Cougs take on top-seeded Pitt in Thursday’s Sweet 16 on ESPNU

PULLMAN, Wash. — 10th-ranked Washington State volleyball (26-7) will carry a seven-match winning streak into the second weekend of the postseason this week as it travels to the East Coast to play at top-seeded Pitt (24-7) Thursday at 11:30 a.m. PST on ESPNU.  Thursday’s match in Pittsburgh will be the Cougars’ first Sweet 16 match since 2018 and will be the 12th top-25 match of the season for an experienced Cougar team that is 7-4 so far against ranked teams.

Match Info:

>> vs #4 Pitt (27-4, 16-2 ACC)   |   Opp Streak: W7

>> OPP NCAA TOURNEY:  W 3-0 vs Coppin State  //  W 3-1 vs USC

>> DATE:  Thurs., Dec. 7, 2023  //  First serve: 11:30 a.m. (approx.)

>> LOCATION: Pittsburgh, Penn.  //  Fitzgerald Field House

>> TV: ESPNU, PxP: Paul Sunderland & Jennifer Hoffman

>> RADIO: Pullman Radio KQQQ, PxP: Steve Grubbs

>> Washington State 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.

>> Washington State has swept its last three first round matchups, to improve to 11-7 all-time in the NCAA first round.

>> Saturday’s second round win over Dayton gives the Cougars their fifth all-time trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, their second Sweet 16 appearance under head coach Jen Greeny, and brings their all-time NCAA Tournament record back to .500 at 17-17.

>> The Cougs are 6-2 in NCAA first round matchups under Head Coach Jen Greeny following Friday’s 3-0 win over Grand Canyon.

>> The Cougars are now 8-7 (.533) under coach Greeny in the NCAA Tournament after defending home court to open the 2023 NCAA postseason.

>> 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…