MORAGA, Calif. – (November 22, 2025) – Washington State battled through long rallies and produced several late-set pushes, but the Cougars came up just short in a competitive straight-set match at Saint Mary's on Saturday afternoon inside UCU Pavilion (25-17, 25-23, 25-17).

The Cougars (16-10, 10-6 WCC) stayed within striking distance throughout the day despite the Gaels' home-floor momentum, forcing 17 ties and 12 lead changes across three sets. WSU's defensive effort kept them alive in every frame, highlighted by 47 digs.

Lucie Blažková delivered another efficient performance, leading the Cougars with eight kills on a blistering .571 hitting percentage while also adding three blocks. Melina Christodoulou matched Blažková with 11 points, producing nine kills, two aces, and five digs while providing steady scoring in all three sets.

Washington State's best surge came in the second set, where the Cougars erased multiple deficits and briefly took control behind a standout stretch from Italia Bernal, who tallied seven assists and two aces off the bench. Taryn Vrieling added eight kills and three digs, while Camryn Lingenbrink posted four kills and three blocks, helping WSU turn the middle stages of the match into its most aggressive stretch.

Defensively, Tinons Munar Galmés and Kylie Wong combined for 14 digs, while Livia Ward handed out a team-high 19 assists and contributed nine digs and an ace.

WSU repeatedly pushed Saint Mary's to respond, especially early in the third set when Christodoulou's serving run staked the Cougars to a 4-0 start. But each time the Cougars threatened to swing momentum, Saint Mary's strung together short bursts to regain control.


NOTES

• With a .571 hitting percentage today, Lucie Blažková is at a .452 clip for the season and currently sits with the highest single-season hitting percentage in WSU history.
• With five service aces in the match, the 2025 team currently sits second for the highest aces per set average in WSU history with 1.88.
• Blažková totaled three solo blocks today, putting her at 68 for her career, seventh all-time at WSU.
• Blažková's eight kills puts her at 468 for her career, 32 away from 500.
• With her three total blocks today, Blažková reached 250 career blocks.
• Taryn Vrieling registered three digs, putting her career total at 500 digs.
• With her 8.0 points today, Vrieling has 972.5 in her career, 27.5 from 1,000.
• Italia Bernal tallied seven assists, putting her at 1,377 for her career, 123 from 1,500.
• Bernal also had three digs to put her career total at 409, 91 from 500.
• Melina Christodoulou matched a career-high with two service aces.
• Mary Healy's five digs matched a career-high.

UP NEXT
The Cougars are on the road to wrap up the 2025 season next week, beginning at Santa Clara on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 6 p.m., and concluding at San Francisco on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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