Gonzaga University
8-7
Washington State
7-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GONZAGA BULLDOGS | 19 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 3 |
| WASHINGTON STATE | 30 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 1 |
Volleyball Ends 15 Year Streak Against WSU
9/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2005
PULLMAN, Wash. - In his four years leading the Gonzaga University volleyball program Bulldogs head coach Kip Yoshimura has always had a vision for where he wanted to take the program. On Saturday night his team took one giant step towards that vision as they ended a 16-match, 15 year losing skid to the Washington State Cougars (7-6). Gonzaga (8-7) went into hostile Bohler Gym and walked out with a 19-30, 30-27, 30-28, 30-24 win over WSU.
"This is one of those wins that can help make your season," said an excited Yoshimura after the Bulldogs won for only the third time in Pullman. The last two wins came in 1989 and 1990. "We have been working to improve with every match this season and tonight is a perfect example of that improvement. Last week WSU came to our gym and picked up a 3-1 win and tonight we were able to knock them off in their gym."
Gonzaga won a very balanced match with the Bulldogs hitting .262 for the match and WSU hitting .261. WSU had 71 kills to Gonzaga's 62 with only four more attack errors. Both teams dropped in seven service aces, Jessica Herrera had 3 for GU while Jen Barcus served 3 for WSU. Gonzaga was able to gain the advantage with their defensive play in the backcourt and at the net. The Bulldogs had 10 more digs and three more team blocks then WSU. Herrera led five Gonzaga players into double digit digs with 22 while Briawna Mueller and Kelly Steinhaus each had six block assists.
Freshman outside hitter Michelle Boevers was a force against WSU connecting for 24 kills and a .365 attack percentage. Boevers is just one example of the type of improvement GU is having with each additional match as last week against WSU she had 15 kills hitting only .149. Mueller also had a hot hitting hand adding 12 kills and a .458 attack percentage. Becky Jones rounded out the double digit hitting Zags with 12 kills. She also added 14 digs for her 9th double-double of the season.
"All of our front row players did an outstanding job on the attack tonight," Yoshimura added on his three top hitters. "Our players did a great job of adjusting to what WSU was doing defensively and I think that shows that we learned a lot from our match last week."
Washington State also had three effective attackers as Barcus, Natalia Owen and Zanda Butre all had 16 kills. Butre also added six block assists for the Cougars.
Gonzaga now prepares to open West Coast Conference play against the University of Portland next Saturday at Martin Centre. The match is set for a 1 p.m. start.
"I think this win gives us some great momentum heading into the WCC season," Yoshimura finished.
