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Cougs sack the Trojans in a sweep

by wsucougars.com
Oct 31, 2021

LOS ANGELES – Turning the tables and finding their stride on the road once again, No. 22 Washington State (14-8, 8-4) buried USC (10-11, 6-6) to earn the program's first 3-0 sweep on the road in Los Angeles, Sunday, Oct. 31.

Set scores from the match were: 25-21, 25-23, 25-14 in favor of the Cougs.

Setting the tone defensively in the first set, the Cougs stifled the Trojan attack, forcing USC into a bevy of errors to run out to a 15-10 lead prior to the media timeout. After seeing the Trojans close to within two late the Cougs settled to finish the set off, winning three of the last four points including with Magda Jehlarova coming up with a kill and a block alongside of Penny Tusa to capture the set.
 
The script would flip in the second set as the Trojans were able to run out to a big early lead to put the Cougs on their heels early. Despite closing to within one at 16-15 on another Jehlarova kill the Cougs would see the Trojans put together a small run to lead 20-16 with just a few points remaining. Running out of serves and with USC closing in on the equalizing set the Cougs went to work, using a tough serve to unnerve the Trojans passing line and fight their way back into the set. The Cougs would close out the comeback on a 9-3 run picking up aces from Karly Basham and Hannah Pukis, the last of which put the finishing touches on the rally win.
 
With the momentum in hand and facing a deflated Trojan side the Cougs pressed their advantage immediately, burying USC in to capture the sweep. In what would become the final set of the day it was an avalanche of attacks in the middle for the Cougs as Kalyah Williams and Jehlarova combined for 12 kills on 17 swings. It was Williams who put the finishing touches on the day as she notched three of her seven kills on successive swings as part of a 7-0 run to close the match. In all the Cougs would hit .333 in the set while holding the Trojans to a -.037 attack.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
The Cougar middles combined for 24 kills on 38 attempts with seven blocks.

INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE

MATCH NOTES

  • The Cougs picked up their 12th sweep of the season and 7th in Pac-12 play (5th on the road).
  • The win was the Cougs third in the last five matches against the Trojans as the two teams split the season series, each winning on the opposition's home court.
    • The win was just the fourth for the Cougs at USC in program history but second-consecutive win at the Galen Center.
  • WSU held the Trojans to .071 hitting 7th Pac-12 opponent to hit under .200.
    • The .071 was a season-best defensive mark for the Cougs and the second Pac-12 opponent to be held under .100 (both on the road).
  • Penny Tusa moved into moved into 3rd all-time in sets played at 477. The all-time record is 505 set by Alexis Dirige (2016-19).
  • The Cougs return home to host Arizona and Arizona State at Bohler Gym beginning with the Wildcats Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.

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