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Timmer and the Cougs serve up a sweep

by wsucougars.com
Nov 5, 2021

PULLMAN, Wash. – Picking up where they left off a few weeks prior in Tucson, No. 21 Washington State (15-8, 9-4) put on a serving clinic en route to a 3-0 sweep of Arizona (14-10, 6-7) Friday night at Bohler Gym.

Set scores from the match were: 25-16, 25-12, 25-22 in favor of the Cougs.

From the outset the Cougs took charge on their home court in Pullman, burying the Wildcats with a 11-4 run that put the Cougs ahead by double-digits at 23-13. The damage for the Cougs came off the arm of Pia Timmer as the standout outside tallied four of her set-best six kills to kick start the run. In addition to their offensive attack, the Cougs defense was at its strongest in the opening set holding the Wildcats to .000 hitting with just six kills on 27 attempts. It was the Cougs' libero, Karly Basham, who was always in the right place at the right time as the first-year Coug recorded five digs to lead the way. Just behind Basham, junior middle Magda Jehlarova showed off her all-around skills posting there digs and one solo block in the set.

The first set would just be a taste of what was to come as WSU found an even better groove in set two to run away with a 13-point win. Leading 13-8 the Cougs would go on a 12-3 run to finish off the set including a 6-0 run that gave WSU set point at 24-11. It would be the service game that fueled the Cougs' demolition of the Wildcats in the set again led by Timmer who recorded four of the team's five aces in the frame. When the Wildcats did get the ball into play the Cougs' defense was there to kill the play as WSU posted six blocks including two solo efforts from Timmer and four total blocks from Jehlarova. In all, the Cougs would outhit the Wildcats an impressive .667-to-.048 as WSU committed just one error in the frame on a ball blocked by Arizona.

With the lead in hand and in search for yet another sweep the Cougs would turn their momentum from the second set into a quick 7-1 lead in set three. However, the victory would not be that easy for the Cougs as Arizona fought back, even taking its first lead of the night and pushing ahead by two at 17-15 before the Cougs turned the tables once again to claim the win. Bookended blocks by the Cougs front line of Timmer, Jehlarova, and Katy Ryan as well as kill by Timmer put WSU back on the right side of the back-and-forth late in the match. Closing in on the finish line it was Kalyah Williams who hammered home a pair of kills around the 10th ace of the match for WSU, this time from Penny Tusa, as the Cougs put the Wildcats away.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Pia Timmer came up with a career-best six service aces in the match, tying for the most in program history in a three-set match and marking the most in a Pac-12 match in program history.
INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE

MATCH NOTES

  • The Cougs swept Arizona for the second time on the year marking the first time in program history WSU has swept the Wildcats in back-to-back matches
    • The season sweep of the series was the first for the Cougs since 2016 which kicked off a four-match winning streak for WSU
    • The sweep was the 13th of the year for the Cougs (2nd- straight) and the 6th at home
  • WSU held Arizona to just .096 hitting, the second-straight match the Cougs have held their opponent under .100
  • The Cougs served up 10 service aces, tying a season-high and marking the most in Pac-12 play since dropping 13 on Cal, Feb. 28, 2021 in the spring season.
    • Pia Timmer led the way with a career-best 6 service aces, tying for the most in program history in a three-set match and marking the most since Haley MacDonald came up with 6 against Morehead State, Sept. 11, 2015.
      • The 6 service aces were the most for any Coug in a Pac-12 match in program history.
  • Penny Tusa moved into a tie for 2nd place all-time with her 133rd career ace. She is now 10 aces shy of the all-time record.
  • Hannah Pukis moved past Kali Surplus for sole possession of 8th all-time in career assists finishing the match with 2,564.
  • WSU will take on Arizona State Sunday, Nov. 7 on the Pac-12 Network. The match is scheduled for a 11:30 am start.

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