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Al Scott

Feb 06
0

Softball Season Preview: ‘Dogs Ready to Eat

By | Feature, Softball | No Comments

A new era of Fresno State softball begins this weekend under Charlotte Morgan, who was introduced as the sixth head coach in program history this past June. 

Morgan comes to the Valley after spending the last four seasons as the head coach at Cal State University Northridge, leading the Matadors to 109 victories.

Her hiring comes following the departure of former Head Coach Stacy May-Johnson, who left following the 2025 season to take the same role at her alma mater, the University of Iowa. Morgan made it clear at her press conference back in June that they aren’t taking a step back.

“We’re not rebuilding. We’re redefining who we are,” Morgan said. “I want to retire here. I took this job to continue the tradition, the legacy. But get this place, we will break attendance records, we will get back to being that powerhouse where people don’t want to play us.”

Director of Athletics Garrett Klassy with Head Coach Charlotte Morgan (Fresno State Athletics).

The rich history of softball has it amongst the best, if not the best of any sport on the Fresno State campus. The program has won 24 conference championships, 34 NCAA Tournament appearances and a National Championship (1998). 

“You should be coming here because of the history and knowing softball. Fresno State Softball is a powerhouse, but you’ve got to embrace that. You’ve got to want that, but also you gotta be able to struggle. I can take criticism, I can take the struggle, but there’s no way I’m going to get defeated by it,” Morgan said. 

Prior to her coaching, Morgan was a standout player at the University of Alabama (2007-10) where she was a three-time NFCA All-American, a two-time SEC Player of the Year and was twice named a USA Softball Player of the Year Top 10 finalist. 

Morgan pitched in 86 games (65 starts), compiling a 51-12 overall record with a 2.12 ERA for the Crimson Tide. At the plate, she hit .387 with 58 home runs and an SEC career-record 264 RBI.

“She’s the total package – an elite talent, an elite teacher, and an elite competitor,” Director of Athletics Garrett Klassy said. “She understands the game at the highest level. Her deep roots in California, combined with her proven success as a head coach make her the perfect fit for the Valley. She’s a relentless strategist and developer of talent who embraces the expectations and legacy of Fresno State Softball.”

Time to eat

The team has yet to find its identity for the upcoming season but one thing that is sure is made clear by their mantra ‘Let’s eat!’ 

Photo courtesy of Fresno State Athletics.

“Everything I talk about is staying hungry, you should never settle, you should want to get better in everything you do and I need them to hold me to that too,” Morgan said. “We’re Bulldogs, so it’s like, ‘let’s eat,’ let’s continue to get better.”

Senior outfielder Natalie Elias echoed this and said that this mentality goes beyond the field, from making a concerted effort to cleaning their lockers and picking up trash. 

“I feel like we have a lot better intention with everything that we do on and off the field,” Elias said. 

Natalie Elias (Fresno State Athletics)

Elias will play a pivotal role, leading an offense that lost a lot of firepower to graduation and the portal. Elias was named All-MW second team in 2025 after hitting .352 over 49 games as the Bulldogs leadoff hitter, a role she’s excited to serve again in 2026. 

“My energy is really important at the start of the game. Getting on base is really important, or having a competitive at-bat,” Elias said. 

Roster outlook

Elias is one of 13 returners from the 2026 team. Other returning starters include second baseman Emma Martinez, two-way player (3B/P) Alyssa Ramirez and outfielders Alyssa Rebolledo and Kealani Nitta. 

Nadia Roundtree, Olivia Hill, Rylee Bocchini, Mallory Vancleave, Mackenna Gieger, Jamie Hicks, Ava Tingey, and Alexa Brunetti also return to the Bulldogs.

As is the case with most coaching transitions in recent years, several players from last year’s team entered the transfer portal following May-Johnson’s departure, including starting catcher Kennedy Bunker (Ole Miss) and Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Serayah Neiss (Iowa).

Photo courtesy of Fresno State Athletics.

The Bulldogs brought in 12 new players, including eight transfers: Leila Dixon (UIC), Larissa Flores (CSUN), Lauryn Carranco (CSUN), Gizella Vargas Sandoval (CSUN), Christal Lopez (CSUB), Tiara Westbrook (CSUN), Lorraine Alo (Portland State), and Giana Quintanar (Fresno City). 

She also brought in four freshmen: Arianna Aguayo (Liberty HS), Alyssa Loza (Century HS), Jayda Crosby (California HS) and Makenna Pettey (Yucaipa HS). Loza, Crosby and Pettey were each named to the Softball America Freshman Watch List for 2026.

“I was a little worried about culture (with so many new players) but we’ve come together so nicely as a team. We’ve really bonded and I think we’re going to carry that through the season,” Elias said. 

Carranco returns home

The Red Wave will have an entire new pitching staff to watch in 2026, but it won’t be unfamiliar to Morgan, especially with her ace in Carranco, who’s been with her the last three seasons at CSUN. 

“I think it was meant to be for us to spend her final season together,” Morgan said. “It’s funny how our stories both began with wanting to be Fresno State Bulldogs and now we are here.”

Carranco went on to have a standout career at Clovis High where she led the Cougars to a 2022 Central Section Division I championship and to the NorCal Regional Division I finals with a state-leading 25 wins, leading the state in victories. 

Lauryn Carranco being celebrated by her teammates (Carranco/IG).

The Clovis native was quite impressive in three seasons in a Matadors uniform, earning All-Big West Conference first-team honors in 2023 (also named Freshman Pitcher of the Year) and 2025 and second-team honors in 2024. She is coming off her best season in the circle, pitching to the tune of a 2.77 ERA in 34 appearances (32 starts), including 20 complete games and three shutouts while racking up 113 strikeouts across 189.2 innings.

Carranco’s road to becoming a Bulldog has been a long time coming. Growing up down the road from Fresno State, she had fond memories of attending Bulldog softball games as a kid. 

Lauryn Carranco (right) at a Fresno State softball game (Carranco/Instagram)

“I was just ready to come home. I think there is no better way to end my college career. It’s still surreal to me,” Carranco said. “I have to pinch myself when I think about the opportunity to play on the field where I grew up watching games. It’s truly been a dream come true. I’ve felt so much support, not only from my family but from the community. When I’m on the field at Margie Wright Diamond and see those little girls in the stands, it’ll be a full-circle moment for me because I was one of them.”

