NCAA VOLLEYBALL: Ryan, Cougars bow out in Sweet 16
Photo by ASHLEY DAVIS Washington State's Katy Ryan, right, a junior from Lakeland High, and setter Argentina Ung celebrate a point during Thursday's NCAA volleyball tournament Sweet 16 match in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH — Washington State struggled to its lowest team hitting percentage of the postseason (.141) in losing 25-20, 25-13, 25-16 to Pittsburgh in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA volleyball tournament Thursday at Fitzgerald Field House.
Iman Isanovic had a team-high eight kills for WSU (26-8), which was in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018. Magda Jehlárová had seven kills and a pair of blocks, finishing her fifth season as the Cougars' all-time leader in career hitting percentage (.385).
"Tough day today," WSU coach Jen Greeny said. "Pitt is a quality team ... we didn't have our best day, and that happens sometimes, but overall really, really proud of this team. Our serve and pass broke down in that second set, and they got their block going, and played some great defense as well. They do a nice job getting into your air space, penetrating the net. It was tough for our hitters to find some openings."
Pia Timmer had a pair of aces to become the WSU career leader (152). Argentina Ung had 25 assists, and finishes 2023 10th all-time at WSU in career assists (2,488)
Katy Ryan, a junior opposite (right-side hitter) from Lakeland High, had one kill for the Cougars.
Olivia Babcock had 15 kills for Pitt (28-4), which plays Louisville on Saturday for a trip to the Final Four.
WSU still finishes 2023 with a WSU program record .289 team hitting percentage.
Karly Basham finished with five digs and an ace on the night, capping her Cougar career with 1,419 digs and 112 aces at the service line. Her partner on the back row, Julia Norville, finishes her career fourth all-time at WSU with 138 aces, and was one of only 14 players in program history to notch 1,000 career digs.
The Cougs hit .273 as a team in the first set Thursday, but were unable to break .100 in the following two sets. Pittsburgh finished the night with an 8-4 edge in aces and a 12-4 advantage in blocks.
WSU will say goodbye to its eight departing seniors and fifth year players - Karly Basham, Isanovic, Peyton Claus (formerly of North Idaho College), Timmer, Julia Norville, Jehlárová, Weronika Wojdyla and Lana Radakovic.
The Cougs, in the NCAA tournament for the eighth straight year, were bidding to reach the Elite 8 for the first time since 2002.