MATCH STATS
- RV(#26) Washington State def. Howard 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-16, 25-21)
- RV Washington State improves to 2-0; Howard drops to 1-3
- Washington D.C. (Burr Gymnasium)
- Box Score
Washington D.C. – In a battle of two 2016 NCAA Tournament teams, it was Washington State coming out with the road win in four sets over Howard.
The Cougars were led by junior outside hitter McKenna Woodford, who logged a match high 18 kills and had the second highest dig total between the two teams with 17.
Joining Woodford with monstrous numbers was sophomore libero Alexis Dirige, who netted 36 digs in just four sets of action. Junior middle blocker Ella Lajos also put up strong numbers with 11 kills on a team-best .435 hitting percentage in addition to her five blocks.
Tamia Dockery, the younger sister of former Kansas outside hitter Tiana Dockery, helped shift the momentum to Howard after Washington State won the first set. Dockery was a jack-of-all-trades for Howard and posted 31 assists, 16 digs, five kills (.625 hitting percentage), two aces and a block as she helped even the match at 1-1.
Washington State responded with the most lopsided of any of the sets in the third and won a relatively close fourth set to take the match. The Cougars block, which was electric last season, showed out in this one as they out-blocked Howard 11-6 in holding the Bison to a .134 hitting percentage. Washington State on the other hand hit .252 as a team.
The Cougars now head back home to Pullman to get ready for another match on Thursday against Incarnate Word. It will begin a busy two day stretch as they face #25 Baylor later that night followed by a double-header with Quinnipiac and College of Charleston.
Howard, a team who went 26-6 last season en route to the NCAA Tournament, now heads to Los Angeles, California at 1-3. They’ll take on Southern Utah, San Jose State and UC Riverside over the weekend.
PRESS RELEASES
WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE…
WASHINGTON D.C. — Sophomore Alexis Dirige had a career-high 36 digs as the Washington State volleyball team (2-0) defeated Howard University (1-3) in four sets Monday night at Burr Gymnasium in Washington D.C., with set scores of 25-22, 18-25, 25-16, and 25-21.
Dirige’s 36 digs ties Kate Sommer for the second-highest digs total in a match in school history. Dirige’s 36 digs is a school record for most digs in four sets while Sommer’s 2013 tally came in a five-set match against California.
Junior McKenna Woodford had a double-double, leading the match with 18 kills and tied her career-high of 17 digs. Junior Ella Lajos had a career-high 11 kills, hit .435 and had five blocks. Junior Taylor Mimshad 10 kills, seven digs and three blocks. Redshirt sophomore Jocelyn Urias had a career-high six kills (.400), six blocks and the lone Cougar ace. Sophomore transfer Ashley Brown had 26 assists.
The Cougars hit .252 on the night and held Howard to a .134 hitting percentage.
- Freshman setter Penny Tusa saw action in two sets and had 10 assists.
- Junior transfer Abby Phillips (Iowa State) saw her first action in a Cougar uniform, playing in all four sets and contributing five digs as a defensive specialist.
- Howard won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 2016 and are predicted to win again in 2017.
- Attendance: 236
- WSU will return to the East Coast in a week to play in the Fairfield (Connecticut) tournament Sept. 8-9.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR…
The Cougars return to Pullman to host the Cougar Challenge Tournament Thursday, Aug. 31 through Saturday, Sept. 2, in Bohler Gym, with teams from Baylor, College of Charleston, University of Incarnate Word, and Quinnipiac competing.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Howard Volleyball dropped its nonconference matchup against Pac-12 foe Washington State in four sets (22-25, 25-18, 16-25, 21-25).
Junior setter Tamia Dockery registered a double-double, posting 31 dimes and 16 digs in the loss.
Washington State jumped out an 8-3 lead in the opening set, forcing the Bison to use a timeout. As the first game progressed, HU began to get into a rhythm. Despite WSU taking the first set, Howard built momentum going into game two.
Trailing, 7-5, HU used an early timeout and regained their composure. With the Bison faithful in their corner, Howard went on a 9-3 run and took its first lead of the match, 14-10. HU’s momentum continued as they held an eight-point advantage late into the set, forcing the Cougars into another timeout, 19-11. WSU refused to go away; however, the Bison would tie the match after two games, 1-1.
Early into set three, the Cougars pounced and took a 9-3 advantage. As the game continued, HU battled; however, were unable to gain ground as they trailed late into the set, 20-13. WSU finished the game scoring five-of-the-last eight points while reclaiming the match lead, 2-1.
Despite both squads going back-and-forth, the Cougars held a 19-17 lead late into game four. Howard fought back and stayed into striking distance, but Washington State would hold off the Bison to take the match, 3-1.
Jessica Young recorded a team-best 11 kills while Khaila Donaldson registered 13 digs and eight kills in a losing effort.
For Washington State (2-0), McKenna Woodford produced a double-double with 18 kills and 17 digs. Defensively, Alexis Dirige manufactured 36 digs in the victory.
Howard (1-3) goes West for the Fullerton Classic (Sept. 1-2) where they will meet Southern Utah, San Jose State, and Cal-Fullerton.
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