Cougars’ Toughness To Be Tested

The next two weeks will determine what the Washington State volleyball team is made of.

Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Beasley Coliseum, the 10th-ranked Cougars (10-4 Pac-10, 18-4 overall) host Oregon (1-13, 8-17) and then host Oregon State (5-9, 11-13) at 8 p.m. at Bohler Gym on Saturday.

They will most likely do so without the services of All-American candidate Sarah Silvernail who was diagnosed with a viral stomach infection earlier this week. WSU coach Cindy Fredrick said she will start former Davenport star freshman Jennifer Stinson in her place.

The Cougars are a game ahead of UCLA (9-5, 16-6), two ahead of USC (8-6, 12-7) and 2 in front of Arizona State in the race for second place in the Pac-10.

Closing out season

Winners of five of their last eight matches, Eastern Washington (3-9 Big Sky, 8-18) close out the season this weekend at Montana on Friday and at Montana State on Saturday. Both matches are at 6:30 p.m.

This week, Eastern freshman Kim Exner was named the conference player of the week for her efforts in last weekend’s victories over Weber State and Northern Arizona. Exner led the Eagles in kills in both matches and in digs against Weber State.

Whits finish strong

The Whitworth Pirates finished their season Saturday with a 15-8, 15-2, 15-9 win over Lewis and Clark. Pacific Lutheran defeated the Pirates 15-9, 15-10, 15-10 on Friday.

The Pirates (2-12 Northwest Conference, 5-23) finished tied for last place with Whitman (2-12, 6-21) and Lewis and Clark (2-12, 3-21).

, DataTimes