Volleyball Falls in Four to No. 15 Utah

Sunday, October 8

Pullman, Wash.

11:00 AM

Washington State University

13-5, 2-4

Utah

14-3, 5-1

Utah

Washington State

October 08, 2017 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE…
PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Washington State volleyball team (13-5 overall, 2-4 in Pac-12) battled the No. 15 Utah Utes (14-3, 5-1) in four sets but could not grab the win Sunday morning in Bohler Gym, falling 25-21, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21.

Taylor Mims' double-double led the Cougars with 14 kills and 12 digs and she had six blocks. Jocelyn Urias had 11 kills with only one error in 23 attacks for a .435 hitting percentage and led the match with eight blocks, which equaled her career-high. Ella Lajos (9-1-18, .444) and Casey Schoenlein (9-3-25, .240) each contributed nine kills. Lajos also had four blocks. Alexis Dirige led the match with 19 digs. Ashley Brown and Penny Tusa combined for 41 assists. Urias, Brown and Abby Phillips each served one ace.

WSU led the match in blocks, 13 to 7, while Utah led in kills (66-48), hitting percentage (.250-.193) and digs (71-58).

WHY & HOW...
WSU Head Coach Jen Greeny said, "I thought our passing wasn't great, wasn't consistent today, and therefore we were pretty predictable in our offense. Against a great team like Utah, we have to be more consistent in that area.

On what the Cougars did well in the third set win, Greeny said, "I thought we served extremely well and were able to get them out of system. Our blocking definitely picked up from that point forward so I was really happy with our blocking in the third and fourth sets."

In playing without outside hitter and starter McKenna Woodford, Greeny said, "It's a work in progress. We definitely need to get a little bit more used to it. But it is even those skills that everyone is used to being able to do that we have to be more consistent in as well. Everyone needs to do their job just a little bit better to try and fill that void and that's what we have to work on this week."

On being home again next Friday and Sunday Greeny said, "We would love to see fans come out to Bohler Gym. It is a great home court advantage when we can get more people out here."

Taylor Mims finds the back row to tie up Set 1. #GoCougs #RiseAgain pic.twitter.com/sglho3IbQV
— Cougar Volleyball (@wsuvolleyball) October 8, 2017

Jocelyn Urias with a HUGE SOLO BLOCK! #GoCougs #RiseAgain pic.twitter.com/6IEB1eKHHq
— Cougar Volleyball (@wsuvolleyball) October 8, 2017

Yes! #GoCougs https://t.co/wb0B7DUmzt
— Cougar Volleyball (@wsuvolleyball) October 8, 2017

NOTES…

All six Pac-12 matches have gone four sets and the Cougars have not been swept in any match this season.
Sophomore libero Alexis Dirige now has 777 career digs, 24th-best in WSU all-time.
This is the ninth match this season that redshirt sophomore Jocelyn Urias has hit .300 or better and the fifth match she's hit .400 or better for a match (with a minimum of three attacks per set).
Utah coach Beth Launiere coached the 2016 US Collegiate National Team - Europe with WSU coach Jen Greeny as an assistant. Cougars McKenna Woodford and Casey Schoenlein played on that team that won Gold at the Global Challenge Tournament in Croatia.
Attendance: 675

MARK YOUR CALENDAR…
Washington State (13-5 overall, 2-4 in Pac-12) hosts No. 16 Oregon (10-4, 3-3 pending 10/11 @UW) Fri., Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. and Oregon State (11-7, 1-5 pending 10/13 @UW) Sun., Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. in Bohler Gym.