Volleyball Wins Golden Gate Tournament
LaToya Harris wins third MVP trophy as #25 Cougars move to 9-0.
Sept. 14, 2002
Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The Washington State University volleyball team won its third consecutive tournament with victories Saturday over Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne and the University of San Francisco at the Molten Golden Gate Classic tournament at the War Memorial Gym on the USF campus.
Washington State finished the tournament with a 3-0 record and climbed to a 9-0 overall record. The Cougars have now won a record 26 consecutive games in the Cindy Fredrick coaching era.
Butler, 2-1 in the tournament, 6-7 overall, placed second while host school, San Francisco, finished 1-2 (3-8) for third place. IPFW went 0-3 in tournament play and are now 5-6 overall.
For the third consecutive tournament this season, WSU senior LaToya Harris earned MVP honors. Teammate Adrian Hankoff joined USF's Brittanie Budinger and Carolina Skacel, Butler's Keely Norris, and IPFW's Fabiana Souza on the all-tournament team.
"We knew USF would come out fired up and they had the crowd to back them up," Fredrick said. "I think our kids held their composure really well."
WSU defeated host San Francisco 30-24, 31-29, 30-19, in the tourney nightcap. LaToya Harris led all players with 17 kills (.429) as Chelsie Schafer added 13 and Hankoff had 12 kills. No USF players had double-figure kills as the Cougars hit .356 for the match and held the Dons to .165.
WSU had to stave off a fierce USF seven-point run in the first game for the 30-24 win. LaToya Harris had five of her 17 kills in this game. The Cougars spread their offense and hit .359 and held the Dons to a .167 hitting percentage.
The Dons hung tight with the Cougars in the second game. With the score knotted at 15 points each, USF went up 18-15 before WSU scored eight unanswered points. The host school did not give up as the visitors went ahead 29-26. USF's Caroline Skacel torched a pair of kills while Chelsie Schafer, WSU's second setter, was called for a double hit, and the Cougars were denied game point three times. Liz McCausland served into the net followed by Hankoff and Holly Harris' block to end the game with a 31-29 WSU win. LaToya Harris grabbed six more kills and the Cougs hit .348 to USF's .239.
In spite of a strong early showing by USF, Washington State dominated the third game, hitting .360 and holding the Dons to a low .089. USF did control one stat in the match with six service aces as the usually dead-aim of the Cougars was contained to two aces. WSU did out-block USF, 8 to 2.5 with Holly Harris' five and Hankoff's four.
Earlier in the day, WSU defeated Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne 30-13, 30-20. WSU's Hankoff, Holly Harris and LaToya Harris combined for 32 of the Cougars' 51 kills. Hankoff, LaToya Harris and Kortney Jamtaas combined for 41 of the Cougars' 63 digs. Victoria Prince had four blocks to lead the match. IPFW's Krista Solberg led the Mastodons with 11 kills while Linda Bankowski had 23 assists and 15 digs.
Against IPFW, the Cougars did not make an error in 28 attacks and landed 13 kills for a .464 hitting percentage. The crimson-clad WSU landed four service aces with LaToya Harris providing two.
WSU roared out to a 19-9 lead in the second game and had little trouble in extending it to a 30-20 win. The Cougars then rode a nine-point run to a take a 30-18 win over the Mastodons.
Washington State moves to Pac-10 action with Oregon State and Oregon visiting the Palouse next weekend.
"I think this tournament got us prepared for Pac-10, because we needed something to pick up our play and the crowd there (at USF) helped a lot," LaToya Harris said. "I think we're ready."
"The Pac-10 is a whole different animal," Fredrick said. "It will be good to be playing at home, to open at home with Oregon State and Oregon. I think we have a lot of confidence and that is going to be a good thing."
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Friday and Saturday matches begin at 7 p.m. in Bohler Gym.
Sept. 16, 2002
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HOME SWEET HOME FOR CONFERENCE PLAY: The Washington State volleyball team, 9-0, opens the 2002 Pacific-10 Conference season at home this weekend with matches against Oregon State (5-3) and Oregon (9-3)...the Cougars moved up from 25th last week to 20th this week in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll...matches begin at 7 p.m. in Bohler Gym.
