PULLMAN, Wash. — 21st-ranked Washington State volleyball (0-0) travels to Louisville, Ky., for the first time in program history to open the season this weekend in the three-day Cardinal Classic (Aug. 25-27) from the L&N Federal Credit Union. The 2023 Cougars will dive head first into a fierce nonconference schedule beginning with a season-opener against 2022 Horizon League Champions Wright State on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. (PST).
The Cougs play tournament hosts and the national runner-up from a season ago, fourth-ranked Louisville, on Saturday night beginning at 4 p.m. (PST) on
ACC Network X (ESPN+), before closing the weekend against Troy on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. (PST).
Week 1 WSU Match Notes (PDF)
Match #1 Info:
- vs Wright State (2022: 28-4, 18-0 Horizon League)
- SERIES: WSU leads 1-0
- Friday, Aug. 25 // First serve: 1 p.m. (PST)
- Louisville, Ky. // L&N Federal Credit Union Arena
Match #2 Info:
- vs #4 Louisville (2022: 31-3, 17-1 ACC) | ACCNX (ESPN +)
- SERIES: Louisville leads 1-0
- Saturday, Aug. 26 // First serve: 4 p.m. (PST)
- Louisville, Ky. // L&N Federal Credit Union Arena
Match #3 Info:
- vs Troy (18-13, 11-5 Sun Belt Conference)
- SERIES: Tied 0-0
- Sunday, Aug. 27 // First serve: 8 a.m. (PST)
- Louisville, Ky. // L&N Federal Credit Union Arena
Cardinal Classic Quick Notes:
>> Washington State is 9-3 in season openers under head coach
Jen Greeny including six of the last seven.
>> WSU swept its only previous match vs. Wright State, 3-0, in Iowa City, Iowa, back in 1993 under head coach Cindy Fredrick.
>> The Cougs dropped its only previous match vs. Louisville, 3-0, at home in Pullman.
>> WSU will see Troy for the first time in program history on Wednesday at noon.
>> Washington State was picked to finish second in the Preseason Pac-12 Conference Coaches' Poll, tying the highest ranking all-time for WSU in the annual preseason poll — WSU was also picked to finish runner-up in 1996.
>> The Cougars had three players —
Magda Jehlářová,
Iman Isanovic, and
Pia Timmer — named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 team earlier this week.
>> Setter
Argentina Ung (10.13 a/s) and opposite hitter
Katy Ryan (2.47 k/s) were also nominated for the preseason all-conference team as they get set to return to their starting roles in the Cougs' lineup.
>>
Magda Jehlářová (Czech Republic) and
Iman Isanovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) each get set to return to the team after spending the previous two weeks representing their respective home countries in the 2023 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship.
Quoteable: Head Coach Jen Greeny
"This team is so experienced, and they do a fantastic job of staying focused on the process. (Saturday night vs. Louisville) will be a great crowd I'm sure going into it but we're really focused on making the trip, getting adjusted to the time change, humidity, and taking care of those little things first."
Up Next:
Washington State will return to Pullman for a six-match home stand in the form of back-to-back home tournaments starting with the Cougar Invitational (Sept. 1-2) next weekend. The Cougars will play the first regular season match on the newly resurfaced Marcia Saneholz Court next Fri., Sept. 1, at noon.
For all the latest WSU volleyball news, photos and videos, like the team on Facebook (facebook.com/WSUCougarVB), or follow on Twitter (@WSUCougarVB) and Instagram (@wsucougarvb).