Lopez, Loza and Ramirez should also see plenty of time in the circle this season. 

Coaching staff

Morgan also brings with her a brand new coaching staff, including Recruiting Coordinator Darnell Westbrook, who will also oversee the outfield. Westbrook has been coaching since 2018 at the high school level and for Corona Angels Howard program, one of the top 10 travel softball organizations in the country. 

“He brings the energy, he brings the life out of us, he’s someone that we can trust,”  Morgan said. “I need someone like him, who’s a little bit more bubbly and outgoing.”

Former Oregon Duck star Ariel Carson comes to Fresno as the Bulldogs new hitting and infield coach. She finished her collegiate career with a .306 batting average, 173 hits, 159 RBIs, 47 stolen bases, and 44 home runs in 217 games in a Ducks uniform. Following her playing career, Carson transitioned to becoming the Director of Player Development and Analytics last season. 

Mariah Mazon joins the staff as the Director of Player Development. Mazon was a three-time All-American at Oregon State, where she pitched under Fresno State legend Laura Berg before playing in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. 

The last piece to the puzzle was former Fresno State catcher Kelcey Carrasco, a member of the 2021 MW championship team. 

“I wanted someone who understands what it means to be a Fresno State Bulldog and knows how to win. We want our program to represent the Valley, and Kelcey’s heart and soul are rooted here,” Morgan said. 

Before joining the Bulldogs’ staff, Carrasco served as head coach of the Cen Cal Dirtdogs from 2022 to 2025. She also spent the 2022-23 season as an assistant coach at Fresno City College, helping lead the Rams to a CVC Championship while being named part of the CVC Coaching Staff of the Year.

The coaching staff is rounded out by assistants Brayden McIntosh, and former players Lauren Almeida and Keahlilele Mattson. 

Schedule 

The Bulldogs host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (2/6 at 3 p.m. and 2/7 at 3 p.m.) and Idaho State (2/6 at 5 p.m. and 2/7 at 1 p.m.) this weekend to kick off the 2026 season. 

Fresno State will welcome #25 Washington the following weekend (2/13-14) for three games. The Bulldogs will then compete in the Mary Nutter Classic (2/19-21), facing #1 Texas Tech, California, Cal Baptist and #10 UCLA. 

They will finish the month of February facing UC San Diego and the University of Pacific for two games each (2/27-28). Fresno State will play at CSU Bakersfield on March 3 before playing Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara (two games each) in the Silicon Valley Classic (3/7-8). 

The Bulldogs will begin Mountain West play on March 13 as they welcome Utah State to Margie Wright Diamond. This will be the first three of 25 conference games. The Bulldogs will also host Stanford for a midweek matchup with #17 Stanford on April 15. 

The Mountain West Championship this season takes place in Reno, Nevada from May 6-9. 

Story written by Al Scott, cover photo courtesy of Fresno State Athletics.

Feb 04
0

‘Dogs win marathon on Heidbreder buzzer beater

By | Basketball, Feature | No Comments

Words won’t do justice to what 5,557 fans witnessed at the Save Mart Center on Tuesday night.

After three hours of basketball, six technicals, four flagrants, one bloody mouth, two groin shots, and 63 total fouls; Fresno State senior guard Jake Heidbreder saved the best for last: a game-winning buzzer beater to cap off a 7-0 run in the final 6.8 seconds to defeat UNLV 98-96. Head Coach Vance Walberg was still in shock about 20 minutes after the game ended.

“In 48 years of coaching, I’ve never seen that in my life, glad we’re on the winning end. You guys have been here many times where I told you about the basketball gods, and I believe if you keep working hard, good things can happen. And I think they really helped us today,” Walberg said. 

Heidbreder finished with 29 points, including the game winner, and a bloody mouth. But he wasn’t the only contributor. Backup point guard Bastien Rieber (15 points, 4 assists) was pivotal off the bench in 21 minutes of play. DeShawn Gory (15 points), Zaon Collins (16 points) and Wilson Jaques (10 points) also scored in double figures. 

“I think was a really great team win. We always stay together, even when we are down by six or seven, we stay together to come back and play until the last second,” Rieber said. “It’s very important to win a game like this, because we lost a couple of games by one or two points.”

Key players

Jake Heidbreder (FS): 29 points (9-14 FG), 2 steals

Zaon Collins (FS): 16 points, 3 assists

Howie Fleming Jr. (UNLV): 23 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (UNLV): 28 points, 4 assists

What happened 

UNLV came out hot, scoring on eight of its first 13 possessions. After a second chance, Naas Cunningham found Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn open, who nailed a three to put the Rebels up 19-10 with 13:15 remaining in the half. 

Fresno State finally found its groove. A Cameron Faas jumper followed by free throws from Bastien Rieber (2) and Gaspar Kovevar (1) made it 19-15. A couple layups later from Jake Heidbreder and Zaon Collins tied the game at 19 apiece. The Bulldogs would end up going on a 19-4 run, capped off by a three from Heidbreder to make it 29-23 Fresno State with 7:55 left and forcing a Rebels timeout. 

UNLV retook a lead at 38-37 thanks to a turnaround jumper from Gibbs-Lawhorn. The teams would trade leads on five straight possessions before a media timeout. UNLV took the lead again on a corner three from Issac Williamson. The Rebels went into halftime shooting 58% from the field to lead the Bulldogs 50-49.

UNLV opened the second half with a pair of driving layups from Fleming Jr. and Gibbs-Lawhorn. A flagrant foul by David Douglas Jr. sent Fleming Jr. to the line where he made it 55-49. A three from Faas ending the Bulldogs scoring drought. 

Gory made it 55-54 the next possession with a mid-range jumper. Gibbs-Lawhorn answered back with a three of his own before a media timeout with 15:13 remaining. The Rebels broke the game open with a 14-2 run before an and-one layup from Rieber to make it 69-59. 

A passionate heckler made eye contact with Walberg with about 10 minutes left in the game before telling the former Clovis West coach to go back to High School. 