WHO NEEDS TICKETS?: Current WSU students may attend Friday night's volleyball schedule magnet give-away match for free by showing their WSU ID...fans who show a WSU-Montana State football ticket stub may attend Saturday's autograph poster match for free...Saturday, fans may also wear crimson clothing for a $4 admission or attend free with a coupon.
2ND ANNUAL WOMEN'S CLOTHING DRIVE: For the second consecutive year, the Cougar volleyball team is sponsoring a clothing drive themed, Bring your gently used clothes and a pair of new hose, for donation to the Pullman Community Action Center...the clothing will be donated for use by area low-income women entering or re-entering the work force and needing professional clothing...larger sizes are especially needed...donors are asked to bring their clean, gently used clothing and new pantyhose to the WSU volleyball office in Bohler Gym, room 230, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Sept. 18-20...donors will receive free admission to the Sept. 20 or 21, Cougar volleyball matches at Bohler Gym...for more information, call 509-335-0277.
THEY'RE BACK!!! The Washington State Gray W Club - Cougar letterwinners - are holding a reunion weekend of the 1996 volleyball team, 1976 baseball team (West Regional Champions, 5th at NCAA), and 1977 indoor track and field team (NCAA Champions)...these teams will be introduced to the Martin Stadium crowd at halftime of the WSU-Montana State football game...the 1996 Cougar volleyball team had the most successful season in WSU history - second in the Pac-10 (14-4) and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Volleyball tournament (27-6 final record)...Sarah Silvernail was the Pac-10 Player of the Year and a first team All-American...Stephanie Papke also earned All-Pac-10 honors and was a 2nd team All-American...Shannon Wyckoff, Elis Arias, Keren Oigman and current assistant coach Jen Stinson Greeny were also members of that squad.
COUGS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS: WSU moved up in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, from 25th to 20th this week...Stanford fell from first to fourth after losing to Florida 3-0, but USC moved into the number one ranking...other Pac-10 members in the poll include #11 UCLA, and #15 Arizona...Washington State is 29th in the Sept. 15, Volleyball Magazine Top 20 poll...USC in ranked #1 in that poll also.
KEEPIN' THE STREAKIN' WITH THE NUMBERS: Not only are the Cougars riding a nine-match win streak, but they set a school record with 26 consecutive games won...WSU has not lost a game since the second game of the 3-1 victory over Nevada, Aug. 30, a streak of 26 games...the 9-0 season start is the best since the 1997 season when the Cougars raced to a fabulous 16-0 start including a 4-0 start in Pac-10 play...Washington State's 2002 conference schedule is identical to the 1997 schedule, except for the locations - the Cougs host Oregon State and Oregon this weekend and travel to USC and UCLA next weekend...in 1997, WSU visited the Oregon schools and then hosted the LA schools.
COUGAR COACHING STAFF: Head coach Cindy Fredrick is coaching her 14th season on the Palouse...her record at WSU is 254-164 (.615) while her overall collegiate record is 340-224 (.603) in 18 years...her Pac-10 record is 115-119 (.491) in 13 years...assistant coaches are her husband, Dr. Mashallah Farokhmanesh (14th year), and former Cougar standout, Jennifer Stinson Greeny (third year).
OREGON STATE BEAVERS (5-3) - Oregon State made it to the first round of the NCAA tournament, losing to Eastern Washington in Pullman...two of the Oregon State 2002 losses came last weekend against ranked teams - #13 Minnesota and #20 North Carolina...the Beavers are led by the 3.83 kills of Megan McMillan (5-10, Sr., OH) which is 8th in Pac-10 standings...OSU out-ranks WSU in only one Pac-10 team standings, digs, with 18.28 dpg to WSU's 17.54 dpg...in Pac-10 player digs, Nikki Neuburger (3.97 dpg) and Joscelyn Hannaford (3.67 dpg) are second and third respectively to WSU libero Kortney Jamtaas (4.19 dpg)...head coach Nancy Somera (46-49, four years)...WSU holds the all-time series advantage with a 36-25 record...in Pac-10 series, WSU leads 26-6...in Pullman, WSU holds a 14-2 advantage...the last time OSU won in Pullman was in 1991.
