Nov. 4, 2006
Fullerton, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton volleyball program took another step in the right direction snapping a 25-year, 52-match losing streak to UC Santa Barbara, with a 3-2 victory in a Big West Conference volleyball match at Titan Gym Saturday night. Breanna Trudeau collected 18 kills, 22 digs and three service aces to lead the Titans' attack in the 23-30, 30-25, 30-22, 19-30, 15-10 victory.
With the win, Fullerton (16-9, 5-6) earned its 16th victory for just the third time in the program's history, and sit just two wins away from the all-time record of 18 (1981), with four matches to play. The Gauchos fall to 14-11 on the year, and 6-6 in Big West play.
After losing the first point, of the fifth game, the Titans would never trail, and would not let go of the lead after a kill by Brittany Moore would give them the lead for good. Trudeau would wind up blasting four kills in the final frame followed by Moore who would seal the victory with her third kill of the game and 13th of the match.
Fullerton neared a season-high as they posted 18.5 team blocks holding the Santa Barbara Team to just 7. Moore led the Fullerton squad with eight, including three solos, while teammates Amanda Pfielschiefter (7), Alex Wolnisty (6) and Julie Geissert (6) added in commanding blocking numbers.
A quartet of Titans put up 15-or-more digs, with libero Vanessa Vella Leading the way with 29. UCSB's Emily Hendrickson matched Vella with 29 for the game lead, while five Gauchos scooped 10-or more in the losing effort.
Jamie Garbisch was Santa Barbara's leading hitter, posting 22 kills in 77 swings. Olivia Waldowski hit a team-best .250 picking up 14 kills of her own.
Fullerton barely out-hit Santa Barbara .164 to .149 in the 5-game match, but Fullerton's game three .325 mark out-did UCSB's .214 to give the Titans a 2-1 lead after the break.
The Titans finished up the home portion of their 2006 schedule Saturday night, improving the team's record at Titan Gym to 10-4. With just one more victory in Conference play the Titans will match the best-ever conference win total with 6, with three opportunities to break that record.
Cal State Fullerton volleyball will close out their 2006 season on the road with games at UC Irvine (Nov. 10), Long Beach State (Nov. 11), UC Riverside (Nov. 17) and San Diego (Nov. 21). All matches will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast by Patrick Alog on fullertontitans.com