Thursday, October 21
Fresno, Calif.
7 p.m. MT
Boise State
at
Fresno State
Broncos travel to California to face Fresno State and Sacramento State
10/20/2021 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY, WEEK FIVE CONTINUED
Thursday, Oct. 21
THIS WEEK IN BRONCO VOLLEYBALL
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Boise State (15-6, 4-5 MW) looks to regroup following a five-set home loss to Utah State Tuesday as the Broncos travel to California for two. The Blue and Orange will take on the Fresno State Bulldogs (8-8, 4-4 MW) at 7 p.m. (Mountain) Thursday in Fresno, then travel to Sacramento for a 1 p.m. (MT) encounter with the Sacramento State Hornets (8-10) in the final nonconference match of the regular season.Â
SCOUTING BOISE STATE: The Broncos enter the weekend coming off a 1-2 homestand falling to San Diego State 3-0, then beat UNLV in five, followed by a loss to Utah State in five on Tuesday night. Â
Through 21 matches, Boise State is led by Lauren Ohlinger who has tallied league-highs for kills (291), service aces (40) and points (353.0). The junior outside hitter is ranked sixth nationally for total service aces, 18th for service aces per set (.51) and 18th in total points.
Makayla Hansen follows with 165 kills and 75 blocks. Kayly Pau is third with 121 kills and 38 blocks, while Alyssa Wissinger is fourth with 113 kills and 86 blocks (2nd MW).
As a team, Boise State hits .262 percent (1st MW / 28th NCAA) and holds opponents to .188 percent (4th MW). The Broncos average 12.67 kills per set (7th MW), 2.78 blocks (1st MW / 8th NCAA), 1.96 service aces (2nd MW / 13th NCAA) and 12.97 digs (6th MW). Boise State leads the MW and is secondly nationally for total blocks (220.0) and is third in total service aces (155).Â
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE: The Bulldogs are 8-8 overall and 4-4 in conference play. They are coming off a home split last week falling to San Jose State 3-0 followed by a 3-0 win over Nevada. Fresno State is led by Desiree Sukhov with 171 kills and Savanah Smith with 133. As a team, the Bulldogs hit .186 percent (10th MW) while their opponents have hit .226 (9th MW). The Bulldogs were picked to place fifth in the 2021 Mountain West race.Â
THE FRESNO STATE SERIES: Â The all-time series is tied at 20 wins apiece, but Boise State leads the MW series 13-3, including 12 straight victories. The Broncos lead the series in matches played at Fresno by a slim 10-9 advantage. The two did not play last spring.
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: The Hornets are 8-10 overall and 3-5 in Big Sky Conference play. They are coming off a pair of road losses  last week falling to Montana State 3-1, then Montana 3-0. Sacramento State is led by Bridgette Smith with 220 kills and 26 blocks, followed by Caitlin Volkmann with 140 kills. As a team, the Hornets hit .168 percent (8th BSC) while their opponents have hit .209 (6th BSC). Sacramento State was picked to place fifth out of 11 teams in the 2021 Big Sky race.Â
THE SACRAMENTO STATE SERIES: Â This will be the second meeting of the year between the Broncos and Hornets at Sacramento. Boise State won the Sacramento State Invitational (Sept. 10-11) which included a 3-0 win over the Hornets. The Broncos now lead the all-time series 5-4, with the series tied at 1-1 in contests played in Sacramento.Â
THE LAST TIME VERSUS SACRAMENTO STATE: Â Lauren Ohlinger led the Broncos to victory in the first meeting in September with a team-high 15 kills while hitting .419 percent. She was followed by Alli O'Harra with nine kills and six blocks, and Makayla Hansen who had eight kills and four blocks. Boise State controlled the match nearly the entire time gaining leads early in all three sets, then maintained its advantage for three straight set victories 25-19, 25-18, 25-13. The match saw only four ties and two lead changes, nearly all in the second period. Sacramento State was led by Caitlin Volkmann with nine kills and two blocks while Bridgette Smith and Kalani Hayes added five kills apiece.
