MOSCOW, Idaho -- Kyra Holt and McKenna Woodford both had double-doubles in leading the Washington State volleyball team (5-1) to a 25-21, 25-21, 25-23 sweep of host University of Idaho (1-5) Saturday night at Memorial Gym in Moscow.
Holt, a junior from Hercules, Calif., had the match-high 17 kills, hit .350, and had 16 digs and one ace. Woodford, a freshman from Chandler, Ariz., had 15 kills (.286) and 10 digs. Taylor Mims, a freshman from Billings, Mont., had eight kills, hit .500 and led the team with three blocks. Haley MacDonald, a junior from Bothell, Wash., had 41 assists and seven digs. Kate Sommer (senior, Pacific Palisades, Calif.) and Tani Stephens (junior, Albany, Ore.) combined for another 23 digs.
Holt was named the tournament MVP and MacDonald was named to the all-tournament team.
Idaho's Sarah Sharp led the Vandals with 11 kills (.212) and Katelyn Peterson added 10 kills (.214) and 10 digs. Meredith Coba had 20 assists.Torrin Crawford had five kills (.333) and led the match with five blocks and was named to the all-tournament team.
The first set had 19 ties and the score was knotted at 21-all when Holt placed a pushed ball to the back line to give WSU the lead. On the next play, Holt's attack was blocked off the antenna and out of bounds. After an Idaho timeout, Mims hit the ball high and a Vandal reached up to touch it before it rocketed by. The final point came on an Idaho attack error giving WSU the 25-21 win.
The second set was tied at 15 when WSU out-scored Idaho six to two for the 21-17 lead. The Cougars did not look back reaching the 25-21 win.
Third set, Idaho denied WSU three match points, to close the gap at 24-23. On a controversial last play, Becca Mau's attack was called out by one official and in by another. The head official called it in the Cougars' favor for the 25-23 win.
“Anytime we can come in and get a win in somebody else's gym it's always a good thing,” Cougar Head Coach Jen Greeny said. “This is a very talented Idaho team and I thought we played pretty well most of the time. I was really proud of this team and it was a great weekend. Kyra had incredible numbers this weekend. She has really done a lot, not only on the court but leadership-wise and I'm really proud of the way she's progressing with her all-around game.”
Washington State hosts the Cougar Challenge tournament next week, with Morehead State, Ball State and Utah Valley University coming to Pullman for matches Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Sept. 12, in Bohler Gym.
