Washington State Salvages California Road Trip

Washington State bounced back after Friday night’s loss to No. 16 USC by downing No. 13 UCLA 15-7, 15-8, 15-9 in Los Angeles.

The win improved the 10th-ranked Cougars to 13-4, 4-3 in Pac-10 matches. UCLA, which also lost to No. 15 Washington Friday, dropped to 12-6, 4-3.

It was the Cougars second victory over the Bruins in the past two season although UCLA leads the series 19-2.

For the second night, Sarah Silvernail lead WSU with 24 kills. She added 11 digs and six blocks. Keren Oigman, who has been slowed with a sore shoulder this season, totaled 10 kills, 11 digs and nine blocks and Shannon Wyckoff added 11 kills and 11 digs.

Elsewhere in volleyball

After losing two straight games, Gonzaga University’s Theresa Spink and Jennifer Kubista took control in game five, leading the home-team Bulldogs to a 15-9, 15-8, 5-15, 14-16, 15-10 West Coast Conference win over Saint Mary’s College. Gonzaga improved to 8-12, 1-3. The Gaels dropped to 5-9, 1-3. Spink and Kubista teamed for 11 kills in the final game. North Central High School graduate Aimee Wilson finished with career highs in kills (eight) and digs (12). The Bulldogs take a break from WCC matches to play host to Idaho Tuesday. The Vandals return to Moscow today after coming off its first Big West road trip with a 11-15, 15-8, 15-3, 15-2 win over the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Coupled with Thursday’s win over New Mexico State, UI improved to 5-1 in conference, 15-2 overall. … The Community Colleges of Spokane aced its way through the Walla Walla Crossover tournament with wins over Mt. Hood 16-14, 15-9 and 15-9, 7-15, 15-11; Green River 15-0, 15-9; and Walla Walla 15-5, 15-1. CCS’ Jennifer Rosselli, JoEne Humbigner and Trilby Hurst made the All-Star team.

Soccer scene

The Whitworth women’s soccer team failed to gain ground on NCIC league-leading Willamette after playing to a 2-2 tie at home. The Bearcats, No. 8 in the NAIA Division II poll, improved to 12-1, 8-0. No. 15 Whitworth, second in the league, dropped to 10-3-1, 5-2-1. Whitworth’s top scorer Jen Tissue injured her hamstring and saw limited play from the midfield position. She usually plays forward. Saturday’s hero was Amber Young, who gave the Pirates the come-from-behind tie. … The Whitworth men also played Willamette and came out on top 1-0 to tighten their hold on second place behind Portland in the NCIC race. Kenny Krestian took a cross pass from Matt Leonard and beat Willamette keeper Eric Freitag for the match’s only goal. The Bucs improved to 6-3-2, 5-1-2 while the Bearcats dropped to 5-5-2, 3-3-2. … The Community College of Spokane women’s soccer played to a 2-2 tie against Edmonds Community College. Heidi Simmons and Katie Snow scored for the Sasquatch (11-1-2, 9-1-2). … The CCS men traveled to Edmonds to play the NCIC’s top team and rolled to a 5-1 win to improve to 8-2-1.

On the cross country course …

Washington State won the men’s and women’s team titles and the men’s individual title in the WSU Invitational, the first home meet for the Cougs since 1992. Eric Kamau and Rasto Kiplangat finished 1-2 for WSU. Kamau’s winning time was 26 minutes, 14.90 seconds on the 8,000-meter course.

Gonzaga sophomore Cheska Fairbanks won the women’s race 18:39.68 on the 5,000-meter course.

, DataTimes