Tournament Most Valuable Player Carley Dial had a match-high 19 kills
without an error and hit .576 on the night as Cal State Fullerton won
the 2004 Four Points Titan Classic with a 3-1 (31-29, 22-30, 33-31, 30-23)
victory over Idaho State on Saturday night at Titan Gym.
Cal State Fullerton improved to 6-1 overall, winning it's last three consecutive
matches. Idaho State fell to 3-6 overall.
Dial was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Lauren Goins,
who had 15 kills and 19 digs in the match, and Tiffany Dolven, who had
16 kills and 10 blocks on the night. Alyssa Opeka added 11 kills and 10
digs for the Titans in the victory.
Idaho State was led by Kamie Olsen, who had a team-high 16 kills and led
three other players in double digits. Nikki Randall (15 kills), Heather
Kinnison (11), and Felice Yocopis (10) joined her.
The two teams traded points throughout the first game with no team holding
a lead larger than three. Idaho State fought off the first game point,
but senior Tiffany Dolven put away the game-winner with a quick hit at
the net for the 31-29 victory.
Idaho State jumped out to a 12-5 lead and, after a short burst by the
Titans brought them to within 15-11, the Bengals eventually extended it's
lead to seven and closed out game two with a kill by Heather Kinnison
for the 30-22 victory to tie the match at 1-1.
It was the first time that the Titans had dropped a game in the tournament
after sweeping Providence and San Jose State in their first two matches.
Game three saw the Titans jump out the the quick 6-2 lead, but the Bengals
responded out of a timeout with three straight scores to close to within
a point. Fullerton increased its advantge to 11-7, but four straight points
by ISU tied the game for the first time at 11-all.
No team led by more than two points the rest of the way. With the Bengals
leading by two, a kill by Carley Dial and a ball handling error by Idaho
State tied the game at 28-28.
Idaho State fought off three more game points, but could not capitalize
on the fourth as a kill by Goins and a ball hit long by Idaho State clinched
the victory and gave Fullerton a 2-1 lead.
Four quick points out of the gate by the Bengals gave them the early lead
in game four, but the Titans stomed back, scoring 11 of the next 13 to
gain the lead.
Idaho State got back to within a point five times after that, but could
not draw even as a block and service ace by Alyssa Opeka put the Titans
up by four at 26-22.
With the Titans up six, Dial's kill ended the match and gave Fullerton
it's second tournament title of the season.
The Titans outblocked the Bengals 16-7 on the night.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Wednesday (Sept. 15) as the Titans
open Big West Conference play on the road at UC Irvine at 7 p.m.
2004 FOUR POINTS SHERATON TITAN CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Most Valuable Player: Carley Dial, Cal State Fullerton
Ashley Vanderbloomen, Idaho State
Nikki Randall, Idaho State
Ayanna Cadres, Providence College
Jennifer Senftleben, San Jose State
Lauren Goins, Cal State Fullerton
Tiffany Dolven, Cal State Fullerton
FINAL TOURNAMENT STANDINGS 1. Cal State Fullerton (3-0)
2. San Jose State (2-1)
3. Idaho State (1-2)
4. Providence College (0-3)