“I hear that all the time. When I worked with George Carl, George would call me high school. I’ve been through it now. You hear people, it’s just the business world,” Walberg said. 

Walberg said that he’s not sure what’s going to happen at the end of the year, in regards to his future with the program but emphasized that he’s been proud of the growth he’s seen out of his team.

“I feel like we’re getting better and better, and that as a coach, that’s all you can do. As bad as we were last year, if you really go back and look, we got better and better by the end of the year. And I think that’s the work ethic of the kids that we have. The players we have are why that happens,” Walberg said.

A corner three from Walter Brown gave the Rebels a 76-68 lead with 6:44 left. Collins found Heidbreder open under the hoop the next play for a driving layup to make it a two-possession game. 

Rieber drove to the layup and drew a foul on Gibbs-Lawhorn (fouled out), before making both free throws to cut the deficit to 86-80 with 2:06 run. Rieber hit a three with 23 seconds to make it 92-89. 

“Coach told me before the game that it’s one of my goals during the games to try to stay with him the whole game,” Rieber. “So that’s what I did.”

About 10 fouls and timeouts later, David Douglas Jr. tied the game at 96 with three from the top of the key with 1.5 seconds left. After a forced turnover, the Bulldogs found Heidbreder who did what he does best: make jumpers. The senior finished with 29 points including the game winner. 

“It was amazing. Nothing else to say, it was just amazing,” Rieber said.

What’s next

The Bulldogs head to Reno this weekend, playing at Nevada (16-7) on Saturday night at 7 p.m. They will look to get revenge after falling 66-65 at home to the Wolf Pack on Jan. 3. 

“We gave that Nevada game away, which really bugs the heck out of me. We know they’re a very good team, especially at their place, but again, I believe if we do the things right, we’ll give ourselves a chance again,” Walberg said. 

From there, they will play at Utah State (18-3) on Tuesday, Feb. 10 before returning home to play Air Force (3-19) at the Save Mart Center on Valentines Day, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.

Injury updates

Guard DJ Stickman (concussion) missed his second straight game. He’s doubtful to play on Saturday at Nevada.

Feb 01
0

January Dogs of the Month: Gory and Powell rising

By | Basketball, Feature | No Comments

Both Fresno State men’s and women’s basketball teams find themselves in the thick of conference play with plenty of opportunity to make something happen down the stretch of the season. 

Two underclassmen made their mark in the month of January, steadying the rock and keeping the Bulldogs afloat.

On the men’s side, DeShawn Gory has become a force on both ends of the floor. In the month of January, the freshman forward is averaging 15.6 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game on an efficient 49.1% shooting from the field. 

Back in November, Walberg applauded Gory’s attention to detail and his work ethic in putting in extra time and work, especially defensively and in rebounding. It paid off for him. Gory’s rapid rise shouldn’t be all that surprising considering Gory’s athleticism. 

Gory and the Bulldogs return to the Save Mart Center on Tuesday, Feb. 3 to host the University of Las Vegas, Nevada at 8 p.m.

For the women’s team, Danae Powell has risen to new heights in her sophomore season after primarily being used off the bench a year ago. The point guard is averaging 10.5 PPG and 3.5 RPG per game, both marks are double what she averaged during the 2024-25 season. 

Powell’s play has been even more impressive since the beginning of 2026, averaging 12.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG over the last 9 games. She also had 16 assists and 11 steals during that stretch. 

The 5’7” guard from Las Vegas will look to take her hot streak into February, beginning on Wednesday evening in Silicon Valley when Fresno State plays at San Jose State, tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The Bulldogs return home on Saturday, Feb. 7 to host Nevada. 

Honorable Mentions

Story written by Al Scott, photos courtesy of Ryan Sepulveda (FSM).

Jan 24
0

‘Dogs run out of gas in loss to Lopes

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The Save Mart Center played host to its second highest attended and arguably the loudest Fresno State basketball game of the season on Saturday with an announced attendance of 6,462. They were treated to a back-and-forth second half that saw six lead changes. 

Fresno State (9-11, 3-6) came out on the losing end though, falling 68-57 to Grand Canyon (13-6, 6-2). Jaden Henley led the Lopes with 23 points. Fresno State was within three points before a 10-2 run in the final 2 minutes of the game. Fresno State Head Coach Vance Walberg expressed disappointment after the game. 

“We didn’t shoot the ball very well. I think that’s an understatement, but I thought we still gave ourselves a chance to win. But again, you can’t give up 17 offensive rebounds. I think we got outscored by what, 17 or 18 on second chance points. In a game like this, it’s just going to kill you,” Walberg said.

He added that the crowd was phenomenal and a big reason they were able to stay competitive despite the shooting woes. 

“I love to see that, and I’d love to see it get bigger and bigger. But we got to do our job, the more we win, the more people are going to come,” Walberg said. 

Key players 

  • DeShawn Gory (FS): 19 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal
  • David Douglas Jr. (FS): 15 points (4-7 3FG)
  • Jaden Henley (GCU): 23 points (7-15 FG), 10 rebounds, 3 assists

What happened 

Caleb Shaw opened the scoring with a three for the Lopes. A minute later, David Douglas Jr. found a cutting Jake Heidbreder under the basket for a layup. The Lopes responded with a 6-1 run including a pair of baskets from 7’1” center Efe Demirel to give Grand Canyon a 9-3 lead with 14:19 remaining. 

A steal from Gaspar Kocevar led to a fastbreak dunk for fellow freshman DeShawn Gory, ending a scoring drought with just under 12 minutes remaining in the half. The Lopes ended a long drought of their own with a layup-and-one from Jaden Henley. Demirel nailed one of two free throws on the following possession to give the Lopes a 14-5 lead with nine minutes left. Grand Canyon extended its lead to 18-7 a couple minutes later with a second chance layup. 

The Bulldogs responded with a 7-3 run, including a three from Douglas Jr. and a fastbreak dunk from center Wilson Jacques. Fresno State managed to slowly close the gap and a three from Zaon Collins cut the deficit to 26-19 heading into halftime. 

Despite the Collins three, the Bulldogs made just 7-of-30 shots from the field and 2-of-14 from beyond the arc in the first half. Grand Canyon was not much better, shooting 8-of-28 from the field and 3-of-14 from 3. They were however able to get to the charity stripe aplenty, making 7-of-12 free throw opportunities. 

