For the second straight ranked matchup for the WSU volleyball team, they lost the first set of the match. Yet, once again, they took control of the match and won the next three sets.
WSU volleyball (9-1, 0-0 Pac-12) took down the Baylor Bears (4-4) on their home court 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-21). It’s win number eight in a row for the Cougs, a stretch where they have yet to go to a fifth set in any match.
Baylor picked up 60 kills on the match to WSU’s 48 but committed significantly more attack errors with 32 to the Cougs 19. Both sides had better defensive than offense, as neither team hit above .220.
Kyndal Stowers did everything in her power to keep the home team in the match, as she had 20 kills and 11 digs on the match, but she struggled with balancing power and accuracy. Despite her strong 20 kills, her 15 attack errors proved detrimental in the long run, especially when the Bears were on the run.
WSU had 11 blocks as a team, with Magda Jehlárová once again being at the forefront, contributing to eight. While offensively she had just three kills, her presence at the net cannot be overstated.
Iman Isanovic, Pia Timmer and Katy Ryan all picked up double-digit kills with 16, 13 and 10, respectively. Isanovic and Ryan locked in, hitting .324 and .348 in the match.
Argentina Ung’s 45 assists and 10 digs and Karly Basham and Julia Norville’s 15 digs apiece proved that the Cougs have a legit defense all around. They showed they can control powerful attacks from a good team and proved their adversity after losing a set is not unique to playing at home.
WSU plays next at 5 p.m. Friday as they take on No. 6 Texas in Austin, Texas, streaming on the Longhorn Network through ESPN+.