OREGON DUCKS (9-3) - Oregon and WSU have beaten a common foe, San Francisco, both wins were sweeps...the Ducks losses have cone against Idaho State, Miami and Fresno State...2001 All-Pac-10 honorable mention, Stephanie Martin is not on the team this year, after contributing 3.15 kpg...Lindsay Closs (6-1, Sr., MB) is leading the team with 4.32 kpg (5th in Pac-10), and fourth in points per game with 5.51 ppg...as a team, Oregon is ahead of WSU in only service aces (2.37 to 2.32 apg) and blocks (2.18 bpg to 2.12 bpg)...joining the team this week is Dariam Acevedo, a 5-9 freshman outside hitter, who was playing with the Puerto Rican national team...head coach Carl Ferreira (28-44, three years at UO, 176-100, nine years overall)...WSU leads the overall series with Oregon 29-26-2...WSU holds a 25-7 lead in Pac-10 matches...the Cougars have won 22 consecutive matches with the Ducks and hold a 13-3 lead in Pullman...UO's last win in Pullman was in 1989.
THREE TOURNEYS, THREE CROWNS, MORE HONORS FOR HARRIS, HANKOFF: Washington State has played in three tournament and come away the champion in all three...add the USF Molten Golden Gate Classic title to the 13th Annual Les Schwab Cougar Challenge, and Auto Service Co. UAF Nanook Classic titles...WSU swept Butler, Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne and host University of San Francisco last weekend...Cougar senior LaToya Harris earned her third consecutive tournament MVP honors...WSU senior Adrian Hankoff was selected to her third all-tournament team of the season.
LIVIN' LIBERO LOCO: Last year, collegiate volleyball fans were force-fed rally scoring to 30 points and still managed to love the game...this season the newest twist to the competitive rules is the libero (LEE-bah-ro) position, played for several years in the international volleyball arena...the libero is a defensive specialist with restrictions...she wears a different colored jersey from her teammates and can be seen running into the game without the formal substitution ceremony or counting as one of the 12 subs allowed per team in a game...the libero may only play in the back row and may not serve or attack, only dig, dig, dig (pass)...she may only be replaced by the same player she replaced...WSU senior Kortney Jamtaas played the position during the spring practice tournaments and in the eight European contests the Cougars played in August...Jamtaas loves the fast-paced action and it obviously suits her well as she leads the conference in digs with a 4.19 dpg average.
BEATIN' 'EM IN BOHLER GYM - ADVANTAGE COUGARS: During the last nine seasons (1991-1997, 2000-02) WSU has used Bohler Gym as its home court, the Cougars racked up a 180-77 record (.700), averaged 22 wins per season, and made nine post season appearances...average attendance for the 2001 home season was 1,090 fans...average attendance for 2001 Pac-10 home matches was 1,203 fans.
COUGAR SUCCESS IN EUROPE: The WSU volleyball squad took its preseason practices to Europe and returned home with an undefeated record (8-0), a first for any collegiate team according to Bring It promotions, the organization running the tour...the Cougars' conquering of Europe included 3-0 wins over Team Lohoff (Dachau, Germany), Augsburg (Germany), and Salzberg (Austria), 3-1 and 3-0 wins over Club Vasas (Budapet, Hungary), a 3-2 win at Brno (Czech Republic), and finally 3-1 and 3-2 wins over Olymp Praha.
PAC-10 COACHES PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS: Stanford (nine Pac-10 titles, five national crowns) was selected to successfully defend its league championship in 2002...the Cardinal edged USC by a mere four points but garnered seven of the coaches' first-place nods...Arizona, an NCAA national semi-finalist last year, was predicted to finish third followed by UCLA and Washington State...the bottom half of the predictions show Oregon State, Arizona State, California, Washington and Oregon...the Pac-10 coaches have correctly selected the conference champion in eight of the 13 previous polls...coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.
LET'S RUN THE NUMBERS: Five seniors, one junior, two sophomores, six freshmen...two red-shirt freshmen...three 2002 tournament championships...coach with best winning-record at WSU...longest tenured head coach of any sport currently coaching at WSU (hired 3 months before football coach Mike Price).
