Volleyball Completes Perfect Weekend

Saturday, September 14

Pullman, WA

3:00 PM

Washington State University

8-1

Liberty

5-4

Liberty

Washington St.

September 14, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Cougars sweep Liberty to start the season 3-0 inside Bohler Gym.

By: Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State volleyball capped off a perfect weekend inside Bohler Gym Saturday afternoon, with a 3-0 victory over Liberty University.

Set scores from the match were: 25-18, 25-19, and 25-21 in favor of the Cougars (8-1).

Washington State controlled set number one against Liberty (5-4) from start to finish, as the Cougars never fell behind starting from 3-2. WSU generated a 5-0 scoring run that provided clear separation from the Flames at 15-7, with kills from Pia Timmer, and Alexcis Lusby, along with an Alexis Dirige ace. The offense continued to roll late in this set as Magda Jehlarova, and Jocelyn Urias delivered some big time kills for a 21-13 advantage. It would be Lusby and Timmer to close out the opening set with a pair of kills for the 25-18 set victory over Liberty.

The Flames turned up the heat a bit early in set number two, holding an 8-6 lead over the Cougars after building a 5-1 run. Washington State quickly flipped the momentum back in their favor with a 10-1 scoring run, landing the Cougars back into the driver's seat of the set. The defensive front of Jehlarova, Lusby, and Timmer generated multiple blocks during this run to put the Cougars out in front at 19-10 overall. Charity Bradley and Magda capped off the second set with a kill each for the 25-19 win.

Set number three was all Washington State early against Liberty with a 7-0 scoring run. Urias provided big play after big play in this set with two block assists and a kill. Hannah Pukis added an additional kill, and Dirige picked up another ace in the process of building this lead. Liberty battled back into this set to tie it at 10-10, but the Cougars answered right back with a 7-1 run aided by a Pukis ace, and a block from both Bradley and Jehlarova. The Flames countered however against WSU, taking a 20-19 lead late in this final set of play in the Cougar Challenge. Washington State regrouped and overpowered Liberty with another run at 6-1 for the 25-21 victory. Bradley helped fuel the final run with multiple kills and a block assist to see the Cougars complete the sweep.

STAT OF THE MATCH
Freshman Magda Jehlarova turned in a dominate performance during the afternoon contest, with eight total kills on 12 attacks for a hitting percentage of .667. Magda had total control at the net as well today, totaling one solo block and six block assists.

INTO THE TWITTER-VERSE

@WSUCougarVB dominated the Cougar Challenge winning three straight sets in all three matches!
🔥💪🏐🤩#GoCougs | #CVE pic.twitter.com/TvLzLJOMH9
— Washington State Athletics (@WSUCougars) September 15, 2019

S3 | POWER!

WSU | 18-10 #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/P1kOVva18E
— Cougar Volleyball (@WSUCougarVB) September 14, 2019

MATCH NOTES

Timmer led the the Cougars in the kill stat category once again, with nine on the day, and added three total blocks also.
Charity Bradley and Alexcis Lusby each turned in six kills in the final match of the Cougar Challenge, and the duo combined for seven total blocks.
Pukis continued to guide the offensive attack of WSU with 26 assists in the contest. Hannah posted her first career double-double in a Cougar uniform with 10 digs as well.
The Cougars will hit the court next, Friday, Sept. 20 in a nonconference match against Houston Baptist at Edinburg, Texas, slated for an 8 a.m. PT start.