Cougars Start Strong, But Fall To Sun Devils

Washington State’s volleyball team wilted after early success Saturday night.

Jami Coughlin had 17 kills to lead Arizona State to a 14-16, 15-12, 15-7, 16-14 win over WSU in a Pacific-10 Conference match at Tempe, Ariz.

WSU (7-8, 2-6) won the first game and led the second 8-5 when the Sun Devils (9-4, 5-2) rallied. ASU never trailed in the third game, and tore to an 8-0 lead in the fourth.

The Cougars had a last gasp, with a 14-1 run for a 14-9 lead in the fourth game. But Jamie Peck’s three consecutive kills helped ASU reclaim the advantage.

LaToya Harris, Holly Harris and Joy Sperry had 13 kills apiece for WSU.

Melanie Hathaway, Errin Benesh and Kristen O’Halloran combined for 35 kills and 22 digs in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s 3-0 win over visiting Idaho (13-5, 4-2 Big West).

Jennifer Gabel had 18 kills and hit .389 as Eastern Washington (15-3, 7-1 Big Sky Conference) defeated Montana 3-0 at Reese Court.

Angie Hall added 25 digs and Kim Maxwell 59 assists for the Eagles, who hit .287 for the match. The Grizzlies (12-4, 3-3) led the first game 5-1, but EWU rallied on five consecutive service points by Julie Weatherred.

All-American Petia Yanchulova and Adrian Frediani had 10 kills apiece to guide 24th-ranked San Diego (12-3, 3-1 West Coast Conference) to a 3-0 win at Gonzaga’s Martin Centre.

Heather Osberg had 12 kills and four blocks for the Bulldogs (4-13, 0-4). GU led the first game 11-7 before the Toreros bounced back for a 15-12 win.

Tournament most valuable player Robin Sonju helped Ricks College claim the championship of the Spokane Crossover Tournament at Spokane Falls Community College.

Trish Pettingill and Sahara Castillo also made the all-tournament team for the Vikings, who defeated Mt. Hood 15-5, 15-5 in the title match.

Angel Fairbanks had 34 kills on the day to make the all-tournament team and lead Community Colleges of Spokane to a 2-1 win over Columbia Basin in the third-place match. CCS, 6-1 at its tournament, is 25-7 overall.

Four players had 12 kills apiece and Whitworth (7-11, 4-4 Northwest Conference) totaled 15 aces during a 3-1 win over Linfield at McMinnville, Ore.

Whitworth seized control of the match with a 10-1 scoring burst in the third game. Lindsey Wagstaff hit .355 and was one of five Pirates with at least 14 digs. The Wildcats (7-6, 3-4) lost their third straight home match.

Men’s soccer

Gonzaga Prep graduate Ryan Wittstruck recorded the shutout in goal as Puget Sound edged Whitworth 1-0 in double overtime at Tacoma.

Bryan Fanning scored at 117 minutes on a shot that Pirates goalkeeper Doug Lupton nearly deflected. UPS (11-1, 5-1 Northwest Conference) is one shy of tying the school record for wins. The Pirates are 7-4-1, 3-2.

Sau’l Mendoza totaled four goals and two assists in Community Colleges of Spokane’s 8-1 win at South Seattle. The Sasquatch are 8-0-2 in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.

Women’s soccer

Gonzaga Prep graduate Angela Harrison earned a share of the shutout as Portland defeated visiting Gonzaga 3-0 in the West Coast Conference.

The Pilots (7-4-1, 1-0) won their fifth consecutive match and improved to 8-0 all-time against the Bulldogs (3-9, 0-3). Gonzaga has been outscored 54-1 by the Pilots.

Freshmen Beth Taimi and Dusty Marcell scored as Puget Sound notched its fourth consecutive win, a 2-0 shutout over Whitworth at Tacoma.

The Loggers (7-3, 5-1 Northwest Conference) dropped the Pirates to 5-4-2, 3-2-1.

Cross country

Washington State’s men and Eastern Washington’s women were both 3-0 in the WSU Invitational, which also included Gonzaga.

WSU’s John Welsh topped the field in the 8,000-meter run, in 26 minutes, 52 seconds. Megan Maynard (18:39) of WSU had the top time in the women’s 5,000.

Runner-up Amber Johnson (18:54) and third-place Darcy Steele (19:09) led the charge for the EWU women.

Whitworth’s women placed fourth among 19 teams at the Pacific Lutheran University Invitational at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, Wash.

Jenni Saling ran a runner-up 17:46 for 3 miles to lead Community Colleges of Spokane’s women to the title of the Crystal Springs Invitational at San Francisco.

The CCS men placed third, topped by Ernesto Espinoza’s seventh-place 22:08 for 4.2 miles.

Women’s tennis

Brighham Young’s Eline Chiew, ranked 46th, defeated 23rd-ranked Erica Perkins of Washington State 7-6, 6-1 at the BYU Invitational in Provo, Utah.