Cougs host Wildcats

Greeny wants her team to stay consistent against Arizona schools

Penny+Tusa%2C+junior+outside+hitter+and+setter%2C+spikes+the+ball+past+Oregon+blockers+on+Friday+night+at+Bohler+Gym.

CAROLYNN CLAREY | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Penny Tusa, junior outside hitter and setter, spikes the ball past Oregon blockers on Friday night at Bohler Gym.

CALLAHAN HUDSON, Evergreen reporter

The No. 21 WSU volleyball team will play University of Arizona and Arizona State University this weekend in Bohler Gym.

The Cougars will play the Arizona Wildcats (11-7, 1-5) at 7 p.m. on Friday and the Arizona State Sun Devils (10-7, 2-4) at noon on Sunday.

“I think both Arizona teams have a lot of offensive weapons and have been playing a lot of different people, so sometimes that’s a lot to prepare for scouting wise,” head coach Jen Greeny said.

Greeny said she plans to work on team improvement and skills the first part of this week and then dial into scout reports on the second half of the week in order to ensure wins against both Arizona teams.

“We’re still not being as consistent as we could be … and I think our right-side attack needs to be more consistent,” Greeny said.

Arizona leads the all-time record against WSU 46-19, and Arizona State also holds the all-time record 35-30.

Although Arizona is 10th and Arizona State is eighth in the Pac-12, Greeny said anyone can beat anyone in this conference.

“It’s difficult to be fully confident with such a young team, but I think they have been doing a good job at staying focused,” Greeny said.

The Cougars are coming off wins against both Oregon schools with help from the freshmen players on the team. Redshirt freshman setter Hannah Pukis, freshmen outside hitters Pia Timmer and Alexcis Lusby and freshmen middle blocker Magda Jehlárová are some of the key young players on the team.

“I’m really proud of the way there were able to play and fight,” Greeny said. “With Oregon and Oregon State, they were two very different teams as far as their offense and the speed they run and sometimes that’s difficult to prepare for that.”

Greeny said she hopes for good energy in the crowd this homecoming weekend.

“We’re hoping we can pack Bohler Gym and have a good atmosphere,” Greeny said.

The Cougars face Arizona at 7 p.m. on Friday and Arizona State at noon on Sunday in Bohler Gym.