College volleyball: Gonzaga looking for win over Top 25 program

Gonzaga volleyball coach Dave Gantt said it before the season and he’s still saying it after three tournaments.

“We’re winning matches we’re supposed to win,” said Gantt, whose team is off to a 7-3 start. “We’re working on beating teams in the Top 25. It’s a no-lose scenario to play Washington, Arizona State and Kansas. I would just like to see our personality that we exhibit in matches we’re supposed to win against teams in the Top 25.”

The Zags have solid wins over upper-tier Mountain West Conference teams Wyoming and Boise State, but they’ve come up short against the best teams on their schedule. GU is 0-3 against the Pac-12, falling to undefeated top 10 teams Washington and Arizona State, and dropping a five-setter to Utah, which was receiving votes at the time.

“I thought we had opportunities to close out the Utah match but kudos to them,” Gantt said. “They stiff-armed us and got done what they needed to. I certainly like the fact that we were competitive with Arizona State in the first two sets. They came out with another gear after the break and we didn’t match it.

“I continue to hope and coach toward the personality we need to maintain no matter who we play. We just haven’t quite gotten as comfortable on the big stage as I hoped we’d be.”

They’ll get another chance this week, and throughout WCC play, for that matter. Gonzaga faces No. 17 Kansas (9-0) on Friday to open the Jayhawk Invitational. Next week the Zags entertain No. 24 Pacific, which joins the WCC’s BYU and San Diego in the Top 25.

It appears to be a matter of time before Gonzaga registers a breakthrough. Gantt said the Zags have displayed better balance offensively and an improved defensive mindset. Freshman setter Faith Smith has helped the team hit at a .250 clip, just outside the top 50.

Senior Savannah Blinn is 16th in kills per set. Washington State transfer Emmy Allen is second on the team with 86 kills.

“This week is the next chance and next week with Pacific is another shot,” Gantt said. “That’s what we have to do if we want to get better in the WCC. You have to play those (top) teams and get used to that level. We’re still shedding some historical residue.”

Cougs ride streak

Washington State lost its first match of the season to Radford, but has bounced back with eight straight victories, seven in straight sets.

The Cougars won their last two tournaments – the Idaho Volleyball Classic in Moscow and their Cougar Challenge – with junior outside hitter Kyra Holt collecting two MVP awards and junior setter Haley MacDonald earning two all-tournament selections.

“Kyra has really taken on a leadership role and she does a lot more than just her offensive numbers,” coach Jen Greeny said. “She serves really well, she’s our best passer.”

WSU has just one senior, standout libero Kate Sommer, and freshmen McKenna Woodford, Taylor Mims, Claire Martin and Olivia Coale are in the rotation.

“We’re definitely showing a lot of improvement week to week, but we still have a lot of work to do before starting Pac-12,” said Greeny, whose team plays in the Texas Tech Lone Star Showdown this weekend before opening conference play. “The freshmen have been great as far as trying to improve every single day. They’re coachable and the returners have done a fantastic job of trying to help as well.”

Quick sets

Eastern Washington (4-6), which took a set off then-No. 2 Florida and No. 16 Hawaii last weekend, stages its home opener Thursday at 6 against Corban University before entering Big Sky play next week. Allie Schumacher (840) is closing in on becoming the 10th Eagle to reach 1,000 career kills. Ryann Ensrud (858) is on pace to become the eighth in school history with 1,000 career digs. … Redshirt freshman Kaela Straw (Freeman High) had 13 kills and hit .611 as Idaho (2-7) snapped a four-match losing streak with a 3-0 sweep over St. Francis. The Vandals close their pre-Big Sky schedule this weekend at the Golden Eagle Invitational in Cookeville, Tennessee. … Whitworth (6-3), which shared the 2014 Northwest Conference title with PLU, opens NWC play at PLU on Friday and at Puget Sound on Saturday.