Sept. 14, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

Match 10
Gametracker and live video are available at www.GoZags.com

Washington State
vs.
Gonzaga
Tuesday, Sept. 15 - 7 p.m.
Martin Centre
Spokane, Wash.

THIS WEEK: After three-straight weeks on the road, the Gonzaga University women's volleyball team returns to the Martin Centre for its home opener against in-state rival Washington State University on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs, who enter into the contest with a 3-6 overall mark, are looking to deal WSU its first loss of the season. The Cougars have opened the 2009 campaign 10-0.

LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University women's volleyball home matches are available via Gametracker and live streaming on the internet at www.gozags.com. Check the Gonzaga website for all Gametracker and live streaming links. Gametracker for selected away matches are also available. Check out gozags.com for all Gametracker links.

FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS ON TWITTER: Want the inside scoop on Gonzaga women's volleyball? Follow the team every step of the season at www.twitter.com/gonzagavball. You can also get instant game scores and updates at the official Bulldog athletic twitter site at www.twitter.com/GonzagaBulldogs. Check it out!

GONZAGA-WASHINGTON STATE MATCH PROMOTIONS
POSTER GIVEAWAY: Make sure you stop by the marketing table to pickup your exclusive 2009 Gonzaga Fall Sports poster, available for the first time at this match!!

WENDY'S STUDENT REWARDS: Students will be rewarded for attendance through a Wendy's Student Rewards program. At every volleyball match, students will have the opportunity to pick up a Wendy's Student Rewards stamp card. They can receive one stamp during through the second set of each volleyball match designated as a "Wendy's Student Rewards" event by visiting the marketing table.

The total number of stamps available is divided into levels, with a different prize awarded at each level. A single grand prize will be given away to the student who has the most stamps at the end of the fall season (the final Wendy's Student Rewards game on November 13). In the event of a tie, the winner will be selected in a drawing from the tying cards.

Students with a valid student ID will be able to get a Student Meal Deal, which includes a hot dog, soda and popcorn for $4, only at Wendy's Student Rewards games.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE: Washington State University has had an impressive turnaround in 2009. The Cougars have already tied the total number of wins they had all season in 2008 with 10. WSU finished 2008 with a 10-19 overall mark and have started out this season perfectly at 10-0. The Cougars have swept six of their 10 matches this season, including a sweep over then-No. 17 Utah on Sept. 5. Washington State is led by Jackie Albright who is averaging 3.49 kills and 2.94 digs per set.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE COUGARS: Washington State University leads the all-time series with Gonzaga University 24-6 and has won the last three. Last season in Pullman the Bulldogs had the Cougars on the ropes, taking a 2-0 lead, but WSU forged a comeback and won the final three sets to earn the five-set victory.

RECEIVING VOTES: After starting off the season with a perfect 10-0 record, the Washington State University Cougars are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division I Top 25 poll. WSU earned 13 votes this week.

WHAT A DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE: Caitlin Cozad began her junior season with a bang at the Weber State University Tournament. The middle blocker earned All-Tournament honors after collecting 24 total blocks, including 20 block assists and four solo blocks. Cozad also tallied 19 kills in the Bulldogs 1-2 opening weekend.

SINGLE-MATCH RECORD: Gonzaga University women's volleyball junior Caitlin Cozad broke the Bulldog single-match block assists record against Utah State University Aug. 29. The middle blocker finished the match with 15 block assists, breaking assistant coach Abby (Cullen) Bennett's eight-year record of 13. Bennett tallied 13 block assists against the University of Portland in 2002. Cozad became the sixth Zag to register double-digit block assists in a single match.

DOING HER THING: Gonzaga University junior libero Allyson Powell had an explosive defensive outing against the University of Tulsa at the Radisson Tulsa Airport Invitational Sept. 12. Powell finished the match, a 3-2 victory over the Hurricane, with a career-high 31 digs. She is the first Zag to finish with 30-plus digs in a five-set match since 2003 when Heather Signor had 35.

CAREER MATCHES: Seniors Michelle Boevers and Layne Brosky, along with sophomore Kaprina Goodwin eclipsed multiple personal career-highs so far this season. Boevers collected her first career double-double against Utah State University with 13 kills and 11 digs. The 11 digs was also a career-high, breaking her previous mark of seven that she tallied on four different occasions. Brosky finished with 19 kills in the Zags 3-2 victory over the University of Tulsa, one more than her previous best-high of 18. Goodwin also had her second career double-double against Tulsa collecting a career-high 14 kills and 10 digs. Her first career double-double came against Utah State when she had a then career-high 10 kills and a career-high 11 digs.

1,000 KILLS: Senior Michelle Boevers became the 11th Gonzaga University women's volleyball player to eclipse the 1,000 kill plateau after finishing the past weekend with 29 kills at the Radisson Tulsa Airport Invitational. Boevers currently has 1,010 kills to her credit. The last player to tally 1000-plus kills was Becky Jones (2004-07) who finished her career with 1,429.

FIRST BULLDOG WIN: Gonzaga University first-year women's volleyball head coach Dave Gantt earned his first Bulldog career win against Utah State University Aug. 29. Gantt, who was out of the volleyball circuit for seven years, picked up his 217th overall career victory with the 3-2 win.

HOME SWEET HOME: After nine straight matches on the road, the Gonzaga University women's volleyball team returns to the friendly confines of the Martin Centre for four-straight matches beginning on Sept. 15. The Zags match against Washington State University is followed by a matches against the University of North Dakota and the University of Montana on Sept. 23 and Sept. 29, respectively. Gonzaga will close out its four-match homestand by opening West Coast Conference play against the University of Portland on Oct. 3.

ALL-TOURNAMENT ACCOLADES: Gonzaga University junior middle blocker Caitlin Cozad was named to the Weber State University Tournament and senior Layne Brosky was named to the Northwest Challenge All-Tournament squad.

BULLDOGS TABBED TIED FOR 7TH IN WCC COACHES POLL: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team has been selected to finish tied for seventh in the West Coast Conference 2009 season according to a preseason vote of the league's head coaches. The Bulldogs received 10 votes in this year's preseason poll to tie with the University of Portland for seventh place.