By Jonathon Schaffer — Reporter
The San Jose State women’s volleyball team (15-7,9-3 MW) extended its win streak to six after a late comeback against the Fresno State Bulldogs (10-10, 6-6 MW) in a 3-2 set win.
The Bulldogs went off and running to a 3-1 lead in the first set, but the Spartans stayed up to pace with long rallies, both teams came to play.
Fresno would then jump to a 12-9 lead after a review of a ball that was placed out of bounds. The Bulldogs kept packing the punch hurdling to a 15-9 lead and were in control early.
The Spartans instantly called a timeout and began to bounce back after a poor start, making it a 16-15 score against Fresno.
However, Fresno State would stay strong and keep their lead ending the first set 25-21.
Redshirt senior Desiree Sukov and freshman Ella Rus each had four kills for the Bulldogs while senior Haylee Nelson and freshman Madeline Boerstra had five kills for SJSU.
The Spartans jumped to a 5-1 lead in the second set and continued the pace making it to 7-2. The Spartans, like Fresno State did in the first, kept their lead up to 15-11 until the Bulldogs timeout.
The Bulldogs began to tighten the gap on San Jose making it a 19-16 deficit down to the wire, but the Spartans grabbed a few themselves to grab a 22-17 lead.
The Spartans had a 24-21 set lead but Fresno bounced back tying it up 25 a piece but the Spartans stood tall and clutched the second set 27-25.
Boerstra now had 12 kills for SJSU, Nelson was right behind with 11 while Sukhov and Rud each had 8 kills for Fresno.
The third set began back and forth for both sides until the Bulldogs leaped to a 11-7 lead, but the Spartans bounded back to a 11-10 deficit.
The set would again continue to go back and forth until Fresno snatched a 20-17 lead with only five points remaining for the crucial set win.
That they did, Fresno took the second set 25-20 going into the third with the 2-1 game lead.
The Bulldogs did not leave the foot off the gas pedal, they quickly took a 12-6 lead in the fourth set until the Spartans edged the set to 14-13. With Fresno State up 23-20 SJSU bounced off the wall and tied the set going toe to toe with Fresno until winning the set 28-26.
The fifth and final set of this wild one the Spartans themselves never let off the breaks as they jumped to a 6-1 lead to begin the final set.
SJSU would never stop winning the set 15-4 sealing the great comeback and a 3-2 set win that extended SJSU’s win streak to six.
It really all came to that crucial fourth set win.
“What can you say when you come out with a set like that and your team as your back and they have each other’s and they love battling and love playing for each other.” said Head Coach Trent Kersten.
Boerstra finished the game with 22 kills which was the most of the night, Nelson led the team with 17 huge digs.
The scorching Spartans have a four-day break until they travel to Laramie, Wyo. to take on the Cowgirls on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Follow Jonathan on Twitter @jonny_schaffer