Demirel opened the second half with a mid-range jumper. He followed it up with a steal leading to a fastbreak dunk for Nana Owusu-Anane. Fresno State responded with a three from the top of the key via Douglas Jr. who found himself open a couple possessions later for another three (and the foul) to bring the score to 32-28 with 15:43 left in the game. The Bulldogs extended its run to 14-2 taking a 33-32 lead with a fastbreak layup from Gory forcing a Grand Canyon timeout with 13:25 left. 

The Lopes would go on a 12-6 run of its own including a pair of dunks from Henley. Douglas Jr. ended the run with his fourth three of the game to make it a one-score game with 7:47 left in the half. Gory tied the game with a pair of flagrant (Shaw) free throws. He then took the lead with a turnaround jumper. A three from Makaih Williams gave the lead back to the Lopes. A three the next possession from Dusty Stromer made it 52-48 Grand Canyon. 

A pair of free throws from Jake Heidbreder and a full-court pass from Collins to Gory closed the gap to 58-55 with 2:20 remaining, forcing a Grand Canyon timeout. It wasn’t enough however as the Lopes closed out the Bulldogs with a 10-2 run to win 68-57. 

Gory led the Bulldogs in scoring with 19 points, his seventh straight game scoring in double figures, though his coach would still like to see more out of his rising freshman. 

‘I’ll be honest with you, I expect a lot more,” Walberg said. “That was one of [DeShawn’s] worst games of the year. I know he had 19 and 10. I thought defensively should have been a lot better than he was.”

As a team Fresno State shot 16-of-53 from three, and made just 5-23 from beyond the arc. The lone bright spot from deep was Douglas Jr. who has made 14-of-31 (45.1%) of his three-point attempts over his last six games. 

What’s next 

The Bulldogs are off until a Saturday (1/31) road matchup at noon at Air Force (3-17). Fresno State returns to the Save Mart Center on Tuesday, Feb. 3 to host UNLV) at 8 p.m.

Freshman guard DJ Stickman remains questionable to play next Saturday as he recovers from a concussion.

Recap written by Al Scott. Cover photo courtesy of Ryan Sepulveda.

Jan 24
0

Rams stave off Bulldogs upset bid

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The Fresno State women’s basketball (10-11) fell to 5-5 in conference play in a 68-55 loss to the University of Colorado (17-4) at the Save Mart Center on Jan. 24. 

The Bulldogs rank first in the Mountain West in turnovers (20.55 tpg), and that was on display as the ‘Dogs turned the ball over 18 times, which the Rams converted into 15 points. Despite that, a bright spot for the Bulldogs was the strong play from Emila Long.

“We went down to UNLV and Colorado State on that road trip we last played them, and we had three girls with the flu and [Long] was one of them—I didn’t know if she was going to play.” Head Coach Ryan McCarthy said. “Ever since then, she has been solid as a rock for us—she’s just so dynamic.”

Her backcourt mate Danae Powell also had good performance, with McCarthy adding that the two complement each other well on the court.

“Because of her shooting ability, Danae has a lot of gravity to her, and it opens up other players too,” McCathy said. “Those two have been really consistent for us this year and we’re going to need some other ladies to step up.”

This was also the sixth consecutive game McCarthy rolled out the starting lineup of Indiya Clark, Avery Watkins, and Jaisa Gamble in the front court, and Long and Powell in the back court. McCarthy values their consistency and included that they “separated themselves” from the rest of the roster.

“I don’t necessarily take a starting group and roll with them the whole year, that’s something  that’s earned in our program,” McCarthy said. “Those ladies separated themselves from the rest of the team with how consistent they’ve been playing and understanding our system. When those ladies are fresh, they’ve established that they can hang with anybody.”

Key players

Danae Powell (FS): 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 4 turnovers.

Emilia Long (FS): 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 2 turnovers.

Madelyn Bragg (CSU): 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks.

Brooke Carlson (CSU): 15 points, 2 steals, 4 turnovers.

What happened

To start the game, the Rams started off hot from beyond-the-arc, going 2-2 in the opening minutes to spark an early 5-0 lead. In contrast, the Bulldogs had a lid on their basket, going scoreless upon tipoff. 

However, the Bulldogs found their footing thanks to the backcourt play of guards Emilia Long and Danae Powell—who combined for nine of the ‘Dogs 10 points. However, the outing so far for Rams guard Hanah Ronsiek—who scored eight of the Rams’ 12 points—was enough to give the Rams the 12-10 cushion heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was a closely contested one, with both teams bringing grit to the court, but the Bulldogs would come out on top—outscoring the Rams 13-7 in the second quarter. The scoring reins were handed over to  Gamble, who scored five of the ‘Dogs’ 13 second quarter points, with four other Bulldogs contributing to the scoring column. 

For the Rams, Ronsiek cooldown from the field, only scoring a single point—but the Rams got help from three other players to add to the scoreboard. But the Bulldogs’ defense kept them in-check en route to their 23-20 lead heading into halftime. 

To open the third quarter, the Bulldogs came out slow footed on defense, allowing the Rams to score six of their 13 points in the paint early in the quarter. However, the steady play of the two seniors Gamble and Long were able to keep the Bulldogs afloat despite the 35-30 deficit. 

Still, the scoring continued to snowball for the Rams, led by guard Kloe Froebe—who scored nine of the Rams’ 28 third quarter points en route to the 48-42 Ram lead heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Bulldog turnovers proved to be costly, as the ‘Dogs turned the ball over five times midway through the quarter. As a result, the Rams converted them into four points to add to their 58-46 lead. 

To close out the game, the Bulldogs’ rotation continued to shrink, with two players in foul trouble and Watkins fouling out. Turnovers also proved to be damaging as the Bulldogs failed to gain any momentum. All in all, it wasn’t enough as the Rams came away with the 68-55 victory. 

What’s next

The Bulldogs take a brief road trip to face the University of Wyoming (6-12) on Jan. 28, the matchup marks the second game between the Cowgirls and the ‘Dogs this season. The Bulldogs prevailed in the first game on Dec. 20 where the ‘Dogs were led by Powell, who recorded 17 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. 

