10th-ranked Cougars open postseason vs Grand Canyon Friday in Bohler

PULLMAN, Wash. — No. 10 Washington State volleyball (24-7) will host its first NCAA Tournament match in Bohler Gym since 2018 Friday as it gets set to play Grand Canyon (23-7) beginning at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.  Friday’s first round match will be streamed live on ESPN+ and will also be available for listeners on Pullman Radio KQQQ.

The Cougars own the 10th-best hitting percentage in the nation and a program record at .286 (1551k-497e-3681a) heading into this year’s postseason.  WSU is a perfect 13-0 this season when hitting .300 or better as a team including a .326 hitting percentage in a sweep on the road at Washington in last week’s Pac-12 finale.

Match Info:

>>  vs Grand Canyon (23-7, 13-3 WAC)   |   Opp Streak: Won 4

>>  OPP LAST THREE:  W 3-0 vs CBU // W 3-0 vs UT-Rio Grande Valley // W 3-1 vs SFA

>>  DATE:  Fri., Dec. 1, 2023  //  First serve: 7:05 p.m.

>>  LOCATION: Pullman, Wash.  //  Bohler Gym

>>  TV: ESPN+, PxP: Trevor Williams

>>  RADIO: Pullman Radio KQQQ

>> WSU Match Notes (PDF)

WSU POSTSEASON NOTES

>> Washington State is one of only 11 power-five programs and the lone Pac-12 program to reach each of the last eight NCAA Tournaments (2016-23).

>> 2023 marks the seventh time Washington State has hosted the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Pullman and the first time since a 2018 run that saw the Cougars defeat Northern Iowa and Tennessee, respectively, to advance to the Sweet 16.

>> WSU has won its last two opening round matches in the NCAA Tournament, both without dropping a set. The Cougars swept Northern Colorado in 2021 in Waco, Texas, and posted a 3-0 win over UNLV to open the tournament last season in San Diego Calif.

>> Head Coach Jen Greeny has been a part of 14 postseason trips for WSU, having played for the Cougars in the NCAA Tournament (1995, ’96, ’97)

before returning as an assistant coach for WSU’s postseason runs in 2000, 2001 and 2002 as well.

WSU MATCH NOTES

>> Washington State had five players recognized on the 2023 All-Pac-12 team as Magda Jehlářová and Pia Timmer each earned first team honors, while Iman Isanovic, Katy Ryan, and Argentina Ung were each named as honorable mention selections in Tuesday’s all-conference release.

>> Jehlářová’s first team selection makes her the first athlete in the conference’s history to achieve five…