SPOKANE, Wash. – The Gonzaga volleyball team opens West Coast Conference play at home for the third straight season, hosting No. 9 BYU Sept. 26 at 6 p.m., followed by (RV) San Diego Sept. 28 at 12 p.m., in the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre.
 
GONZAGA (6-6) vs. #9 BYU (9-2)
Sept. 26 | 6 p.m. | Spokane, Wash. | Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
Live Video | Live Stats | Tickets
 
GONZAGA (6-6) vs. (RV) San Diego (7-4)
Sept. 28 | 12 p.m. | Spokane, Wash. | Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
Live Video | Live Stats | Tickets
 
SERIES REVIEW
vs. BYU
OVERALL: 1-19 | HOME: 0-8 | AWAY: 1-9 | NEUTRAL: 0-2 |STREAK: BYU, won 14
The Bulldogs and Cougars' series dates back to 1990 when the programs first met at the BYU Invitational in Provo, Utah. BYU claimed the first five wins in '90, '94, '95, '02 and the first meeting in 2011, but Gonzaga picked up its first win in the series with a 3-1 win in Provo on Nov. 17, 2011.
 
vs. San Diego
OVERALL: 9-55 | HOME: 5-27 | AWAY: 4-28 | STREAK: USD, won 49
San Diego and Gonzaga have met every as conference opponents since the 1987 season, when the series between the two programs began. The Bulldogs claimed the edge early, winning seven-straight from 1988-91 to have a 7-2 lead in the series, but USD has dominated since. GU has won two matches since 1991, and the Toreros have strung together a 49-match win streak.
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS:
- BYU currently is ranked ninth in the country and has three wins over top 25 programs so far this season, including a 3-1 win over then No. 2 Stanford.
- The Cougars at 9-2 through non-conference play, averaging 13.88 kills per set hitting .245 with 12.65 assists, 13.05 digs and 2.12 blocks per set.
- Through 11 matches this season, BYU is 4-0 in three-set matches and 5-2 in four-set matches. The Cougars have yet to play in a five-set match.
- McKenna Miller leads BYU in kills, averaging 4.00 per set hitting .277. Three other Cougars average at least 2.00 kills per set: Madelyn Robinson (2.60 hitting .188), Kennedy Eschenberg (2.25 hitting .355) and Heather Gneiting (2.00 hitting .209).
- Whitney Bower leads the squad with 10.38 assists per set while Mary Lake adds 3.72 digs per set. Two Cougars average at least one block per set, led by Gneiting with 1.05; Eschenberg adds an even 1.00 blocks per set.
- The Cougars are fresh off a 2018 NCAA Tournament Semifinal appearance and a 31-2 overall record a season ago.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN ON SAN DIEGO:
- The Toreros are 7-4 overall on the season and are currently on a five-match win streak. USD is also receiving votes in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll.
- Through 11 matches, USD is 6-0 in three-set matches, 0-2 in four-set matches and 1-2 in five-set matches.
- As a squad, USD averages 13.61 kills per set hitting .274 to go along with 12.44 assists, 13.34 digs and 2.12 blocks per set.
- Three players average at least 2.00 kills per set, led by Roxie Wiblin with 2.61 kills while both Megan Jacobsen and Thana Fayad add 2.56 each. Jacobsen leads the squad in accuracy, terminating at a .386 clip.
- Anna Newsome averages a team-best 8.51 assists per set. Annie Benbow leads the defensive effort with 2.90 digs per set while Lauren Turner adds 0.97 blocks per set.
- So far this season, USD as faced two Top 25 teams, falling in five sets to No. 2 Nebraska while defeating No. 20 USC, also in five sets. Most recently, the Toreros swept both San Diego State and Long Beach State.
 
SHARING THE BALL
- As of Sept. 24, Gonzaga ranks in the top 50 in the nation in assists per set, coming in at No. 42 with 12.59 assists per set. 
- That number also ranks second in the WCC behind LMU (12.63, No. 38).
- Senior Jenna Kuehn leads the Zags in assists, averaging 7.95 per set. Freshman Tia Andaya adds 3.12 per set.
 
WELCOME BACK
- The Zags return to the Martin Centre for the first time in two weeks after hosting the Gonzaga Invitational Sept. 6-7.
- The weekend will also serve as Alumni Weekend for the Bulldogs, with several former Zags returning for the conference-opening weekend.