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Cougs Cruise Past Panthers

by wsucougars.com
Sep 10, 2021

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State volleyball continued to look dominate throughout the Cougar Challenge, sweeping the Panthers of Northern Iowa in the first of two matches inside Bohler Gym. 

Set scores from the match were: 25-13, 25-16 and 25-17 in favor of Washington State (2-4, 0-0 Pac-12). 
 
The Cougars were in control from the very beginning of set number one against Northern Iowa (3-5, 0-0 MVC) as a barrage of offense fueled WSU into an early 6-2 lead. Magda Jehlářová totaled two quick kills to help get the run started, and Katy Ryan and Pia Timmer each would contribute to the kill total as well. WSU saw this set well taken care of by the midpoint of the game, as a 7-0 scoring run propelled the Cougars out to a 20-8 advantage. During this massive run, Timmer was able to record three kills and a service ace as the home squad showed no signs of slowing down. Washington State wrapped up the opening set with a 25-13 victory after a Kalyah Williams kill and a Julia Norville ace. The Cougs hit .258 overall in this first set, however their solid defense held the Panthers to a hitting percentage of .000,

Set number two began a bit more closely contested as UNI would tie up the score at 2-2, and only trail the Cougars at 7-6 as well. In what would be the lowest hitting percentage set for WSU today (.156) the Cougs made up for it in consistency and being able to generate small scoring runs throughout the set. A quick 3-0 run led by a Timmer kill gave WSU the separation it needed to hold onto that lead for the remainder of the game. Washington State saw a 6-1 run later in the set, as both Timmer and Jehlářová were crucial in the Cougs' success, with Timmer totaling two kills and a block assists and Magda with one kill and a block assist. With the Cougars up 22-13, UNI began to spark a bit of a run but that was quickly ended by a 3-0 run from WSU, ultimately winning the set at 25-16 on a Jehlářová solo block. 

WSU looked lights out in this third and final set, beginning with a 9-1 overall scoring run anchored by multiple Pia kills, along with a kill each from Magda and Ryan. Northern Iowa managed to build a small run here and there, but nothing to truly threaten the Cougars, as WSU could always find a way to counter the Panthers. The impressive blocking of Washington State continued to show in this final set, as Argentina Ung posted a solo block and both Hannah Pukis and Williams added a block of their own to hold a 14-8 lead. Timmer would continue to rack up the kills down the stretch of this match, but it was Ung who made her presence known as she recorded yet another block, this time with Jehlářová  along side her, and added a kill to see the WSU points keep adding up. Williams and Ryan both added kills late in the contest and it was Argentina who would find open space on the other side of the court last for the kill and see Washington State complete the sweep at 25-17 over Northern Iowa.
 

INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE

MATCH NOTES

  • Pia Timmer posted an incredible offensive performance, with a match-high 15 kills on 28 swings for a hitting percentage of .357
  • Magda Jehlářová led the way defensively totaling six overall blocks, and added four digs to her stat sheet. Magda also finished the afternoon with eight kills, hit .545 overall, and recorded two aces. 
  • Hannah Pukis notched another double-double after posting 30 assists and a match-high 12 digs. 
  • The Cougs return to Bohler Gym tonight as Washington State will conclude the Cougar Challenge with a match against Gonzaga which is set for an 8 p.m. start.

 

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