The Bulldogs return to the Save Mart Center on Jan. 31 to play Air Force (8-12) at 3 p.m.

Recap written and photos courtesy of Vincent Ordonio (FSM).

Jan 17
0

Bulldogs down Cowboys in second straight win

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The Fresno State men’s basketball team (9-9) earned their third conference win and improve to 3-4 in conference play following a 63-60 win over the University of Wyoming (11-7) at the Save Mart Center on Jan. 17

Despite an off-game from the Bulldogs’ leading scorer guard Jake Heidbreder, the ‘Dogs got contributions from other players such as guard David Douglas Jr.—who credited the energy to the Red Wave. 

“It really gives us a home court advantage having the crowd bring the energy when you’re kind of tired,” Douglas Jr. said. “When you’re kind of tired, it just gives you that extra little push and momentum.”

Heidbreder didn’t make a field goal until early into the second half, which Head Coach Vance Walberg attributed to the stout defense from the Cowboys.

“[Wyoming] is a very good defensive team, and as you see, it was a pretty physical game.” Walberg said. “He came here to be a person who’s going to be one of the guys—the big shot on the team—and that’s what he came for.”

Key players

Deshawn Gory (FS): 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

David Douglas Jr. (FS): 13 points (3-9FG, 2-7 3FG, 5-6 FT)

DJ Stickman (FS): 7 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 15 +/- (team high)

Leland Walker (UW): 17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block

Nasir Meyer (UW): 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals

What happened

The Cowboys opened the first half with a 7-0 run sparked by their leading scorer guard Leland Walker (14.2 ppg), who went 3-3 from beyond-the-arc in the opening minutes. However, the Bulldogs—who rank third in pace in the Mountain West (MW)— responded with urgency and timely cuts to chip at the 13-9 Cowboy lead.

The Bulldogs kept their foot on the pedal, holding the Cowboys to a six minute scoring drought, and going on a 6-0 run as a result—but still trail 16-15. Even so, the Bulldogs fought back for their first lead of the game following a three-pointer from guard David Douglas Jr, making it 20-18 in favor of the ‘Dogs.

To close out the half, the Bulldogs lost the lead following a 7-0 Cowboy run, but after a three-pointer from guard Cameron Faas the ‘Dogs entered halftime down 27-26.

After one half, Douglas Jr. leads all scorers with eight points (3-6 FG, 2-5 3FG), followed by Cowboy guards Walker and Nasir Meyer, who both have seven points. Also, the Cowboys—who rank fourth in three-pointers made (8.4) and sixth in three-point percentage (34.3%) in the MW—shot 5-11 (45.5%) from three-point range and were on pace to exceed their season averages.

In contrast, the Bulldogs shot 3-12 (25%) from beyond-the-arc, the lone shot makers being Douglas Jr. and Faas (1-2 3FG)—with guard Jake Heidbreder still yet to attempt a three or make a field goal. Despite the poor three-point shooting, the Bulldogs got scoring contributions from seven different players inside the three-point line.

The Cowboys come out of halftime in a groove on offense, taking back the lead, but after Heidbeder’s first field goal make and an and-one, the ‘Dogs tie the game 37-37.

Following the Heidbreder baskets, both teams continued to exchange the lead—with the Bulldogs led by forward Deshawn Gory with 13 points, and the Cowboys led by Walker with 15 points as the game was tied once again 58-58 with two minutes left in the game.

In crunch time, the Bulldogs’ execution was sound on both ends of the floor—with clutch free throws made by Heidbreder and Douglas Jr. as well as some key stops on defense from guard DJ Stickman, including the one to seal the game, the Bulldogs came away with the 63-60.

What’s next

The Bulldogs take a brief road trip to The Pit, facing the University of New Mexico (14-3) on Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. The ‘Dogs then return home to take on a new face in the Mountain West, Grand Canyon University (10-6) on Jan. 24 at 4:30 p.m.

Story written by Vincent Ordonio, cover photo courtesy of Ryan Sepulveda.

Jan 17
0

Transfer Portal Update: Who’s in and who’s out?

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College football looks a lot different than it did 10 years ago, heck even five years ago. For as much of a ruckus the transfer portal has made in recent years, it works to the benefit for both players and coaches. 

It gives players an opportunity to level up or down based on their interests. Sometimes that means exposure or NIL. Sometimes it’s as simple as wanting to see the field more. 

It also gives coaches a chance to retool their rosters to their standards and open up playing time for other guys. Fresno State is no different.

Between players transferring out and graduations, the Bulldogs lost over 40 players from its 2025 roster, but there’s also plenty of new blood in the water for Head Coach Matt Entz and his staff to toy with. 

The portal which opened back on Friday, January 2nd, is now officially closed. This means that players are no longer eligible to enter the portal until it opens back up next January, unless they are in the National Championship or there is a head coach change. It’s important to note that players currently in the portal can still sign with interested schools. 

The following players have committed to Fresno State, via the transfer portal: 

Khristian Martin warming up before Spring Ball game (Daniel Kucin Jr. / Imagn)

Khristian Martin, QB (previously at the University of Maryland) — Arguably the most intriguing acquisition of the incoming portal class, Martin comes into a QB room with not much experience: Jayden Mandal (3rd string in 2024, missed 2025 with injury) and incoming freshman Deagan Rose and Jacob Chambers. Martin will have seen the field more than any of them, though not by much. He appeared in 5 games as a redshirt freshman for Maryland this season, going 11/17 for 105 yds & TD. He was also named the 2025 Terps Spring Game MVP after going 16-for-23 for 269 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is currently the favorite to be QB1 heading into next season. 

Tariq Thomas, RB (Bucknell) — The 5’11” RB ran for 1,394 yards and 7 TD’s in two seasons with Bucknell. He was also named Patriot League ROTY and a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award in 2024. Fresno State returns Bryson Donelson, Rayshon Luke and Brandon Ramirez but with the graduations of Elijah Gilliam and Johnathan Arceneaux, Thomas definitely fills a depth need for a run heavy Bulldog offense.

