Washington State University Athletics
Volleyball Sweeps California at Bohler Gym
November 14, 2015 | Volleyball
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Freshman McKenna Woodford led the Washington State volleyball team (15-12 overall, 4-11 Pac-12) to a 25-23, 25-16, and 25-21, win over California (9-17 overall, 3-12 Pac-12) in Bohler Gym Friday night.
Woodford, from Chandler, Ariz., led the match with 14 kills, hit .520, had a five digs, three assists, two aces, and a pair of blocks. Kyra Holt add 10 kills and nine digs while Casey Schoenlein had eight kills and three blocks. Ashley Vander Tuig landed six kills (.385) and had three blocks with Taylor Mims adding another trio of blocks. Haley MacDonald set up 40 assists and Kate Sommer had 11 digs.
California's Lillian Schonewise had 13 kills and hit .524 on the night. Lara Vukasovic added eight kills and Christine Alftin and Jenelle Jordan each had seven kills. Alyssa Jensen set up 29 assists and Maddy Kerr led the Golden Bears with 12 digs.
The Cougars hit .305 for the match and held Cal to a .211 hitting percentage. WSU out-blocked the Bears eight to three and served five aces to the visitors' one. The match took one hour and 19 minutes.
The first set was a tight battle with 15 ties and seven lead changes. Tied at 20-all, WSU ahead 22-20 on a kill from Holt and an ace from Sommer. Schonewise countered with an attack that closed the lead to one. Vander Tuig and Schonewise traded kills to put WSU ahead 23-22. Woodford slammed one down to put WSU serving for the set win but she missed on her next attack and the score went to 24-23. Cal's attack went long to give WSU the 25-23 first set win. The second set was only close in score early. WSU led the third set from the get-go and had a 23-17 lead when Cal made some noise, closing the gap to four and the Cougars took the 25-21 win.
Holt missed the first match at Cal last month and Woodford addressed how this match was different. “My game changed defensively because offensively we had Kyra so my job was to stay in the passing game, help out on defense and just bring the energy because with your big hitter back that's all you can do is bring your fight,” Woodford said. “We've been playing some situational games in practice where it's 23-20 and we have to come back to win. You know, we've been in some tight sets this year and it feels great close this one out.”
“I thought we played really good tonight, (with) a lot of confidence and did some great things so I'll take the sweep anytime,” WSU Head Coach Jen Greeny said. “I think for that first set it is always really important to take the win; it's a little less pressure on us, a little pressure on the opponent. So I was really proud of the way that McKenna fought them off and we were able to take that first set. (asked about the sweep) I think it can give us a little momentum here at home. It's a great thing and especially on this last weekend for Kate.”
WSU plays its final home match in Bohler Gym Sunday, Nov. 15, when No. 6 Stanford (17-5, 11-3) comes to town for an 11 a.m. match to be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. This match will be also be a celebration for Cougar senior libero and tri-captain Kate Sommer.
