Back home, Cougs looking to keep pace at the top

MATCH PREVIEW
The Cougs are back in Bohler for the second go around against the Arizona School with the Wildcats on the court first Friday night. The Cougs dominated play against the two schools a few weeks prior, rolling into the Copper State and sweeping away both teams on their home courts. It was the first sweep of the two schools on the road since 2016.
Last time out against the Wildcats the Cougs picked up just their eighth win all-time in Tucson. The offense found its form once again especially at Arizona where the Cougs hit .326, their best mark in Pac-12 play and third-best mark on the year. In the match Pia Timmer was at her best hitting .444 while finishing with a match-high 19 kills. Additionally the Cougs service game was at its best with a 7-0 advantage in the ace department.
In the last 10 matches against the Wildcats the Cougs are 7-3 including a 3-2 mark at home at Bohler Gym. The Wildcats did get the best of the Cougs last time in Pullman with a 3-0 sweep during the spring season after the Cougs had won the match a day prior, 3-1.

LAST TIME OUT
> The Cougs split on the road in LA falling in five to #16 UCLA while sweeping USC to close the weekend of action.
> The road sweep for the Cougs at USC was the first in program history and just the fifth win on the road in LA against the Trojans.
> Magda Jehlarova led the way attacking hitting .422 with 25 kills over the roadtrip. Defensively she posted team-high blocks in each match including six at UCLA.
> Against USC, WSU held the Trojans to .071 hitting, a season-best defensively in Pac-12 for the Cougs (2nd best overall) and the best defensive performance in a Pac-12 match since holding Colorado to .060 hitting, Oct. 24, 2019.

QUICK NOTES
> The Cougs are back home looking to keep pace in the race for the Pac-12 title as they sit just two matches back of UCLA.
> WSU enters the week ranked #21 in the AVCA poll, holding pushing one spot up in the rankings after the trip to LA.
> Magda Jehlarova, a two-time Pac-12 DPOW, enters the week ranked 1st in the Pac-12 with 110 total blocks and 2nd with a 1.38 blocks per set average. Offensively she is 5th hitting .376 on the year.
> Pia Timmer enters the week 4th in the Pac-12 at 3.99 kills per set while she is 5th with an impressive 0.32 aces per set.
> Kalyah Willams has averaged 11.5 points per match in the last four matches against California schools. She posted 12 kills on .476 hitting at USC last time out.
> Penny Tusa continues to serve her way up the top-10 aces list as she is 3rd all-time with 132 career aces, two from 2nd place. The record is 143 set by LaToya Harris (1999-02).
> WSU ranks 36th in the RPI entering the weekend while sitting 19th in the Pablo Rankings.
> 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
 
STAY CONNECTED
Be sure to stay updated with information, photos, and videos a true Coug Fan could want by following the team on Facebook (facebook.com/WSUCougarVB), Twitter (@WSUCougarVB) and Instagram (WSUCougarVB).