Physicality, strength, and talent are three things the WSU volleyball team is nothing short of. Harnessing these abilities and applying them in game situations is a different story. One of the Cougars’ biggest assets is their offense, particularly their power-house hitters.

            It’s only appropriate to begin with Pac-12 Volleyball Freshman of the Week, Kyra Holt. Holt is not only a strong hitter, with an accurate line and cross-court swing; she is also an unparalleled defender. Holt tallied a staggering 20 kills and eight digs against Utah last Saturday, as well as an impressive 19 kills and nine digs against Colorado on Friday. She is a dependable player, almost never coming off the court. Coming in as a freshman, Holt had big shoes to fill, and she exceeded those expectations. She is a crucial part to the dynamic of the team, both offensively and defensively.

            Holt is not the only young hitter with massive potential. Watching warm-ups, freshman Hailey Bethune stands out to me as a player that will make a statement next season as a powerhouse attacker. She has a strong arm and a powerful approach. Bethune has winning experience from high school, attending Junior Olympics six times and winning a bronze with the Northern California Volleyball Club, according to wsucougars.com. This shows that she knows what to do in every kind of game situation, and has strong fundamentals and technique coming in as a freshman.

            The Cougars have everything necessary to be successful in the Pac-12; they have height and they have power. What’s holding them back is their ability to cut down unforced errors and increase consistency. WSU has 219 service errors on the season, something that the team has struggled with throughout the year. Improvement in communication and fundamentals is what this team needs if they intend to thrive in the conference.

            With so much potential on the roster, especially in the new recruiting class, there’s a bright future ahead for this volleyball team. WSU volleyball’s situation seems to be similar to that of WSU football, in the sense that they are in a rebuilding period. Star recruits like Holt, Emmy Allen and Haley MacDonald are the start of a new era for this team and the volleyball program. The Cougars are still young, with three of their first-string players being freshmen.

            WSU is set to face Arizona State this week; a close match up. WSU  battled for victory against the Sun Devils earlier this season, and ended the night with a 3-2 win. ASU is currently ranked ninth in the Pac-12, while WSU sits at 11th.

             The Cougars’ season is far from over, with upcoming matches against UW, USC and Stanford to name a few. Upsets are extremely common in the volleyball world, and there are several opportunities for WSU to climb up the Pac-12 ladder. WSU’s 3-0 win against Utah may have been the birth of a crucial aspect in this sport, momentum. The potential is there, it is up to this youthful squad to harness it and take their game to the next level in the second half of this season.