Volleyball plays host to USC Friday in Bohler

WASHINGTON STATE (8-4, 2-0 PAC-12)
vs. USC (5-6, 1-1 PAC-12)   |   Friday, Oct. 1   |   7 p.m.
> Live Stats | StatBroadcast
> Watch | Pac-12 Network (Analyst: Greg Heister)
 
MATCH PREVIEW
The Cougs remain home to finish off their four-match homestand beginning Friday with USC. In the last two seasons the Cougs have come away with three of four against the Trojans including a pair in 2019 to sweep the season series for just the second time and first time since 1986. The two teams did not meet last season due to Covid-19 protocols with the last match taking place in Pullman, Nov. 3, 2019, with the Cougs winning 3-1. In the match two seasons ago, Magda Jehlarova led the way with 13 kills and 6 blocks while Penny Tusa added 12 kills and 13 digs and Pia Timmer finished with 11 kills and 10 digs. All-time the Trojans have controlled the series leading 50-18 dating back to 1978. 
The Trojans enter the weekend match having split their opening two matches in Pac-12 play, falling at UCLA, 3-1, before defeating Cal, 3-1, in Berkeley. Overall the Trojans sit 5-6 on the year with three of their 6 losses coming to top-25 opponents. Brooke Botkin leads the attack at 4.07 kills per set while hitting .247.

LAST TIME OUT
> The Cougs swept their opening week in Pac-12 with wins over #24 Colorado (3-0) and #6 Washington (3-2).
> The win over the Huskies was the Cougs' fourth-straight including its second-straight with UW ranked inside the top-10.
> The match saw an epic fourth-set (46-44 UW) that tied the NCAA record for points in a set in the 25-point era.
> WSU scored 132 total points in the match against UW, tying Saint Mary's for the NCAA record in the 25-point era.
> The defensive play was enough to force both Colorado (.188) and Washington (.159) to their second-worst offensive performances of the season. WSU put up a season best 17 blocks against the Huskies the most since Sept. 6, 2019 against Utah State (18 blocks).
> Pia Timmer led the offensive attack with 31 kills (.303), tying for the most kills in the rally scoring era for a Cougs.

QUICK NOTES
> The Cougs swept their opening week of Pac-12 play for the first time since 2016 as the team went 5-0 to begin conference action including three top-10 victories.
> WSU is a perfect 5-0 at home on the year with four sweeps and a pair of top-25 victories (both coming to open Pac-12 play against #24 Colorado and #6 Washington).
> Junior Pia Timmer became just the second Sports Import/AVCA National Player of the Week joining Sarah Silvernail (1996) as the only Cougs to earn the national honor.
> Timmer became the first back-to-back Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week in 2021 for her play to begin conference play.
> Junior Magda Jehlarova earned her first Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week award and sixth weekly honor for her play against Colorado and Washington.
> Setter Hannah Pukis moved into the top-10 all-time for assists with 2,142. She is nearing in on #9 Ashley Brown (2,234).
> Penny Tusa continues to serve her way up the top-10 aces list sitting 7th with 120, next up is #6 Kyra Holt (123)
> WSU continues its pursuit of a 16th overall and 6th-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Washington State is one of only 17 programs (14 from Power 5 Schools) in the nation, out of 334 total schools, to qualify for the NCAA Championship Tournament in 5 consecutive seasons (2016-20). 
            - Others included are: Baylor, BYU, Creighton, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, San Diego, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin
 
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