FOLLOW THE ACTION: If you cannot attend, the best way to follow the action is by going to the volleyball schedule on BroncoSports.com and clicking on the appropriate "Live Scoring" and/or "Live Stream" links for the particular match you want to follow. For home and Mountain West contests the live stream is free of charge courtesy of the Mountain West Network. The match at Sacramento State will feature live stats — the link can be found on BroncoSports.com — and can be watched on ESPN+.
NOTES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BRONCO VOLLEYBALLÂ
WELCOME TO THE BLOCK PARTY:Â The Broncos' frontline has recorded double-digit team blocks in 14 of 21 contests to date with a high of 18 against San Jose State (Sept. 30), tied for 12th all-time and tied for third during the rally scoring era (RSE).Â
THE BLUE WALL NATIONALLY RANKED:Â The Broncos lead the Mountain West and are ranked second nationally in total blocks with 220. The Wall also leads the MW and is eighth in the NCAA for blocks per set at 2.78.Â
BOSS AT SETTER:Â Senior Danielle Boss returned at setter where she has started the previous three campaigns. She entered the season ranked ninth all-time and fifth in the rally scoring era (RSE) for career assists at Boise State with 2,151. She has opened the season with 683 to move into seventh place overall and fourth in RSE with 2,788.
DONAHUE CLOSING IN ON RALLY SCORING ERA BLOCKS RECORD: Jessica Donahue entered the week seven blocks short of setting the school record for career blocks during the rally scoring era (RSE) with 414. She tallied four Tuesday night in the loss to Utah State moving her within two of tying Sadie Maughan's (2007-10)record for 420 and three from breaking it. The rally scoring era started in 2001.
WISSINGER NATIONALLY RANKED FOR BLOCKS:Â Alyssa Wissinger is ranked 32nd nationally for total blocks with 86 and is 42nd in blocks per set at 1.28. Â
BOSS NATIONALLY RANKED FOR ASSISTS:Â Dani Boss is ranked 43rd nationally for assists per set at 10.35, that is second in the MW. Â
OHLINGER NATIONALLY RANKED: Lauren Ohlinger is ranked sixth in the NCAA for total service aces (40), 18th nationally for service aces per set (0.51), 35th for total kills (291) and 18th for total points (353). Â
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Thursday, Oct. 21
- 7 p.m. | Boise State at Fresno State | Live Scoring | MW Network
- 1 p.m. | Boise State at Sacramento State | Live Scoring | ESPN+
THIS WEEK IN BRONCO VOLLEYBALL
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Boise State (15-6, 4-5 MW) looks to regroup following a five-set home loss to Utah State Tuesday as the Broncos travel to California for two. The Blue and Orange will take on the Fresno State Bulldogs (8-8, 4-4 MW) at 7 p.m. (Mountain) Thursday in Fresno, then travel to Sacramento for a 1 p.m. (MT) encounter with the Sacramento State Hornets (8-10) in the final nonconference match of the regular season.Â
SCOUTING BOISE STATE: The Broncos enter the weekend coming off a 1-2 homestand falling to San Diego State 3-0, then beat UNLV in five, followed by a loss to Utah State in five on Tuesday night. Â
Through 21 matches, Boise State is led by Lauren Ohlinger who has tallied league-highs for kills (291), service aces (40) and points (353.0). The junior outside hitter is ranked sixth nationally for total service aces, 18th for service aces per set (.51) and 18th in total points.
Makayla Hansen follows with 165 kills and 75 blocks. Kayly Pau is third with 121 kills and 38 blocks, while Alyssa Wissinger is fourth with 113 kills and 86 blocks (2nd MW).
As a team, Boise State hits .262 percent (1st MW / 28th NCAA) and holds opponents to .188 percent (4th MW). The Broncos average 12.67 kills per set (7th MW), 2.78 blocks (1st MW / 8th NCAA), 1.96 service aces (2nd MW / 13th NCAA) and 12.97 digs (6th MW). Boise State leads the MW and is secondly nationally for total blocks (220.0) and is third in total service aces (155).Â
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE: The Bulldogs are 8-8 overall and 4-4 in conference play. They are coming off a home split last week falling to San Jose State 3-0 followed by a 3-0 win over Nevada. Fresno State is led by Desiree Sukhov with 171 kills and Savanah Smith with 133. As a team, the Bulldogs hit .186 percent (10th MW) while their opponents have hit .226 (9th MW). The Bulldogs were picked to place fifth in the 2021 Mountain West race.Â
THE FRESNO STATE SERIES: Â The all-time series is tied at 20 wins apiece, but Boise State leads the MW series 13-3, including 12 straight victories. The Broncos lead the series in matches played at Fresno by a slim 10-9 advantage. The two did not play last spring.