Patrick Barnett, OL (UCF) — A 6’6” 305 pound graduate transfer from Central Florida, Barnett played in 12 games primarily at right guard for the Knights in 2025, including a solid 82.3 block rating according to PFF on pass plays he was a part of.

Oscar Weigel, OT (San Diego) — The first offensive lineman addition of the 2026 portal season for the Bulldogs. The 6’4” 300 pound Weigel was named an All-PFL Honorable Mention this past season while suiting up 12 times for the Toreros at left tackle.

Bode Stoddard, OT (San Diego Mesa College)

Jake Appleget (HuskerOnline / On3)

Jake Appleget, TE (Northern Illinois) — Lauded primarily for his blocking, he will fit right into a tight end friendly offense, the senior will be asked to help replace the losses Richie Anderson (transfer), Kameron Beachem (graduated) and Jake Tarwater (graduated). Appleget caught 7 balls for 57 yards and a TD in 9 games for the Huskies in 2025. Appleget was previously at Nebraska, where he played defensive end.

Dylan Hampsten, DE (Sacramento State) — One of two EDGE transfers the Bulldogs picked up from Sacramento State. The 6’3” 245 lb. was named All-Big Sky Second Team after racking up 39 tackles (13 TFL), 8 sacks and a forced fumble as a sophomore in 2025. Hampsten will play both of his former schools in 2026 (Sacramento State and San Jose State.

Micah Mosley, OLB (Sacramento State) — A fellow Hornet in 2025, Mosley only saw 111 snaps as a true freshman but made his playing time count (11 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery). 

Maverick Noonan, LB (Nebraska) — The son of former Dallas Cowboys DT Danny Noonan, Maverick has two  years of eligibility remaining. The 6’4” 245 lb. linebacker only played in seven games over the last two seasons. Expect him to vie for a rotational LB role with the Bulldogs. 

Preston Okafor, CB (Nebraska) — Like Noonan, Okafor didn’t see the field much for his hometown school, only playing two snaps as a redshirt freshman in 25’ for his hometown school before transferring. They join Omaha natives like wide receiver Kenyan Cotton, defensive end Solomon Baker, tight end Dallas Gaius-Anyaegbu and linebacker Jaydon Sutko in what has become a pipeline for the Bulldogs in less than two years. Okafor offers a mix of speed and size should give him an opportunity to earn one of the two open CB spots, following the departures of seniors Al’zillion Hamilton and Jakari Embry. He comes to the ‘Dogs with three years of eligibility.

Croix Powell, DB (UCLA) — Offered out of high school by the Bulldogs, Powell finally makes his way to Fresno State after spending the last three seasons at UCLA primarily used in special teams. The 6’w

Taylor Powell making a tackle versus Miami (OH) on Oct. 4, 2025 (Northern Illinois)

Taylor Powell, S (Northern Illinois) — On the bigger side for a DB (6’4”), Powell offers versatility to play multiple defensive back positions and should be in the mix for a starting role at strong safety. He played 12 games as a redshirt freshman for the Huskies in 2025, racking up 35 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. He reconnects with former Northern Illinois defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto who was still with the Huskies when Powell had committed out of high school.

Manaki Watanabe, K (Ashland University) — The D2 All-American made 21-of-22 field goal attempts (long of 59 yards) and 39-of-40 extra point opportunities in 2025 for Ashland University. He is projected to start for the Bulldogs this coming year as a redshirt sophomore with 3 years of eligibility remaining. 

The following players have left Fresno State, entering the transfer portal (or have already transferred): 

Safety Jayden Davis at San Jose State on Nov. 29, 2025 (Ryan Sepulveda/FSM)
  • Richie Anderson, TE (now at Texas A&M)
  • Jayden Davis, S (UCONN)
  • RL Miller, S (Cal Poly)
  • Carson Conklin, QB (Sacramento State)
  • Brayden Turner, QB (College of San Mateo)
  • Isiah Chala Jr, DL (Sacramento State)
  • Devon Rivers, RB
  • Josiah Ayon, WR
  • Joshua Johnson WR
  • Matai Bell, OL
  • Jack Metzler, DE
  • Damarrion White, DE (previously left team)
  • Tim Thomas, LB (previously left team)
  • Seth Scheidt, LB
  • Ah’Marion Ashley, CB

Story written by Al Scott, cover photo courtesy of the University of Maryland.

Jan 14
0

‘Dogs blow out Aggies in milestone performance

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Fresno State Head Coach Ryan McCarthy had a heart-to-conversation earlier this week with  guard Emilia Long regarding consistency and playing with pace. The senior responded with an all-around performance totaling 21 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds; the kind of performance McCarthy has come to expect out of Long over the past several years coaching her at the University of Alaska-Anchorage and now at Fresno State. 

“[Emilia] kind of embodies what we want our program to be about. Three girls on this team out of high school had division one offers, and she was not one of those players. And she just plays with that ultimate chip on her shoulder,” McCarthy said. 

Long, who surpassed the 1,000 points career milestone with an all-around performance, wasn’t the only one who had it going. The Bulldogs put together one of its best games of the season, defeating Utah State 86-56 while 35-73 (47.9%) from the field and outrebounding the Aggies 47-29. 

Key players

  • Emilia Long (FS): 21 points (8-13 FG), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
  • Ava Marr (FS): 16 points (6-11 FG), 2 rebounds
  • Ellie Livingston (USU): 16 points (5-8 FG)
  • Jamisyn Heaton (USU): 15 points, 4 rebounds

What happened 

Utah State came out hot in the opening minute of the game, winning the tip and getting the ball to Jamisyn Heaton down low who scored over the top of Fresno State guard Indiya Clarke. After a Danae Powell triple, Aggies guard Elise Livingston answered with a three of her own. 

The Bulldogs fought back and a few minutes later, Jaisa Gamble stepped back for a 15-foot mid range jumper, forcing an Aggies timeout. After the break, the Bulldog defense forced a bad pass leading to another timeout. The Bulldogs kept the pressure, going on a 21-9 run to end the first quarter, leading 24-14. 

Two minutes into the second quarter, a three from Ava Marr and layups from Powell (2) and Gamble gave the ‘Dogs a 33-14 lead and forced the fourth and final Aggies timeout of the game. 

