WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE
PULLMAN, Wash. – The No. 18 ranked Washington State Cougars (19-8, 10-7 Pac-12) were defeated at home Friday evening by the No. 2 ranked Stanford Cardinal in four sets.
Set scores from the match were: 16-25, 16-25, 25-22, and 20-25 in favor of Stanford (25-1, 17-0 Pac-12).
Set number one between these top Pac-12 programs featured an intense battle throughout the opening round of play, as 12 total ties occurred between the Cougars and the Cardinal. A tie score of 15-15 however, was were Stanford began to generate multiple runs of 3-0, and 7-0 to close out the set victory at 25-16 overall.
Taylor Mims anchored the offensive attack with three total kills as well.
Stanford continued to apply the pressure on the Cougars in round number two, jumping out to the early 8-4 lead. Washington State fought right back, forcing multiple Stanford errors, along seeing crucial kills from
Jocelyn Urias, and Mims. The Cardinal found separation with a 7-2 run midway through the set, and ultimately capped off the set two 25-16 win, with another run of 6-1 over the Cougars.
WSU came out in set three with a vengeance, starting the set up 8-3 after huge kills from
Ella Lajos, and Mims. Washington State only continued to build off that lead with a 7-1 run to hold down the 16-7 advantage over Stanford, which featured four WSU blocks, and kills from
Claire Martin, and
Ella Lajos. Despite a 6-2 counter run from the Cardinal, WSU held strong to take set number three after yet another kill from Lajos for the 25-22 victory.
The Cougars continued to ride the wave of momentum into set number four, posting an 11-4 lead over the Cardinal, totaling three blocks courtesy of
Ashley Brown,
Jocelyn Urias,
McKenna Woodford, Martin, and Lajos. Stanford rallied back however with an 8-1 run to tie up the set at 13-13 overall. These two squads continued to trade points, totaling four additional ties late into the set, until the Cardinal rallied off a 5-1 run over the Cougars, taking set four at 25-20, and the match at 3-1 overall.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Tonight's stat of the match features the blocking of each program as WSU totaled 10.0 blocks, 6.0 of which were recorded in set three. Stanford led the match however with 16.0 overall blocks as a team.
THE MOMENTS THAT MADE THE MATCH
NOTES
- Ella Lajos provided a momentum spark in set three as she totaled six kills, three block assists, and hit for .750 in the set alone.
- Taylor Mims powered the offensive attack with 14 kills, and added eight digs to her stat line also.
- Alexis Dirige anchored the defensive ground game with a match-high 15 digs, and turned in five assists as well.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Washington State returns to the court next, Sunday, November 18, as the Cougars host California inside Bohler Gym with first serve set for 12 p.m. PT.
