Boeing Apple Cup Series Volleyball in Seattle Saturday

MATCH PREVIEWS
While the Pac-12 title will finish just out of reach for the Cougs WSU still has a chance to make a statement heading into the NCAA Tournament while also playing spoiler Saturday in Seattle. The Cougs and the Huskies face off in the second half of the Boeing Apple Cup Series with Washington playing for at least a piece of the Pac-12 title. The Cougs can spoil the Huskies bid for the conference championship with a win (unless UCLA falls to USC Friday night). Last time out the Cougs took down then No. 6 ranked Washington in Pullman in the second Pac-12 match of the season, beating the Huskies in five for their second-straight win over their top-10 ranked rivals. The Cougs also beat the Huskies in Seattle to end the 2021 spring season.
Last time in Pullman, the match saw an epic fourth-set (46-44 UW) that tied the NCAA record for points in a set in the 25-point era. In all, WSU scored 132 total points in the match against UW, tying Saint Mary's for the NCAA record in the 25-point era. WSU put up a season best 17 blocks against the Huskies the most since Sept. 6, 2019 against Utah State (18 blocks). Pia Timmer led the offensive attack with 31 kills (.303), tying for the most kills in the rally scoring era for a Cougs. She would earn national player of the week honors for her performance.

LAST TIME OUT
> The Cougs fell for the third-straight match to the Utes as Utah improved to 14-16 all-time against WSU. WSU was swept for just the second time on the year and for the first time since No. 8 Purdue in the third match of the season.
> WSU played shorthanded for the fourth-consecutive match with star outside Pia Timmer still sidelined. Timmer has missed the last two matches against the Utes after sitting out the 2021 spring match in Salt Lake City as well.
> WSU tied a season-low with just one service ace, matching a single ace against Purdue in the third match of the season. It snapped a seven match streak of 5+ aces for the Cougs.
> Offensively the Cougs were held to a season-low .111 (32-18-126) - just the fourth time in Pac-12 play WSU hit under .200 in a match. Katy Ryan led the offense with 10 kills hitting .389 - her fifth double-digit kill performance of the season. She also added four blocks for the second-straight match.
> WSU lost for just the third time on the year (16-3) when outblocking their opponents after posting a 9.0-to-6.0 advantage on the defensive side of the net. Kalyah Williams led the block with 5.0 total, tying for the second-best blocking performance of the season for the junior middle.

QUICK NOTES
> Coach Jen Greeny enters the weekend 14th all-time in wins in the Pac-12 having won 184 matches at WSU. WSU is looking for its 20th win on the year which would be the 3rd time under Greeny.
> The Cougs can finish no worse than a tie for 4th place in the Pac-12 after being picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll. WSU's 13 wins in Pac-12 play is the most in the Jen Greeny era and one away from tying the program record of 14 wins set in 1996 when WSU finished 2nd in the Pac-10.
> WSU entered the week ranked #21 in the AVCA poll, rising one spot in the rankings after sweeping the Oregon Schools.
> The Cougs have been on a tear from the service line with 63 aces in the last seven matches. On the year the Cougs have a league-best 186 aces - the most in a season since 1992. The Cougs have the top two servers in the Pac-12 in Pia Timmer (0.40 SAps) and Penny Tusa (0.38 SAps).
> Penny Tusa, the all-time leader in career service aces at WSU bumped her career total to 148. Her 40 aces leads the Pac-12 and is tied for the 10th most in single season history.
> In Pac-12 play the Cougs have been stellar holding opponents to a league best .202 hitting - the block has been on point at 2.63 per set, 2nd in the conference.
> Magda Jehlarova leads the Pac-12 at 1.45 blocks per set, 3rd best in all DI volleyball. Her 154 blocks is 5 away from the Cougs' all-time top-10 single seasons.
> Pia Timmer is day-to-day after suffering an injury at Cal - she is 5th in the Pac-12 at 3.91 kills per game. In her sted Argentina Unghas posted a team-best 2.67 kps (a team-high 48 total kills) while adding 3 aces and 39 digs in five matches.
> WSU ranks 33rd in the RPI entering the weekend while sitting 18th 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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