“I’m not sure what we were doing that necessarily caused that, but it was good for us in the second half, because they couldn’t stop any momentum for us,” McCarthy said. 

Fresno State went into halftime with a commanding 42-25 lead, led by guard Emilia Long (12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds. Livingston had 12 first half points for the Aggies, who struggled to shoot overall besides Livingston (5-20 FG).

After not scoring for the first 3-and-a-half minutes of the second half, the Bulldogs scored on back-to-back-to-back possessions with threes from Marr and Long as well as a Powell-and-one layup. Two possessions later, Marr nailed another trey in front of the Fresno State bench giving the ‘Dogs a 54-31 lead with 4:21 remaining in the third quarter. 

Fresno State went into the fourth with a 68-42 lead, a lead that only continued to grow. Fresno State finished the night with five players (Long, Powell, Gamble, Marr, and Djessira Diawara) scoring in double figures en route to a 86-56 win. 

It was an especially impressive night for Diawara, who scored 12 points (5-7 FG) in addition to grabbing five rebounds and two steals. Clarke and Avery Watkins were also key contributors on the glass, each grabbing 10 rebounds.

What’s next

The win improves the team to 5-2 at home (2-0 neutral) but the Bulldogs still have yet to find their footing away from the Save Mart Center with a 1-7 road record, something McCarthy is keen on changing. He recalled after his first game at UAA in 2012 when his athletic director brought him into his office and told him “home games don’t really matter, because you ain’t a four letter word until you go out and beat somebody on the road.” 

“I’ve told our team that, ‘this is cute, this is cool. But if we’re going to get any respect in this league, [on the road] is where it’s going to be, every road game in this conference is difficult,’” McCarthy said. 

The Bulldogs will have two opportunities to improve on that road record in the coming week, playing at Nevada this Saturday, Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. and then at Boise State next Wednesday (1/21). The ‘Dogs return to the Save Mart Center on Jan. 24 to host Colorado State at 2 p.m. for Heroes Day and Greek Night. 

Recap written by Al Scott, cover photo by Vincent Ordonio (FSM).

Jan 13
0

Bulldogs topple Rams in 2nd conference win

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The Fresno State men’s basketball team (8-9) secured their second conference win in a 79-69 victory over Colorado State University (11-6) at the Save Mart Center on Jan. 13.

The Bulldogs shot well above their season average from three-point range (31.5%), going 8-20 (40%) in the win, which was sparked by guard Jake Heidbreder and David Douglas Jr.—who earned his first start of the season.

 “I expected [Douglas Jr.] to start from the beginning of the year, but his knee injury put him behind—little-by-little, he’s been getting back to it.” Head Coach Vance Walberg said. “I would have loved to leave him in, but you could see him just huffing and puffing down the court.”

Despite the Rams inching closer in the final minutes, Walberg was pleased with the late game performance. 

“As long as the ball gets to [Heidbreder] and he gets fouled, I’m very happy with the execution,” Wahlberg said.

Key players

Jake Heidbreder (FS): 21 points, 2 steals.

Deshawn Gory (FS): 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals.

Brandon Rechsteiner (CSU): 18 points, 2 steals.

Carey Booth (CSU): 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block.

What happened

Both teams opened the game hot on offense, trading buckets. Douglas Jr. started things off for the Bulldogs, draining his first three-point shot attempt of the game, which ignited the ‘Dogs’ offense as five different players contributed to the scoring column. 

However, guard Brandon Rechsteiner kept the Rams within reach scoring 10 of the Ram’s 12 points to chip at the early 18-12 Bulldog lead.

To close out the half, the Rams struggled to find scoring elsewhere, as the Bulldogs began to pile on to their early lead. With well-balanced scoring, seven different Bulldogs added to the total score. With guard Jake Heidbreder leading the way (nine points), and Douglas Jr. trailing him (8 points), the Bulldogs enjoyed a 36-22 lead at halftime.

After one half of basketball, the Bulldogs—who rank number one in opponent three-point percentage—held the Rams to 2-13 (11.1%) from beyond-the-arch, which is no easy feat as the Rams are one of the premier three-point shooting teams in the conference (41% from three-point range, first in the Mountain West).

To open the second half, the Rams found their groove from three-point range to trim the 41-37 Bulldog lead, but forward Jac Mani offered some scoring relief—which Walberg valued.

“[Mani] is a very good offensive player, he knows I’ve been on his tail. If he becomes a better defensive player. He’s going to play a lot more,” Walberg said. “He gives us a weapon that helps when you can stretch somebody out.”

After the Rams tied the game 41-41 with a 19-3 run, the Bulldogs responded with a 7-2 run of their own sparked by the play of Mani, who scored 6 of the ‘Dogs’ 12 second half points to give them the 48-43 cushion.

Following the run, the Bulldogs continued to ride the wave on offense, generated by the steady scoring contributions from their rotation players. But, the Rams returned to their in-season form, draining shots from the three-point line to inch closer to the Bulldogs’ 63-55 lead with three minutes remaining.

To close out the game, the Bulldogs’ late game execution was textbook, as they took care of the ball and drained their free-throws en route to the 79-69 win.

What’s next

The Bulldogs welcome Wyoming State University (11-5)—who rank second in the Mountain West in scoring (84 points per game)—at the Save Mart Center on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 4 p.m. 


Story and cover photo via Vincent Ordonio (FSM).

Jan 13
0

Season Preview: Fresno State Water Polo looking to raise the standard in 2026

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In 24 seasons of women’s water polo in collegiate athletics, only three programs (UCLA, USC, Stanford) have won a National Championship. Loyola Marymount University (2004) and California (2024) are the only other schools to even appear in the championship. The lack of parity in the sport is not something lost on Fresno State Head Coach Natalie Benson.

“That is the reason I am here,” Benson said. “The fact that there’s only been three teams that have ever won a championship? To me, it’s just not right. Obviously those teams deserve to win, but I think that other teams should, and could be able to come in and break that open. And I think that’s what would make the sport exciting.”

Benson, a 3-time National Champion (2001, 03-05) with UCLA has seen both sides of it and wants to be a part of the tide shift. The 9th year Bulldog head coach referenced Cinderellas in March Madness (college basketball) as an example of how parity in college athletics can be a great thing. 

