A grueling five-set match during the early afternoon in which Seattle University came back from a 2-1 match deficit to defeat Weber State seemingly took a lot of steam out of the Redhawks, and Washington State took advantage with a 3-0 victory over Seattle U to cap off the first day of the Cougar Challenge at Bohler Gymnasium.
Seattle U 3, Weber State 2 (23-25, 31-29, 22-25, 25-20, 15-11)
In Seattle U's first match of the day, the first set against Weber State contained 13 ties and five lead changes. Four straight points by the Wildcats gave Weber State a 7-4 lead before two kills and a block assist from Karina Miastkowska (Northbrook, Ill.) pulled Seattle U into a 7-7 tie. Later in the set, a kill by Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) put the Redhawks into the lead at 18-17, but Weber State responded with three straight points to take the lead for good, and the Wildcats closed out the first set thanks to consecutive errors by the Redhawks.
The second set was even more competitive, as the two teams were locked in a dual that contained 18 ties and eight lead changes. Seattle U scored six unanswered points to pull ahead, 19-14, but Weber State rallied with an 8-3 scoring run to pull into a 22-22 tie. The Redhawks scored the next two points, but three straight kills from Audrey Biggs extended the set. In a reverse of the first set, it was two Wildcat errors that clinched the set for Seattle U, tying the match at one set apiece.
Weber State scored five of the first six points of the third set, but the Redhawks responded with an 11-4 scoring run to pull out to a three-point advantage at 12-9. After kills by Miastkowska and Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) put Seattle U ahead, 17-13, Weber State scored four unanswered points to pull into a 17-17 tie. The Redhawks reestablished their lead at 20-17, but the Wildcats ended the set on an 8-2 scoring run, punctuated by a kill from Rebecca Fuchs.
Seattle U scored the first four points of the fourth set thanks in part to a kill apiece and a combined block by Kelly Biette (Brighton, Colo.) and Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.). The Wildcats chipped away at the Redhawk lead, coming within one at 19-18 before Seattle U pulled away, led by a kill and a service ace from Jaeckel, to force the match into a deciding fifth set.
Weber State pulled out to a three-point lead early in the final set before the Redhawks scored three unanswered points to pull into a 7-7 tie. Down 9-7, Seattle U turned to Jaeckel, who earned five kills down the stretch to help the Redhawks close out the Wildcats for the first time in three meetings.
Jaeckel finished the match with a double-double, collecting 24 kills and 16 defensive digs, while Dill contributed 12 kills, two service aces, nine digs, and four total blocks. Jacquie Brice (Fullerton, Calif.) dished out a career-high 48 assists, and Lani Beadle (Seattle, Wash.) earned 15 digs to go along with two service aces of her own.
Washington State 3, Seattle U 0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-16)
The host Cougars jumped out quickly and never looked back, posting a .474 hitting percentage while holding the Redhawks to a .000 hitting percentage. Jaeckel once again led the Seattle U offense with 10 kills, and Beadle notched the only service ace of the match for the Redhawks to go along with a team-high seven digs.
Seattle University (3-3) will take advantage of a full night's sleep to prepare for its final match of the weekend, facing Alabama State Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. The Lady Hornets lost to both Washington State and Weber State in straight sets Friday and have yet to win a match so far in 2012.