Pac-12 announces WSU volleyball’s 2022 schedule

WSU to open season in BYU Invitational, home opener Cougar Challenge Sept. 1

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SAM GRUVER

The WSU women’s volleyball team comes together before the first set against California, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Pullman.

DAYLON HICKS, Evergreen reporter

The WSU women’s volleyball team’s full regular schedule is officially here. Announced on Thursday, the Cougars will have 14 matches shown on the Pac-12 network, the same amount as last season.

The Cougars will officially begin their 2022 campaign in the BYU Invitational, Aug 26-27 against Duke University, Rider University and BYU in Provo, Utah.

Last season, the Cougars finished the season, 20-12 (13-7 Pac-12) and earned their sixth-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The Cougars will face top competition this season, challenging four non-conference teams that also made tournament appearances in 2021 including two programs that made the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-10 with seventh-ranked Minnesota (Sept. 17) and ninth-ranked BYU (Aug. 27).

WSU will have their first set of games in Bohler Gym with the annual Cougar Challenge on Sept. 1-3. Entering the Cougar Challenge in 2022 will be California Baptist University (Sept. 1), Belmont University (Sept. 2) and CSU Bakersfield (Sept. 2).

Later in the season, WSU will compete in the Fairfield Invitational against Howard University (Sept 9), Fairfield University (Sept 9), and Fairleigh Dickinson University (Sept 10).

To wrap up the non-conference matches, WSU will compete in the Univ. of Minnesota Diet Coke Classic consisting of Pepperdine (Sept. 16) and Minnesota (Sept. 17).

To accomplish a seventh-straight season in the NCAA tournament, the Cougs Pac-12 conference schedule consists of five teams that made the NCAA tournament last season. Four of WSU’s opponents were ranked in the Top-25 at the end of the year (No. 24 Oregon, No. 18 Utah, No. 13 UCLA and No. 12 Washington).

The last game of the season brings big promise to the city of Pullman, matching up against the Washington Huskies the day before the classic football edition of the Apple Cup rivalry takes place next door to Bohler Gym at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium.

Jen Greeny, WSU volleyball head coach and last season’s Pac-12 Co-Coach of the Year, brings a team with young talent and experienced players. Their roster includes two-time All-American middle Magda Jehlarova and All-American outside Pia Timmer.

The rising young talent of Katy Ryan also is a huge addition to the team with her being named Pac-12 All-Freshman a season ago. The young talent spreads out to Britt Carlson, a freshman who has been impressive throughout practices. Argentina Ung, a sophomore, is embracing the starter role after Hannah Pukis, standout setter, departed for Oregon.

Catch the Cougs in Bohler starting in September as they seek an unprecedented seventh-straight NCAA Tournament berth.