After opening the season 1-2 in Nebraska, WSU volleyball (1-2, 0-0 WCC) faces Eastern Washington (1-2, 0-0 Big Sky) in the first match of 2024 in Bohler Gym.
It’s the first matchup between the new programs residing just 90 minutes from one another in a decade, but their location is not the only thing connecting them on Friday. Graduate outside hitter Sage Brustad transferred from Cheney, Washington, to Pullman ahead of the 2024 season and this will be her first time against her former team as well as her first in Bohler as a Coug.
“I’m nervous. I’m not going to lie. I feel confident but nervous. I feel so many emotions this last week knowing that we’re playing Eastern,” Brustad said. “Seeing the atmosphere on social media and from returners, and just talking to everyone like it’s so cool to get to play in front of the students at WSU.”
Brustad is one of the focal points of the offense for the Cougs thus far. Through the first three matches, she has already attempted 146 attacks. On those attempts, she has managed 43 kills and has 22 digs and eight blocks for her defensive efforts.
For her first time as a Coug in Bohler, she is in line to keep the WSU advantage in the all-time series against Eastern. Despite residing so close, the two programs have faced off just 43 times since the mid ‘70s.
WSU leads the series 30-11, as well as being winners of nine of the last 12. When they faced off last, 11 years ago, the Cougs pulled off a sweep at home.
Now in 2024, they have a brand new court, brand new coach and brand new expectations.
Last Saturday, head coach Korey Schroeder coached the team to his first victory as the head guy.
After picking up his first win, especially doing so in a reverse sweep, he said everyone on the team, from players to staff, is excited to get back on the home court and play their first match in front of the home fans.
“It’s it’s really exciting, we felt that energy from people in the community and within the department, certainly sure there’s going to be some nerves but I think we are ready to tackle it head on,” Schroeder said.
In the three opening matches, the Cougs played 14 total sets, just one under the maximum. Schroeder said they will continue to work on their stamina and staying within the system through extended matches, but he is proud of their grit and fight to the end.
The biggest problem for the Cougs came from serve defense and negating the opposition’s advantage at the line. Allowing 21 aces, Schroeder said that is the biggest point of emphasis on where they need to improve heading into the season’s second weekend.
“We didn’t side out a high enough percentage, which usually early on servers have an advantage over the passers. It’s just how it works at the beginning of the season but as we get into our system we know it will begin to work itself out,” he said.
With Brustad, WCC defensive player of the week Emma Barbero and the rest of the team, WSU takes on Eastern at 7 p.m. Friday in Bohler Gym.
