Wyckoff, WSU Rise To Challenge
College volleyball
Shannon Wyckoff says she can feel it.
Cindy Fredrick, her Washington State University volleyball coach, vouches for it. And Friday and Saturday at the Baskin-Robbins Cougar Challenge Tournament, the spectators at Bohler Gym witnessed it.
“I feel that I’m hitting harder,” said tournament most valuable player Wyckoff, whose Cougars whipped through their annual tournament without giving up a game. “I trained here all summer. I lifted and I think that once you stay here to work out, then you become focused.”
Saturday morning, the Cougars (4-0), ranked seventh in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 poll, zoned in on Wichita State with a 15-2, 15-12, 15-3 thrashing. Saturday night, Washington State followed with a 15-8, 15-5, 15-4 drubbing of Gonzaga.
Wyckoff, a 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter, combined for 40 of 81 kills in four matches. She also contributed 38 digs, both team highs.
“Her legs are so strong,” Fredrick said of Wyckoff. “Shannon is an example of someone who made up her mind to give everything that she’s got knowing it’s her last year. That’s what you come up with when you select an MVP.”
However, for the first-year players and other newcomers, such as 6-6 freshman hitter Colleen Smith and Penn State transfer Samantha Spink of Coeur d’Alene, it was a chance to show off what they’ve got.
Spink, who backs up setter Stephanie Papke, saw action because Papke is still nursing a twisted left ankle which is limiting her playing time. Neither missed a beat when running the team.
Smith, meanwhile, played in the front row in both matches Saturday. She had three kills against Wichita State and two against Gonzaga. Her first kill against the Bulldogs finished off the second game. It was a game first-year Gonzaga coach Eva Windlin-Jansen would like to forget as her team only landed two kills. Junior outside hitter Diane Pascua led Gonzaga with nine kills, but the team finished at minus-.039 percent (30 of 102 attempts) to Washington State’s 41 of 91 (.297).
“We didn’t take enough chances,” said Windlin-Jansen, whose team came out of the opening weekend with a respectable 2-1 record. “Against a team like that, we can’t be conservative. For us, it’s let it all out. Maybe it will work, maybe it will backfire.”
The two teams will meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Arena when Gonzaga plays host at Spikeoff Spokane. No. 17 Notre Dame and Utah also will compete.
Spikeoff Spokane will mark the return of Washington State right-side hitter Elis Arias. The senior competed for Mexico in the World University Games and is expected in Pullman on Tuesday. Wyckoff and Jennifer Canevari have been playing in her spot.
“Elis has got to earn a spot. It’s pretty much tied up right now. I think she’s got to beat someone out.” Fredrick said.
In Saturday morning’s first match, the Cougars needed just 58 minutes to handle the Shockers.
The Cougars outkilled their opponent 46-13. Middle blocker Keren Oigman finished with a team-high nine kills (.333 percent). Wyckoff landed eight of 12 kills (.667).
“I think we’re blocking better than we ever had right now. This could be the best blocking team we’ve ever had,” Fredrick said.
The Cougars combined for eight blocked shots against the Shockers, with Jennifer Stinson leading the way with four assists. Wichita State blocked three shots. In the nightcap against Gonzaga, the Cougars had 11 team blocks, four assists by Oigman, while Gonzaga finished with 5-1/2.
In another match, Santa Clara (2-1) defeated Texas-Arlington (0-3) 15-6, 13-15, 15-10, 15-8. The Broncos placed second, despite being tied with Gonzaga, based on total points.
Wichita State placed fourth with a 1-3 record after defeating Texas Arlington (0-4) in the final match, 15-10, 15-7, 14-16, 15-12.
Cougar Challenge All-Tournament
MVP: Shannon Wyckoff, Washington State.
Nicole Lamoure, Gonzaga; Diane Pascua, Gonzaga; Stephanie Papke, Washington State; Heather Hoy, Texas-Arlington, Laura Raybould, Santa Clara, Jennifer Stinson, Washington State.
Vandals bow twice
Rhode Island and 19th-ranked University of Washington defeated the University of Idaho at Washington’s Husky Tournament in Seattle.
Washington downed Idaho 15-6, 15-7, 15-6 in an afternoon match, dealing the Vandals, who opened their season with a five-set victory over Michigan on Friday night, their first defeat. Rhode Island beat Idaho 13-15, 15-11, 13-15, 15-9.
Jessica Moore led Idaho in kills for both Saturday matches, pounding down 14 - with a .290 hitting percentage - against UW and 19 against Rhode Island.
Redshirt freshman Alli Nieman hit .364 against Washington and .333 in the Rhode Island match. Beth Craig contributed 14 kills, a .357 hitting percentage, eight digs, three service aces and four block assists against Rhode Island.
Eagles split
Eastern Washington University opened its season by splitting a pair of games at the North Illinois Invitational at DeKalb, Ill.
The host school thumped the Eagles 15-6, 15-8, 15-8. Eastern rebounded for a four-set decision over Stephen F. Austin, winning 7-15, 15-7, 15-2, 15-10.
Kim Exner led EWU with 16 kills, nine digs and six block assists against Northern Illinois. She had 12 kills against Stephen F. Austin. Teammate Toni Schwinn hit .462 to help the Eagles beat the Ladyjacks.
, DataTimes