PULLMAN, Wash. (September 18, 2026) — Washington State women's volleyball lost to Long Beach State 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 6-15) Friday at Bohler Gym.
The Cougars were strongest at the net, finishing with 20 total blocks to Long Beach State’s 17 while also holding edges in aces and service errors. Long Beach State produced more attacking volume and a higher hitting percentage, though the Cougs still put together several comeback stretches, taking leads after deficits of two, two, and three points in separate sets.
Mary Healy led WSU with 12 kills and 15.5 points, adding 12 digs and five blocks.
Naomi White recorded a career-high 10 blocks and added seven kills.
Livia Ward finished with a team-high 23 assists and five digs.
Kambree Rodriguez collected a team-best 16 digs and added two assists.
WSU erased an early 5-3 deficit in the opening set with a four-point run that included a Healy kill, a Chloe Heimlicher ace, and a Kryssa Moerman/Audrey Hollis block, leading 8-6 after Hollis put down a kill. The teams were tied at 13-13 before Long Beach State moved in front 16-13. Healy and Madyn Cervellera answered with kills, keeping the Cougars within 18-15. After a Long Beach State service error made it 18-16, Long Beach State took the next three points to lead 21-16. Wazzu worked back from 22-17 to 22-20 with a block, Rodriguez ace, and another Healy kill, then got within 24-23 on Healy’s final kill before a service error ended Long Beach State’s 25-23 set win.
In the second set, WSU tied it at 8-8 on Cervellera’s service ace and again at 9-9 on Moerman’s kill. A service error put Whitney Dewicki on the line, and the Cougs scored four points to move ahead 14-11. Wazzu stretched the lead to 20-14 with kills by White and Livia Ward. Hollis answered with a kill to maintain the lead. A late push trimmed a 24-18 margin to 24-22, but Dewicki finished the set with a kill for a 25-22 win.
Long Beach State scored the first four points in the third set and later led 7-4 before WSU put together six straight points to move ahead 10-7. Long Beach State erased Cougar leads to tie the set at several points, but White’s kill restored the lead after the first tie, and Dewicki put Wazzu back in front at 20-19 and 21-20. A Hollis-White block and a Healy kill pushed WSU to 23-20, and after a LBSU kill, White and Cervellera finished the 25-21 set win with consecutive kills.
The Cougars started the fourth set in front, moving ahead 7-3 on a Healy kill, a White block, and Healy's service ace. Long Beach State cut it to 14-13, but WSU held a 17-14 lead after a Hollis kill. Long Beach State answered with four straight points to move in front 18-17. Although Cervellera and Ward kills pulled Wazzu even at 18-18 and 19-19, Long Beach State went ahead 22-19 and won 25-20.
In the fifth set, Moerman's kill and a block by Healy and White pulled WSU even at 2-2. Long Beach State moved back in front 5-2 and stretched the margin to 7-3. Long Beach State scored five straight points to go up 12-4, and although Hollis' kill and Heimlicher's ace got Wazzu to 12-6, Long Beach State won the set 15-6.
Notes
- WSU's 20 blocks are the most in a single match for the Cougs since Oct. 27, 2017, vs. UCLA.
- Naomi White achieved a career-high total of 10 blocks.
- Audrey Hollis recorded a season-high, and matched a career-high, with 5 blocks.
- Livia Ward recorded a season-high 23 assists.
- Mary Healy achieved a season-high total of 5 blocks.
- Whitney Dewicki recorded a career-high total of 7 blocks.
Up next, WSU volleyball travels to Fresno, Calif., to face Fresno State Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m.
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