“You can have a little Cinderella come in and take care of business, and that’s what makes the sport exciting. That is definitely something our sport lacks, having a team that can come in and do some really great things and challenge the status quo,” Benson said. “That’s why I love being here at Fresno State, and it’s what we try to sell to our kids. Like here, you have an opportunity. There’s no guarantees, but you have an opportunity to make history and do something great.” 

The Bulldogs have seen themselves just on the outside of that upper echelon of elite water polo schools, ranking in the top 10 in each of the last five seasons, including as high as #3 in 2024. This run of success includes back-to-back-back-to-back Golden Coast Conference (GCC) championships from 2021-24 before losing in the GCC title game last season to LMU.

The Water Dogs will look to take that loss and flip the script in 2026.

“They were on the bus saying how they didn’t want to go through that again. I think that was a really good wake up call for everybody, myself included,” Benson said. 

Hailey Houdini

Benson and her coaching staff will lean heavily on the play and leadership of senior attacker Hailey Andress, who has 191 career goals to her name, only 26 shy of the school record set by Brooke Ochoa last season. Like Ochoa, Andress is a three-time All-American including a “down year” by her standards in 2025 in which she finished with 65 goals, 26 steals and 6 steals. 

“Last season was tough for her. Coming up and being a freshman and starting off so strong, having a good sophomore campaign, and then having all those expectations kind of weighed on her a little bit last year. I think this year, she’s letting go of some stuff, but also kind of turning on her own personal engine to be the best she’s capable of,” Benson said. 

Benson referred to Haley as a magician, for her ability to create opportunities out of nowhere. 

“I like to call her Haley Houdini. She does some really magical things that are impossible to teach, but just come from her soul, which is super fun to watch,” Benson said. 

Taking on a leadership role now as an upperclassmen, Andress has prioritized reinforcing the culture and the standards that they have as a program with her teammates.

“If you come to Fresno State, we have an expectation, and you’re aware of that coming into it,” Andress said. “Our biggest thing for this year is our grit. That [LMU] loss last year was rough, but I think we’re ready to come back and get another title.”

New blood in the water

Roster turnover is something coaches have to deal with every season, Benson is no exception as the Bulldogs will have to replace the production of several key contributors including Abbey Simhauser and Ochoa. Despite the turnover, Benson sees it as a fun challenge. 

“We can’t regret the things that we’ve lost. We have to move forward and be excited about what we have right now and I think it’s a really deep, talented group,” Benson said. “Without challenge, there is no change. I think that the change does produce a challenge for us, but I think that’s just like any year in any team, and it helps me get better, keeps me sharp.”

Benson has high confidence going into the season with her new group, one she says will give them more versatility than in years past, easing the pressure on Andress. 

“With the depth that we have, we can have certain people do certain things, and I think it gives us a little bit more leeway where not one person doesn’t have to do everything. We can have people who have a certain role and responsibility, which makes it a little bit more exciting for us,” Benson said. 

In addition to Andress, Fresno State returns all-conference selections in junior goalkeeper Ida Tully-Giles, senior center Ashley Williams and sophomore defender Marit van der Kolk. Junior attacker Kira Anderson (73 career points) and sophomore transfer center Georgia Daly (22 goals in 2025 with UC Davis) figure to play key roles as well. The Bulldogs brought in seven newcomers as well, a few of which could see some playing time early in the season, including Katelyn Mobley who is in competition for the starting goalie spot. 

“We have a lot of depth in our team,” Andress said. “It’s been awesome having people we can run through. It’s awesome having so many people we can rely on in the water. One thing I love about our team is we have really high standards for each other and for the team in general.”

Polopalooza

The new season begins at home this weekend (January 16-18) as the Water Dogs host the 2026 Polopalooza Tournament at the Fresno State Aquatics Center, featuring some of the highest competition in the nation.

The ‘Dogs will play Michigan under the lights on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. They will play Indiana University (11 a.m.) and UC Irvine (5 p.m) on Saturday and wrap it up against San Jose State on Sunday at 11 a.m. California Berkely and the University of Hawaii (both finished top nationally in 2025) are playing in the tournament as well. Click here for the full tournament schedule.

“It’s one of the best tournaments in collegiate water polo. I’m super happy to be a part of it, and super happy to help host it,” Andress said. 

In addition to some of the best water polo schools in the country, the tournament will have several food vendors, a tie-dye station and a splatter paint room (Saturday and Sunday). Fans will have an opportunity to meet the team on Saturday following its match with the Anteaters. There will also be arts and crafts available after the match on Sunday. 

“It’s a really great community builder for us. We want to show off how great Fresno is, that we’re great hosts, that we can put on a great show and that we’re a desirable place to be,” Benson said.

Parking is free and tickets will be available at the gate.

The rest of the way

After Polapalooza, Fresno State will play four games in the Cal Cup (1/24-25) and four more in the ASU Invitational (2/6-8). From there, they will play three games at UC Irvine as part of the Kalbus Invite (2/13-15). The ‘Dogs will return home for its annual match with Fresno Pacific on Friday, Feb. 20. 

Following a 16-game non-conference schedule, the Bulldogs will begin GCC play the next day at Santa Clara on Saturday, Feb. 21. They will play at LMU the following Saturday. After a week off, they will play at Azusa Pacific (3/14) with a stand alone game at UCLA the next day (3/15), its second back-to-back. 

The Bulldogs will wrap up the regular season with home games against Cal Baptist University (3/20), San Diego State (3/22) and the University of Pacific (3/28) to end the month of March. Fresno State is also the host site for this year’s GCC tournament (4/10-12), for the first time since 2019. 

“It’d be nice to win in our own pool, right? Isn’t that everybody’s dream? To win on your home turf. One thing at a time, obviously, but that’s the end goal,” Benson said. 

The Bulldogs have been picked as the favorite to take back the GCC with 35 points (5 first place votes), with the Lions 31 points (2 first place votes). The polls followed with Pacific (26 points) picked to finish 3rd in the seven-team GCC. 

The winner of that tournament will receive a bid into the NCAA tournament at La Jolla (4/24-26).

Story written by Al Scott, photos courtesy of Fresno State Athletics.