HOW ABOUT THOSE COUGS?
#2 Stephanie Baker (6-0, Fr., RS/S, Pasco, Wash.) - Invited walk-on.
#3 Melanie Greene (6-0, Fr., OH, Nampa, Idaho) - Is red-shirting the 2002 season.
#4 Brenn Larson (5-11, Fr., S, Westlake, Calif.) - Named to Cougar Challenge All-tournament team after 12.20 assists per game in three matches...added Nanook Classic All-tournament team honors...very poised freshman...13.11 assists per game is third-best in Pac-10...summer camps and European tour helped solidify this freshman setter with very experienced senior hitters.
#5 Ance Auzina (6-1, Fr., RS/LS, Riga, Lativa) - Pronounced ON-SAW ow-ZEEN-ya - second Latvian to join Cougar team...brings valuable international experience...packs a powerful left-handed hit...subbed in to play in 15 games to date.
#6 Kortney Jamtaas (5-7, Sr., L/DS, Orinda, Calif.) - Had career-best 20 digs against Alaska Fairbanks...four year back row starter...provides spectacular back row saves...her 4.19 digs per game average leads the Pac-10...at current pace, will climb into WSU all-time career records top 10.
#7 Zanda Bautre (5-9, So., OH, Riga, Latvia) - Missed Cougars European tour as she was playing in European Beach Championships in Croatia...finished eighth because Bautre had to leave in the middle of play to return to Pullman...has played in 14 games to date.
#9 Megan Camp (5-4, Fr., L/DS, Spokane, Wash.) - Invited walk-on.
#10 Adrian Hankoff (5-11, Sr., OH, South Lake Tahoe, Calif.) - Named to Cougar Challenge, Nanook Classic and Molten Golden Gate Classic All-tournament teams...had a career-high six aces in three-game Alaska Fairbanks match...leads squad with 3.77 kills per game, hitting percentage (.370) - both 9th in Pac-10, and aces (0.73 sapg - 5th in Pac-10)...4.87 points per game...an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection in 2001...last season's 43 aces is seventh on WSU's single season all-time standings.
#11 Alison Billingsley (5-3, So., L/DS, Walla Walla, Wash.) - Played in four games this season which matches her freshman defensive specialist action....learning libero position this season.
#12 Holly Harris (6-2, Sr., MH, Sandy, Utah) - Currently averaging 0.86 blocks per game, second on team...had outstanding play at Nanook Classic with 31 kills (3.44 kpg), hit .383 with 9 digs and 4 blocks...climbing up all WSU's career blocking categories lists - 8th in solo blocks (42), block assists (257) and total blocks (299)...holds school match record with a .909 hitting percentage (10 kills, 0 errors, 11 attacks) in 2001 match vs. Oregon...will join Cougar women's basketball team at conclusion of volleyball season.
#13 Chelsie Schafer (5-10, Sr., RS/LS, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada) - Strong contributor to Cougar Challenge title with 3.33 kills per game...added 26 kills (2.89 kpg), 12 digs and 29 points at Nanook Classic...number three hitter on team with 3.12 kpg and 3.46 points per game.
#14 Jen Barcus (6-1, Fr., MB, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) - Treating back pain after seeing action in four of the Cougars first 10 games and had four blocks...highly sought-after prep volleyball and basketball player.
#16 Victoria Prince (6-0, So., MH, Kennewick, Wash.) - Earned starting position after making strides last spring in using whip-like hitting and improved blocking...at Nanook Classic, had 12 blocks in 9 games (1.33 bpg) including 6 blocks vs. UAF...served four aces against Weber State...at USF tourney, had 22 kills (.500), four aces and 9 blocks...leads team with 1.04 blocks per game...10th in Pac-10 with 0.48 aces per game average.
#17 LaQu
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by JoltinJacket:
WTG Cougars! They just keep on rolling!</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">We do and we are now ranked #20 in the nation!!
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by JoltinJacket:
Awesome! I didn't realize they were ranked so high. Georgia Tech is ranked #18 in the nation now, so both teams are on track for the NCAA Tourney.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">that's cool that WSU and GA tech are ranked high in the same sport..we have a very good team..