SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – (August 29, 2025) – Washington State volleyball opened its 2025 campaign in dominant fashion, sweeping Lafayette in straight sets (25–16, 25–18, 25–16) at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

The Cougars (1-0, 0-0 WCC) had their offense clicking early and often. Lucie Blažková led the way, matching a WSU record with seven service aces while delivering a team-high 13 kills on a .765 hitting percentage. She also added two blocks for a match-best 21.5 points.

Italia Bernal kept the attack balanced with 22 assists and seven digs, while Livia Ward chipped in 13 assists and five digs.

WSU's serving pressure proved decisive, piling up 13 aces compared to Lafayette's three. Eliana Ti'a added eight kills, three aces, and 11 points overall, while Taryn Vrieling (six kills, .357 hitting) and Mary Healy (seven kills) rounded out the Cougar attack.

Defensively, WSU held Lafayette to just a .133 hitting percentage, forcing 13 errors across three sets.

After cruising in the first set, WSU fought through tighter stretches in the second, which saw three ties and a brief Lafayette lead, before closing strong. The Cougars then used a 10–2 scoring run in the third, highlighted by back-to-back aces from Tia, to seal the sweep.

NOTES

• Lucie Blažková's seven service aces tied the WSU single-match record with (Karly Basham - 9/2/2022 and Cindy Baker - 9/2/1988).
• Blažková's 7 aces is the most all-time at WSU in a 3-set match.

UP NEXT
The Cougars continue at the Utah Classic with two more matches, starting Saturday against No. 24 Dayton at 12 p.m. PT and then facing host school No. 23 Utah on Sunday at 11 a.m. PT.

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