Four Teams at Titan Gym for Four Points
Tourney Sept. 9, 2004 – Fullerton, Calif.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Cal State Fullerton women's volleyball
team (3-1 overall in 2004) hosts its second four-team tournament of the
season this weekend, welcoming three other teams to Titan Gym for the
2004 Four Points Titan Classic.
Friday's two games feature Idaho State against San Jose State at 4 p.m.
and Providence College against the host Titans in the nightcap at 7:30
p.m. For the complete schedule click here.
SERIES RECORDS: Cal State Fullerton is 2-0 all-time against
Providence College, winning in three games in 1988... The Titans are 1-1
against Idaho State, last winning at the 2000 Four Points tournament in
three games... Fullerton is only 1-22 against San Jose State, losing the
last meeting in 1998. The Titans' last win vs. the Spartans came in 1995
in four games.
TITAN AWARD HAUL: Cal State Fullerton placed three players
on the all-tournament team and freshman libero Vanessa Vella was named
MVP at last weekend's Hawthorn Suites Titan Classic. Lauren Goins, Alyssa
Opeka, and Tiffany Dolven joined Vella in the Titan award haul as Fullerton
won its season opening tournament for the first time since 1998.
OPEKA COMING UP BIG ON BOTH SIDES OF THE NET: Cal State
Fullerton junior right side hitter Alyssa Opeka has come up big on both
sides of the net for the Titans in the young season. Opeka leads the team
in three categories: service aces (11), block assists (21), and total
blocks (22). She is averaging 1.47 blocks per game, tied with Tiffany
Dolven for tops on the squad.
START ME UP: Cal State Fullerton continued its trend
for quick starts last weekend, opening 3-0 for the first time since 1997
and winning the tournament title at its own Hawthorn Suites Titan Classic.
The Titans also have a chance this weekend to open the season with their
best start in 17 years. With three victories this weekend, Fullerton would
open at 6-1 for the first time since 1987.
GOINS THE DISTANCE: Cal State Fullerton senior outside
hitter Lauren Goins continues to climb the record books in three different
categories. With her 56 kills this season, Goins moved up to sixth place
on the school's all-time list and stands just three kills out of fifth
place.
Goins ranks 10th in career digs with 719 and needs 37 more to reach ninth
place, while the senior has 78 service aces in her career, needing just
five more to move into seventh place.
ABOUT THE TITANS: Cal State Fullerton returns eight letterwinners
from last year's squad which went 8-22 overall (2-16 in the Big West),
including five players who started 20 or more matches in 2003. The roster
is very balanced with a good mix of experience (seven upperclassmen, including
four seniors) and youth (eight freshmen and sophomores). Fullerton also
returns a potent offense with the returners accounting for just ovr 92
percent of the offense last season, 96.5 percent of the team's blocks,
and just under 52 percent of the digs from 2003.
TITANS PICKED NINTH IN PRESEASON COACHES POLL: Cal State
Fullerton was picked to finish ninth in the Big West Conference this season
according to a poll of the league's head coaches. The Titans, who finished
10th last season, received 21 points to finish ahead of UC Riverside –
the source of Fullerton's only two conference wins in 2003.
UC Santa Barbara received nine first-place votes and was picked to repeat
as league champs for a third consecutive season with 99 points.