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: The Hornets are 8-10 overall and 3-5 in Big Sky Conference play. They are coming off a pair of road losses  last week falling to Montana State 3-1, then Montana 3-0. Sacramento State is led by Bridgette Smith with 220 kills and 26 blocks, followed by Caitlin Volkmann with 140 kills. As a team, the Hornets hit .168 percent (8th BSC) while their opponents have hit .209 (6th BSC). Sacramento State was picked to place fifth out of 11 teams in the 2021 Big Sky race.Â
THE SACRAMENTO STATE SERIES: Â This will be the second meeting of the year between the Broncos and Hornets at Sacramento. Boise State won the Sacramento State Invitational (Sept. 10-11) which included a 3-0 win over the Hornets. The Broncos now lead the all-time series 5-4, with the series tied at 1-1 in contests played in Sacramento.Â
THE LAST TIME VERSUS SACRAMENTO STATE: Â Lauren Ohlinger led the Broncos to victory in the first meeting in September with a team-high 15 kills while hitting .419 percent. She was followed by Alli O'Harra with nine kills and six blocks, and Makayla Hansen who had eight kills and four blocks. Boise State controlled the match nearly the entire time gaining leads early in all three sets, then maintained its advantage for three straight set victories 25-19, 25-18, 25-13. The match saw only four ties and two lead changes, nearly all in the second period. Sacramento State was led by Caitlin Volkmann with nine kills and two blocks while Bridgette Smith and Kalani Hayes added five kills apiece.
FOLLOW THE ACTION: If you cannot attend, the best way to follow the action is by going to the volleyball schedule on BroncoSports.com and clicking on the appropriate "Live Scoring" and/or "Live Stream" links for the particular match you want to follow. For home and Mountain West contests the live stream is free of charge courtesy of the Mountain West Network. The match at Sacramento State will feature live stats — the link can be found on BroncoSports.com — and can be watched on ESPN+.
NOTES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BRONCO VOLLEYBALLÂ
WELCOME TO THE BLOCK PARTY:Â The Broncos' frontline has recorded double-digit team blocks in 14 of 21 contests to date with a high of 18 against San Jose State (Sept. 30), tied for 12th all-time and tied for third during the rally scoring era (RSE).Â
THE BLUE WALL NATIONALLY RANKED:Â The Broncos lead the Mountain West and are ranked second nationally in total blocks with 220. The Wall also leads the MW and is eighth in the NCAA for blocks per set at 2.78.Â
BOSS AT SETTER:Â Senior Danielle Boss returned at setter where she has started the previous three campaigns. She entered the season ranked ninth all-time and fifth in the rally scoring era (RSE) for career assists at Boise State with 2,151. She has opened the season with 683 to move into seventh place overall and fourth in RSE with 2,788.
DONAHUE CLOSING IN ON RALLY SCORING ERA BLOCKS RECORD: Jessica Donahue entered the week seven blocks short of setting the school record for career blocks during the rally scoring era (RSE) with 414. She tallied four Tuesday night in the loss to Utah State moving her within two of tying Sadie Maughan's (2007-10)record for 420 and three from breaking it. The rally scoring era started in 2001.
WISSINGER NATIONALLY RANKED FOR BLOCKS:Â Alyssa Wissinger is ranked 32nd nationally for total blocks with 86 and is 42nd in blocks per set at 1.28. Â
BOSS NATIONALLY RANKED FOR ASSISTS:Â Dani Boss is ranked 43rd nationally for assists per set at 10.35, that is second in the MW. Â
OHLINGER NATIONALLY RANKED: Lauren Ohlinger is ranked sixth in the NCAA for total service aces (40), 18th nationally for service aces per set (0.51), 35th for total kills (291) and 18th for total points (353). Â
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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