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Cougs bust through the dam in Corvallis

by wsucougars.com
Oct 15, 2021

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Playing their third match on the road No. 25 Washington State (11-6, 5-2) made short work of Oregon State (3-14, 1-6), sweeping away the Beavers, 3-0, Friday night in Corvallis. The win marked the third-straight road win for the Cougs and the third-straight sweep in Pac-12 play.

Set scores from the match were: 25-21, 25-19, and 25-18 in favor of the Cougars.

Starting a little slow and working their way into the match, neither team found much success on the offensive front in the opening set, yet it was the Cougs who did just enough to come away with the win. Early it was all Pia Timmer for the Cougs as the star outside buried six kills in the opening frame to give WSU the advantage. Even when the set tightened late to a single point lead for WSU the Cougs did not panic, putting away the final three points including kills from Penny Tusa and Magda Jehlarova.
 
In the second set it was a 6-0 run that turned the tides for the Cougs as WSU's vaunted block found its rhythm to flip an early deficit into a comfortable 13-9 lead. During the run it was the Cougs' setter who set the tone as Hannah Pukis had her hands in two of the three blocks to rally her squad. While the Beavers again refused to go quietly the Cougs would keep their distance playing the attack into the middle to Jehlarova and Kalyah Williams as WSU pulled away late for the victory.
 
Looking to finish the match off without letting the Beavers up off the mat the Cougs went back to their break and butter feeding Timmer early and often. With the ball coming her way Timmer did not disappoint as the junior came up with five early kills to help the Cougs build a five-point lead midway through the frame. That lead would hold the rest of the way for the Cougs as OSU had no answer for the multi-layered WSU attack.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Setter Hannah Pukis led the way throughout then night as she finished her night with with 31 assists, 11 digs, and three blocks. The double-double was her seventh on the year and first of the road trip.
INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE

 

MATCH NOTES

  • The Cougs picked up their third road win in Pac-12 play in as many matches. It was WSU's fifth true road win of the year.
  • WSU has won six-consecutive matches against OSU including the last four at Gill Coliseum.
  • The defense held the Beavers to just .148 hitting, the fourth Pac-12 opponent the Cougs have held under .200 hitting.
  • Penny Tusa moved into a tie for 4th all-time in service aces with 126 career aces. In addition she took sole possession of 10th all-time with 458 sets played in her career.
    • Tusa recorded her 1,000 career dig in the match as well, finishing the match with 1,007 digs overall.
  • Washington State finishes its two-week road trip Sunday, Oct. 17 at No. 13 Oregon. The match is scheduled for noon on the Pac-12 Network. 

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