Seattle U appeared to be on the brink of earning its first victory over a Pac-12 opponent since making the move to Division I, pulling out to a 23-18 lead in the fourth set on a kill by Karina Miastkowska (Northbrook, Ill.). However, five Redhawk errors helped the Cougars pull close, and Rachel Todorovich earned a block assist and a kill to continue the rally. After a kill by Cristin Richards (Tumwater, Wash.) tied the set at 24-24, two more Seattle U attack errors enabled the Cougars to force a deciding fifth set.
A Richards kill and a Seattle U block gave the Redhawks a 9-5 advantage in the fifth set, but tournament MVP Meagan Ganzer took over for Washington State, earning five kills to assist in pulling Washington State into a 12-12 tie. Camryn Irwin, also a member of the All-Tournament Team, would give the Cougars the match victory and tournament title with two service aces as Washington State closed the match on a 10-3 scoring run.
"Overall we played very well, and Washington State played well. It was a fun night in the Connolly Center, but we did not come out on top," head coach Shannon Ellis said. "We have some things we want to work on, because we have a tough road trip coming up in Oregon. I'm proud of the way we won the serve-receive battle, in general our hitting was good, but we just did not put it away at the end. We are going to notch up the intensity and get right back at it."
Richards, Seattle U's representative on the All-Tournament Team, led the Redhawks with 21 kills while making just two attack errors in 43 attempts for a .442 hitting percentage, plus she earned 15 defensive digs. Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) and Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) each finished with 14 kills, while Miastkowska contributed eight kills along with six total blocks.
Defensively, the Redhawks earned 12 team blocks, with Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) earning a solo block and five block assists for six total blocks. Lani Beadle (Seattle, Wash.) led Seattle U with 18 defensive digs along with being one of four Redhawks with two service aces apiece in the contest. In the setting department, Megan Augustavo (Shoreline, Wash.) collected 34 assists along with seven digs, and Jacquie Brice (Fullerton, Calif.), in her collegiate debut, added 27 assists and seven digs.
Washington State (2-1) received 25 kills and 13 digs from Ganzer, including the 1,000th kill of her career, which finally came at 17-20 in the fourth set after she was held without a kill since 3-5 in the third set. Irwin dished out 46 assists to go along with four kills, four service aces, and 11 digs, and libero Shawna Lum led all players with 29 defensive digs in the match.
Earlier in the day Saturday, Eastern Washington (1-2) upset Washington State, 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-20, 20-25, 15-8) behind 20 kills and 17 digs from All-Tournament selection Cora Kellerman. The Eagles could not maintain the momentum from that victory, losing to Santa Clara (2-1), 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-18). The Broncos were led by Dana Knudsen's eight kills, four blocks, and .667 hitting percentage. Knudsen was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Tanya Schmidt, who hit .688 against Seattle U Friday night and collected 30 kills over the weekend.
Seattle University (1-2) heads out on a six-match, seven-day road trip through the state of Oregon, beginning next Wednesday, Aug. 31, at Portland State in a 7 p.m. contest. The next home match for the Redhawks is Saturday, Sept. 10, against Fresno State starting at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center.