Area roundup: Washington State volleyball beats Marquette, advances at NCAAs

Kyra Holt had a season-high 22 kills with eight digs and three service aces to help No. 25 Washington State beat Marquette in four sets (25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-20) in the first round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship in Madison, Wisconsin, on Thursday.

“Our coaches did a great job with the scouting reports so we knew what areas on the court were open, so I could just play my game,” Holt said.

Hailey Bethune had a career-high 15 kills, while McKenna Woodford added 11 kills. Nicole Rigoni had 30 assists with eight digs and Haley McDonald chipped in 27 assists. Alexis Dirige had 19 digs, while Taylor Mims and Casey Schoenlein had six blocks apiece.

“I’m very proud of this Washington State team for advancing against a very, very tough opponent in Marquette,” sixth-year WSU head coach Jen Greeny said. “I’m extremely proud and happy to be onto the next round.”

The Cougars will face No. 3 Wisconsin (26-4) – which defeated Howard in straight sets – on Friday at 5 p.m.

Marquette (23-9) was led by Taylor Louis with 18 kills and Sara Blaiser with 40 assists.

The outcome moved WSU to 22-11, tied for the fifth-most wins in WSU history with the 1988 team, and the most wins in a season since 24 in 2002.

On setting a career high in such an important game, Bethune said, “Before going into the game, my only thoughts were that I had nothing to lose. In the tournament, you never know when it’s going to be your last match, your last game, your last point. So my attitude coming in was that nothing was going to take away from how I was going to play today.

“I’ve been working on getting that mentality over the last couple games and I hope to continue it (against Wisconsin).”

Women’s basketball

Kelsey Plum scored 28 points with six rebounds and eight assists and No. 13 Washington ran away from host Grand Canyon 101-66 in Phoenix.

Chantal Osahor added 25 points with 14 boards and six assists. The Huskies (7-1) shot 60 percent from the field and went 9 of 20 from beyond the arc.

Marina Laramie led the Antelopes (3-4) with 24 points.

Boise State 67, Eastern Washington 64: Marta Hermida scored 15 points, Marijk Vanderschaaf added 11 points with 10 rebounds and the Broncos (6-0) edged the visiting Eagles (3-3).

Delaney Hodgins paced Eastern Washington with 21 points. Tisha Phillips added 15 and Violet Kapri Morrow had 13.

CC Spokane 57, Gonzaga club 38: Bri King scored 13 points and the Sasquatch topped the Bulldogs club team at SFCC.

Wrestling

Trey Meyer (165), Alex Aguilar (174) and Levi Perry (184) won with pins to help North Idaho beat Western Wyoming 26-18 in Las Vegas.

Bryson Beard (133) Thomas Stevenson (149) and Jeremy Merryweather (197) registered decisions for the Cardinals.