WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE
PULLMAN, Wash. – The No. 18 ranked Washington State Cougars (19-9, 10-8 Pac-12) were tripped up 3-1, Sunday afternoon by the Bears of California in a four-set match inside Bohler Gym. 

Set scores from the match were: 21-25, 25-21, 19-25, and 22-25 in favor of Cal (15-14, 7-11 Pac-12). 

Washington State and California traded small runs to open up this contest, as the Cougars took an early 3-2 lead with a kill from McKenna Woodford, and an ace by Penny Tusa. The Golden Bears answered back with a 4-0 scoring run of their own to reclaim the advantage at 5-3 overall. Cal surged ahead midway through set number one with a 7-1 run for the 15-12 lead, and added another 3-0 run against WSU after the Cougars were able to notch two quick points courtesy of a Cal service error, and an Ella Lajos kill. The Bears controlled the set late into the action, as the Cougars found scoring from an additional Lajos kill, and a service ace from Jocelyn Urias. However the Golden Bears sealed off set one with an ace of their own for the 25-21 victory. 

The second set of play brought more of the same intense action, as Washington State found some early separation with a 3-0 run featuring kills from Taylor Mims, and Lajos. Mims also added a solo block to help fuel the Cougars in the start of the second round. These two programs went on to trade points once again until WSU pushed the lead out to 14-10 after another small run with multiple kills from Mims. Washington State controlled the pace down the stretch in this set, seeing the 25-21 victory through with kills from Mims, Urias, and Woodford. 

The Golden Bears countered in set number three with a 4-0 run to start off play, however the Cougars were right there to answer with a 4-1 run of their own to tie up the game at 5-5 overall. Claire Martin helped power WSU in the early stages of set three with one kill, and a block assist. This set became a game of runs as Cal, and the Cougars each found their stride for three or more points in a row, as WSU closed in on the Bear lead at just 19-17 after kills from Mims, and Lajos. California then sparked a 5-0 run to cap off the third set in their favor at 25-19, and take a 2-1 overall match lead. 

WSU came out firing in set number four as back-to-back kills from Woodford, and Mims made the early offensive statement. The Golden Bears cemented their lead in this set however with three different scoring runs of 3-0 to hold down the 15-10 advantage. Despite coming as close as one point behind after a 3-0 Cougar run, featuring an Ashley Brown ace, Washington State ultimately fell to California in set four 25-22, and the Bears took the match at 3-1 overall. 

STAT OF THE MATCH
Taylor Mims turn in a solid offensive stat sheet on the day with a team-high 17 kills against the Bears. This was Mims' highest kill total since October 7 against Arizona on the road when she totaled 17 kills as well. 

THE MOMENTS THAT MADE THE MATCH

Aces high #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/x6j9zJCiSf

— Cougar Volleyball (@wsuvolleyball) November 18, 2018

 

Better luck next time! #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/B2V39tGihy

— Cougar Volleyball (@wsuvolleyball) November 18, 2018

 

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NOTES 

• Both Lajos and Woodford found themselves in double-digit kills with Ella totaling 12, and McKenna recording 10.
• Alexis Dirige posted a match-high 20 digs, and added one service ace to her stat line as well. 
• Ashley Brown anchored the offensive game with 42 total assists, her 13th match this season with 40 or more assists. 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The Cougars will next take on the Beavers of Oregon State in a Pac-12 showdown inside Bohler Gym, Wednesday, November 21 with first serve scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.