NO. 22 WASHINGTON STATE (0-0, 0-0 PAC-12)
AT JAMES MADISON (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
| Fri., Aug. 30 | 7:00 a.m. PT
VS. IOWA (0-0, 0-0 BIG TEN)
| Sat., Aug. 31 | 7:00 a.m. PT
VS. STONY BROOK (0-0, 0-0 AEC)
| Sat., Aug. 31 | 2:00 p.m. PT
> Watch (at James Madison) | FloSports ($)
> Watch (vs. Iowa) | FloSports ($)
> Live Statistics | WSUCougars.com
MATCH PREVIEW
>> Washington State will begin the 2019 season facing James Madison in the first match-up ever between the two programs.
>> The Cougars currently hold a 2-0 all-time advantage over the Iowa Hawkeyes, last meeting in 1996, where WSU defeated Iowa 3-0 in the Iowa State Tournament.
>> WSU will see a familiar face in Stony Brook in the final match of this season opening tournament, having swept the Seawolves 3-0 last season in the Cougar Challenge.
NATIONAL PRESEASON RANKINGS
The Cougars will begin the year ranked No. 22 overall by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) in the annual preseason rankings, looking to make a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after hosting a year ago. The RichKern Poll sees WSU in the Top 25 as well, ranked No. 24, and the Pablo Rankings posted the Cougars at No. 14 overall in the country to begin 2019 as well.
BIG THREE
WSU will welcome back a handful of letter winners, five total, and those will are looking to make the biggest impact are the three seniors in
Jocelyn Urias,
Alexis Dirige, and
Ashley Brown. All were starters a season ago during the Cougars' Sweet Sixteen run, Urias anchoring down the middle blocker position, Dirige commanding the defense at libero, and Brown directing the offense at setter. Jocelyn is coming off a stellar 2018 season, being named to the AVCA All-American Honorable Mention team, along with earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors as well. Ashley was also named to the All-Pac-12 honorable mention team last year, and Alexis continues to climb the all-time WSU Volleyball career leaderboard in total digs, sitting at third all-time.
WSU PICKED EIGHTH IN PRESEASON PAC-12 POLL
The Washington State volleyball team has been selected to finish eighth in the preseason Pac-12 coaches poll as announced by the conference office. The Cougars will see four key returners in seniors
Jocelyn Urias,
Alexis Dirige, and
Ashley Brown, along with junior
Penny Tusa, all who helped see WSU advance to the Sweet Sixteen a season ago. Washington State Volleyball will welcome seven new student-athletes to the squad in 2019 as well.
INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE
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