Kats face top teams in Washington
9/8/2011 11:33:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Bearkats will face off with three teams who already have experienced tournament success this season and, like Sam Houston, bring winning records into the event.
Host Washington State stands 5-2 after a runner-up finish at the Portland State Invitational. Meagan Ganzer leads the Cougars with 150 kills in seven matches.
University of San Francisco owns a 3-3 mark with USF coming off three consecutive victories to win the Providence tournament last week. Jocelyn Levig is the team's top offensive threat with 73 kills in six matches.
Manhatten University is 3-2 this season, finishing as runner-up in Bucknell's Invitational tournament last week. Malia McGuinness leads the team with 57 kills in five matches.
Sam Houston opens play in the Washington State Cougar Challenge Friday at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time), facing San Francisco. The Bearkats match up with Manhatten at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) Friday afternoon.
The Bearkats will battle host team Washington State in the event's finale Saturday night at 7 p.m. (Pacific Time).
After its best season start since 1982 with five consecutive victories and a tournament title in the Bearkat Invitational, Sam Houston has fallen in three close matches to No. 17 Oklahoma, Cincinnati and Houston Baptist. Tuesday's loss at HBU was a five-setter that came down to a 15-13 loss in the fifth set.
With team offensive leader Carli Kolbe sidelined with an injury, Kim Black and Kendall Cleveland have picked up the pace offensively. Black has totaled 66 kills this season and Cleveland 68 in the Bearkats' eight matches.
Black is one of two Bearkat players nearing career statistical achievements. With 34 blocks this season and 266 in her career, Black needs 15 more blocks to move into 12th place in the all-time career standings at Sam Houston.
Senior setter Kym Loving can become the seventh player in Sam Houston volleyball history to total 3,000 assists. Loving, who is averaging 9.52 assists per set this season, has a total of 2,941 assists in her 111 matches as a Bearkat.
The complete schedule for the Washington State Tournament:
Sept. 9-10 (All Times Pacific)
Fri.-Sat. Cougar Challenge Tournament Pullman
Friday San Francisco (V) vs. Sam Houston State (H) 10 a.m.
Washington State vs. Manhattan College 12:30 p.m.
Sam Houston State (V) vs. Manhattan College (H) 4:30 p.m.
Washington State vs. San Francisco 7 p.m.
Saturday Manhattan College (V) vs. San Francisco (H) 11 a.m.
Washington State vs. Sam Houston State 7 p.m.
