Runnin' with the Devils

MATCH PREVIEW
The Cougs are in search of the season sweep of the Sun Devils for the second-straight season after sweeping ASU in Tempe one month prior. If the Cougs can pull off the win it will be the first time since 2016 WSU will have taken all four matches against the Arizona schools in a season after sweeping the Wildcats Friday night to kick off the weekend.
Last time out against the Sun Devils the Cougs went Tempe and dominated, serving their way to the win behind 9 aces including three from Pia Timmer. On the offensive front, it was the middles who did the work as Magda Jehlarova and Kalyah Williams led the attack combining for 22 kills on 35 attacks with just 5 errors. Additionally the two middles posted five combined blocks.
Recently the Cougs have dominated the matchup with the Sun Devils winning 8 of the last 10 including three of four at home at Bohler Gym. The last time, however, the Sun Devils got the better of the Cougs in Pullman taking a five-setter in the first match in 2019.

LAST TIME OUT
> 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
> WSU held Arizona to just .048 hitting, the best defensive performance of the season for the Cougs and the second-straight match the Cougs have held their opponent under .100
The .048 was the lowest in Pac-12 play since holding Oregon State to .028 in 2018.
> 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 all-time in a Pac-12 match.

QUICK NOTES
> Coach Jen Greeny enters the match 14th all-time in wins in the Pac-12 having won 181 matches at WSU.
> WSU entered the week ranked #21 in the AVCA poll, pushing one spot up in the rankings after the trip to LA.
> Magda Jehlarova, a two-time Pac-12 DPOW, enters the match ranked 1st in the Pac-12 with 117 total blocks and a 1.41 blocks per set average. Offensively she is 5th hitting .379 on the year.
> Pia Timmer enters the match 5th in the Pac-12 at 3.99 kills per set while she leads the way with an impressive 0.38 aces per set.
> Kalyah Willams has averaged 10.6 points per match while hitting .303 in the last five matches.
> Penny Tusa continues to serve her way up the top-10 aces list as she is 2nd all-time with 133 career aces. The record is 143 set by LaToya Harris (1999-02). She currently ranks #27 all-time in Pac-12 history and is among the top-50 active players in Division I.
> 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
 
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