CougZone.com - California Corners Cougs

November 6, 2009

CougZone News Services

The Washington State University, volleyball program is going in the wrong direction. After ending the first half of conference play at 5-4, the Cougars have now lost their first three matches of the second half of league play with the latest loss coming courtesy of the California Bears, who defeated the Cougars in four sets. With the loss, the Cougars are now 16-7 overall and 5-7 in conference play.

The first set was over quickly as California jumped out to 13-6 lead after breaking open a 4-4 tie with a 9-2 run. From there, the Bears cruised in for the easy victory, never allowing the Cougars to get within six points of them in grabbing the 25-16 victory in the set.

The second set looked like a nightmare repeat of the first set when California again broke away from a 4-4 tie - this time with a 7-1 run - that gave the Bears an 11-5 advantage. But this time, Wazzu responded with a 10-3 run of their own to tie the set at 14-all. It was nip and tuck from there with five ties before California broke the final tie at 21-all, with a set-ending 4-2 surge for the 25-23 win.

The third set began ominously for the Cougars as California scored the first three points of the set, but Wazzu came storming back with a 7-1 run to take a 7-4 lead. The Bears tied it up at 8-8 and from there, there were eight ties in the set until, at 18-apiece, Wazzu hit a 5-1 run to get some separation from the Bears and finally finished them off for a 25-23 win - the first set they have taken from California this year.

Wazzu won the first point of the fourth set, but it was the last time they would see the lead as the Bears never trailed after tying it at 1-1 and ended the set with a 7-0 run to win, 25-16.

Sophomore Meagan Ganzer led a trio of Cougars in double digits for kills with 14, while senior Jackie Albright had 13 and junior Brittany Tillman had 11. True freshman Oceana Bush had 15 digs with senior Kelly Hyder adding 13 and senior setter Renee Bordelon added 50 assists.

Wazzu continues Pac-10 play against Stanford at 7pm on Saturday, November 7 at Bohler Gym in Pullman.

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Autumn is here?and you know what that means?It's time for a whole new season of Cougar Athletics! Football, soccer, volleyball, men's & women's basketball, baseball, track & field and tennis, just to name a few, are coming up right around the corner. If you need "game action" photographs for your newspaper, magazine, web site, blog, etc., then Greg Davis Sports Photography should be your choice for all things "Cougar" and "Pac-10 Conference"! Coverage for specific athletes or upcoming events is also available. Check out the images from games, practices and events from last season, and be sure to come back often for uploads from all of this season's action.

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