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Road sweep for the Cougs in Tempe

by wsucougars.com
Oct 7, 2021

PULLMAN, Wash. – Hitting the road for the first time in Pac-12 play Washington State (9-6, 3-2) came up with a resounding 3-0 sweep of Arizona State (7-8, 0-4) Thursday night at Desert Financial Arena.

Set scores from the match were: 25-20, 25-18, and 25-14 in favor of the Cougars.

Despite their top hitter having an off night by her standards the Cougars never found themselves struggling to gain control of the match as WSU played from the middle out to dominate the net and with it the match against the Sun Devils.

Overall, the closest set of the night would come in the opener in the desert as Cougs found themselves leading by just one, 20-19, late in contest before pulling away for the opening win. Despite the tightening of the contest after leading by four just moments prior, the Cougs put any thoughts of a Sun Devil comeback to rest as the trio of Magda Jehlarova, Katy Ryan, and Kalyah Williams each took a turn and a swing to quell the uprising and put the set to bed. It was a fitting end to an opening stanza that saw the three combine for 11 of the 14 kills for the Cougs despite taking just 19 of the 44 attempts in the set.

With one set in the bag the Cougs made short work of the Sun Devils in the second set, running out to an early advantage and never letting up. Using the service game to frustrate the ASU and in turn create easy transition opportunities, the Cougs doubled up the Sun Devils 14-7 midway through the set as Jehlarova picked up where she left off in set one as the big middle posted three of her four kills in the opening run. The latter half of the set would belong to Williams who finished off the Sun Devils with three of her set-high five kills as the Cougs pushed their advantage to as much as eight before finishing off the set victory.

After establishing the serve in the second set the Cougs would take it to another level in what would be the final frame of the night as WSU came up with four of its nine aces in the third set to literally serve the Sun Devils out of the building. A block by Ryan and Williams gave the Cougs their first double-digit lead of the night at 19-9 while an ace moments later by Logann Golden pushed the lead to 11, the final margin of victory. Junior libero Karly Basham capped the night with an ace of her own after Williams hammered down her 11th kill of the contest to give WSU its first and the only match point needed to secure the win.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Junior Magda Jehlarova was nearly perfect on the night with an attacking line of 11-1-15 to hit a season-high .667. She also added three blocks and three digs to lead the defensive play of WSU as well.
INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE

 

MATCH NOTES

  • The Cougs picked up their first road conference win of the season and first since sweeping Oregon State in Corvallis, March 14, 2021.
  • The sweep was the Cougs seventh of the season and first away from Pullman since sweeping VCU Sept. 18, 2021 at the Thunderdome Classic.
  • The road win was the Cougs third true road victory of the season and fourth either neutral site or road.
  • WSU has dominated the Sun Devils in recent years winning eight of the last 10 including three consecutive (all coming in Tempe)
  • Magda Jehlarova and Kalyah Williams led the attack in the middle combining for 22 kills on 35 attacks with just 5 errors. Additionally the two middle posted five combined blocks.
  • Freshman Katy Ryan continued her ascent in Pac-12 play finishing with 7 kills on .545 hitting to go with two blocks.
  • Penny Tusa moved into a tie for 5th all-time with 125 service aces matching Cindy Baker (1985-88). 
  • Washington State hits the road for a two-week, four-match road trip beginning Oct. 7 at Arizona State. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. first serve.

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