In their final non-conference action of the 2024 season, the Cougs played their worst all-around match. For the first time failing to win a set, the Cougs bookended preseason play by getting swept by Long Beach State.

LB (5-4, 0-0 Big West) only had to sweat in the first set of their 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-11) win over WSU (5-4, 0-0 WCC). WSU had just a single run of more than two straight points in the final two sets, failing to ever garner a semblance of momentum in the final frames.

As a team, there were few positives. Katy Ryan had the lone positive individual performance, finishing with 13 kills on .208% hitting, a performance hardly one to write home about.

Sage Brustad had more errors than kills, no individual managed double-digit digs, the team had just two blocks and a sideout percentage below 50%. 

Despite finishing with 15 more attacks than LB, WSU had 10 fewer kills and an astonishing 15 more attack errors. 

For the first time this season, the boom-or-bust play of the Cougar offensive failed to get off the ground, even for a short period.

Even in the lone competitive set, WSU fell behind early, trailing 9-4 before taking the match’s first timeout.

A 4-0 run became the highlight of the night, but even then it failed to put a dent in the lead LB built. 

The win evened up the all-time series between the two programs. WSU had won the previous two matches, but a LB win tied things up at two wins a piece. 

WSU will need to bounce back quickly, as their next match is the opener of conference play. In their first WCC action in program history, the Cougs take on Santa Clara on the road. 

At 6 p.m. Thursday, the Cougs travel to Santa Clara, California, to take on the Broncos.