Sept. 8, 2000

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. -- Washington State University opened the Fresno State Invitational Volleyball Tournament with a pair of 3-0 wins over UC Riverside, Friday morning, and Cal State Fullerton, Friday evening, at North Gym on the Fresno State University campus.

In the opening match of the two-day tournament, WSU defeated UC Riverside 15-0, 15-4, 15-11, and only the setters had double-figure marks. It was Cougar coach Cindy Fredrick's 300th career win in her 16 seasons of collegiate coaching (currently 301-202 career, 215-142 in 12 years at WSU).

At 6-0, this is the best start for WSU since 1997, when the Cougs were undefeated in their first 16 matches and finished the season in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Championship Tournament.

"Both matches were good today because we got a lot of kids playing and I want to feel good about making substitutions," Cougar coach Cindy Fredrick said. "I think I feel better than I've felt in many years about putting kids into a game when somebody is struggling. That is the key for us this year. To have the ability to substitute without loosing quality on the floor. Right now we can give our opponents a lot of different looks and everybody is making contributions."

As for her milestone 300 wins, Fredrick said, "All coaches say you're only as good as your last win, and as soon as it's over, you're worried about the next match. That's exactly how I felt this afternoon. After I stopped and smelled the roses, I was getting ready for the night match."

Against UC Riverside, the Cougars hit .474 in the first game, scoring on 10 kills with only one error in 19 attacks. WSU used four service aces and four blocks to score the "bagel" over the Highlanders. With liberal substitutions in the second and third games, WSU won handily. Latvian freshman Zanda Bautre led the match with nine kills and hit .600 playing in only the last two games.

This was the UCR's second match in their first season of NCAA Div. I competition after successfully competing at the Div. II level. They were led by the six kills of Katie DeRoos. UCR drops to 0-2.

In the Cougars' second match of the day, Cal State Fullerton proved to be a solid foe, never allowing WSU to rest on their undefeated laurels. WSU prevailed 15-10, 15-8, 15-5.

In the first game, WSU ran up an 8-0 lead but the Titans fought back to within two at 11-9 and shadowed WSU to 12-10 before aces by Kali Surplus and LaToya Harris put the Cougs at game point. A CSF hitting error sealed the win, 15-10.

Game two was much tighter, with CS Fullerton ahead early before WSU rallied with tough serving and took a 9-6 lead. The Titans closed the gap at 10-8, but the Cougars, in what is becoming less of a rare occurrence, closed out the game on the first try at 15-8.

WSU took command of the third game and again used the entire bench in claiming the 15-5 win and match.

Cougar Adrian Hankoff led the team with 10 kills and 11 digs. CSF was led by the 11 kills of Jamie Ivers.

In other matches at the tournament, Northern Iowa defeated Cal State Fullerton 15-5, 15-7, 15-13, and Fresno State defeated UC Riverside15-4, 15-4, 17-15.

WSU takes on Northern Iowa 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday, and host Fresno State at 7:30 p.m.

Washington State (5-0) def. UC Riverside (0-2) 15-0, 15-4, 15-11 STATISTICS:
KILLS: Bautre (WSU) 9, DeRoos (UCR) 6.
ASSISTS: Surplus (WSU) 19, Ratto (UCR) 19.
DIGS: L. Harris (WSU) 6, Romero (UCR) 8.
BLOCKS: Kightlinger (WSU) 4, Schmitz Rower (WSU) 4, Parizek (UCR) 3.
SERVICE ACES: Schafer (WSU) 2, Schmitz Rower (WSU) 2, UCR 0.
Attendance: 30.

Washington State (6-0) def. Cal State Fullerton (2-2) 15-10, 15-8, 15-5 STATISTICS:
KILLS: Ivers (CSF) 11, Hankoff (WSU) 10.
ASSISTS: Levey (CSF) 20), Surplus (WSU) 26.
DIGS: Barlow (CSF) 9, Hankoff (WSU) 11.
BLOCKS: Barlow (CSF) 2, Holcombe (CSF) 2, Kightlinger (WSU) 3.
SERVICE ACES: Ivers (CSF) 2, L. Harris (WSU) 2.
Attendance: 150.