Cougars shut out UNLV

The Washington State women’s soccer team is off to quite a start.

Senior Micaela Castain scored twice and the Cougars blanked UNLV 2-0 Friday in a nonconference match in Pullman.

The shutout was a school-record fifth straight for the Cougars (5-0-1). It was also the first time in school history they are unbeaten through their first six matches.

Castain opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a header set up by a cross from Korynn Blanksma.

In the 49th minute, Delaney Zalud (Mt. Spokane) beat a defender and set up Castain for her second goal.

UNLV fell to 4-2-1 on the season.

WSU will look to continue its success Sunday at Oklahoma State.

• Cassie Black scored two minutes into the match and Eastern Washington held on to secure its first win, 2-1, over host Idaho (0-6) in Moscow.

Alisha Scott added a 70th-minute goal for the Eagles (1-5).

Idaho’s Katie Baran cut EWU’s lead in half with a goal in the 79th minute.

• Clara Merlino scored early in the first half and Mackenzie Hughes added an insurance goal late to lift Whitman (5-0, 1-0) past Whitworth (3-2, 0-1) 2-0 in a Northwest Conference opener in Walla Walla.

Whitman had a commanding 19-4 advantage in shots. Pirates’ keeper Taylor Floyd made five saves.

Volleyball

Washington State stayed perfect on the season with a sweep of Jackson State (1-9) at the Sam Houston Invitational in Huntsville, Texas. Set scores were 25-12, 25-19 and 25-18.

Kyra Holt, the reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, had a match-high 17 kills. Ver’Leea Hardaway added nine kills and three blocks and Camryn Irwin added 31 assists, three blocks and two aces.

The Cougars (8-0) play Lamar and Sam Houston State today.

• Savannah Blinn had 18 kills and six blocks and Gonzaga pulled away in the final set and beat Montana State (1-8) at the Bobcat Classic in Bozeman.

Set scores were 24-26, 25-13, 28-30, 25-18 and 15-6.

McKayla Ferris added 13 kills and 12 digs for the Bulldogs (3-4), who have won three of their last four after an 0-3 start to the season.

• Whitworth went 1-1 at the Trinity National Invitational in San Antonio.

The Pirates (4-6) opened with a 25-13, 23-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-8 loss to Mary-Hardin Baylor (9-1). Jalana White had 15 kills, 13 digs and two blocks to lead Whitworth.

The Pirates regrouped in their next match and edged Hardin-Simmons (4-5) 16-25, 25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11.

White’s 20th kill of the match sealed the win for Whitworth. Nicole Leonard had 13 kills and 11 digs and Maddye Dinsmore added 18 digs and 42 assists for the Pirates.

• Katey Thompson and Ali Spindt combined for 22 kills and UC Santa Barbara (3-4) swept Eastern Washington at the University of San Diego Tournament. Set scores were 25-12, 25-18, 25-16.

Ashley Wright and Milissa Waelter had seven kills apiece to lead the Eagles (3-6).

• Katelyn Peterson had a career-high 18 kills to guide Idaho past Sacramento State (5-5) at the Bronco Classic in Boise. Set scores were 25-21, 25-13, 20-25 and 25-9.

Alyssa Schultz added 12 kills – with no errors – and four blocks for the Vandals (5-4).

Meredith Coba dished out 43 assists and Jenna Ellis finished with 24 digs.

Idaho concludes the tournament today against North Texas.

• After a loss to Western Nebraska in its opener, North Idaho regrouped to beat Casper College at the Northeastern Invitational in Sterling, Colo.

The Cardinals beat Casper 25-22, 26-24, 25-13. Leeta Grap had 12 kills and two blocks and Britney Chilcott added eight kills and two blocks for NIC.

The Cardinals fell 17-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-22 to Western Nebraska earlier in the day.

Junior hockey

Visiting Beaver Valley scored three third-period goals and beat Spokane 5-2 in the Braves’ KIJHL home opener.

Kurtis Redding and Levi Waterman scored in the third period for Spokane.