The Washington State Cougars volleyball team made a strong statement in their NCAA tournament opener, defeating the Grand Canyon Antelopes in straight sets. The Cougars dominated the match from start to finish, winning 25-17, 25-19, and 25-20.
Washington State was led by senior outside hitter Taylor Mims, who had a match-high 16 kills. Mims was supported by junior middle blocker Jocelyn Urias, who had nine kills and two blocks. Senior setter Magda Jehlarova had a match-high 37 assists and added four kills.
The Cougars’ defense was also impressive, with senior libero Alexis Dirige recording a match-high 18 digs. Junior defensive specialist Ella Lajos added 10 digs and two aces.
Washington State’s offense was efficient, hitting .267 as a team. The Cougars had just 10 attack errors in the match, compared to Grand Canyon’s 24.
The win was the first NCAA tournament victory for the Cougars since 2015 and the first for head coach Jen Greeny. Greeny has been at the helm of the program since 2013 and has led the Cougars to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
The Cougars will now face the winner of the match between No. 4 seed Florida and No. 13 seed Stony Brook in the second round of the tournament. Washington State will look to continue its strong play and make a deep run in the tournament.
