After dropping the Apple Cup Friday, the Cougs got back on track after just one night’s sleep with a win over UC Davis Saturday night to keep their undefeated record against the Aggies. 

WSU (4-3, 0-0 WCC) took down UC Davis (4-3, 0-0 Big West) in five, 3-2 (25-16, 14-25, 23-25, 25-14, 15-13). The Katy Ryan and Sage Brustad duo remained stout with Ryan leading the team with 17 kills and Brustad finishing with 13. 

In the first four sets, there were a combined seven ties and two lead changes. The final set, which ended after the Cougs gutted out a 3-0 run to win 15-13, had eight separate ties and seven lead changes. 

A game in which each set winner built their lead early and never looked back had one extremely close final set that came down to the final three serves for WSU to barely pull away. 

Ryan got her final kill to tie things up at 13. Lucie Blažková and Weronika Wojdyla put a joint effort to block a UC Davis attack for the 14th point. Finally, Blažková got a kill to put the match away. 

The trio, all three players with opportunities to leave the program with teammates last season, all chose to stay with a brand new coaching staff. The trio got the final three points and gave the Cougs win No. 4 on the season, right on pace with former head coach Jen Greeny and West Virginia. 

Emma Barbero, another returner, had another fantastic performance for another 20-plus dig season. She finished with 25, the most digs of any player Saturday. 

Jaden Walz had her best effort of the season thus far, finishing with 17 digs and 10 assists. After losing the starting setter spot to Italia Bernal, she has made sure to make strong defensive efforts, Saturday being the fourth time she reached double-digits in the category.

WSU volleyball is back after a short break, their next match taking place 6 p.m. Thursday against CSUN in Northridge, California.