Fresno State (8-0), Weber State (5-3) and Boise State (4-3).

“Fresno State comes in with the highest credentials, but I don’t think they are way above anybody else,” Gonzaga coach Eva Windlin-Jansen said.

Fresno State’s Bulldogs, who received votes in this week’s Top 25 poll, have three hitters averaging more than 4.0 kills per game.

Friday’s lineup begins with Boise State vs. Fresno State at 4:30 p.m. followed by Weber State vs. Gonzaga at 7. The Zags lost to Weber State 3-1 last weekend in the Wildcats’ tournament.

Saturday’s lineup is: Fresno State vs. Weber State, 10 a.m.; Gonzaga vs. Boise State, noon; Boise State vs. Weber State, 4:30; Gonzaga vs. Fresno State, 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs, trying to snap a seven-match losing streak, have played Fresno State only once and won the match 3-1 in 1993.

Beth Craig served six consecutive points for a 6-0 fifth-game lead and Idaho outlasted Gonzaga 15-10, 11-15, 15-10, 12-15, 15-6 on Tuesday in a non-conference volleyball match in Martin Centre.

Craig finished with a match-high 24 kills for the Vandals (5-2), who hit a match-high .385 in the fifth game. Craig was also serving when Idaho turned an 8-7 first-game deficit into an 11-8 lead.

The Bulldogs (1-7) held tough through seven sideouts in the second game to stretch a 7-5 lead to 12-5. GU broke ahead 10-7 in the middle game, but Heather Kniss had two kills as the Vandals scored eight straight.

The fourth game was tied at 6 before GU scored seven in a row, two on Casy Murdock kills.

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Spikeoff Features Fresno

Jesse Tinsley

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