WSU Volleyball Moves Up

When the Washington State Cougars volleyball team defeated former 12th-ranked Southern California last Friday and former No. 4 UCLA on Saturday, the Cougars not only moved up in the national rankings, they did so in national attendance figures as well.

WSU is fourth nationally in total attendance with 8,052 fans at seven matches for an average of 1,150 fans per match. The University of Hawaii is the national leader with 22,204 fans at six matches for an average of 3,701 fans a game.

The Cougars also moved up to No. 14 from No. 16 in the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.

Friday, the Cougars (2-0 Pac-10, 9-0 overall) take on Arizona (0-1, 8-1) at 7 p.m. at Tucson, Ariz., and Arizona State (1-0, 7-0) at Tempe, Ariz., on Saturday at 7 p.m..

They return home on Sept. 28 to take on cross-state rival Washington and cross-the-border rival Idaho, also at Bohler Gym, on Sept. 30.

Locals struggle

WSU has rolled up a 9-0 record, its best start since 1991 when the Cougars won their first 10 games.

Idaho is off to a 10-2 start and extended its home winning streak to 36 with a win over Gonzaga Tuesday. But after those two, the local four-year college volleyball scene is not a pretty one.

GU (2-13), Eastern Washington (3-8) and Whitworth (1-10) have combined records of 6-31.

Eastern and Idaho begin Big Sky play at home tonight and Saturday against Boise State and Idaho State.

Zags fall

Kathy Goods had 15 kills as visiting Idaho State (7-3) defeated Gonzaga 15-7, 13-15, 15-6, 15-2 in a non-conference match.

Nora Grasham had 12 kills for the Bulldogs (2-13).

Women’s soccer

Courtney Mathieson scored her second goal on a direct free kick at the 80-minute mark to give Montana (5-2-0) a 2-1 non-conference win over host GU (0-6-0).

, DataTimes