HCA: Penny Tusa named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week

Washington State sophomore Penny Tusa was named volleyball Offensive Player of the Week on Monday by the Pac-12 for her play in the Cougars two victories this past week. This is the first award for the outside hitter from Long Beach, California. Last week the Pac-12 honored another Coug in Jocelyn Urias with the same award for her play the previous week.

In the win over Utah last Wednesday, Tusa tallied 15 total kills, 14 digs, and was hitting .483 throughout the match. She also added an ace and two assists as the Cougs were able to keep the Utes quiet the entire night.

After letting Utah stay close in the first set, Washington State was able to put it away 25-23, they didn’t look back after that and finished off the final two sets 25-18 and 25-21.

Tusa continued her success two days later in a 3-1 victory over Colorado. Finishing with 19 kills, two aces, 13 digs, and two assists she helped put the Buffs away in a tough match. Colorado kept things close throughout the entire night when they kept every set within three.

The Cougars started out with 26-24 and 25-23 set victories before dropping the third set 25-23 to Colorado. They didn’t let the Buffs stay in it for too long however as they were able to put them away 25-23 to secure the back-to-back conference road victories.

The 19th ranked Cougars will bring their four game win streak back home as they host #21 Arizona on Friday, November 2nd in Bohler Gym before hosting Arizona State on Sunday.

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Football:

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The Cougars will play the Cougars on Friday Sept. 13, 2019, for the sixth installment of the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff, which has been held every season since 2013. WSU and Houston were originally scheduled to play on the UH campus at TDECU Stadium.

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The top passer in college football is beginning to receive national recognition for his role in Washington State’s 7-1 start to the 2018 season.

Mike Leach praises Washington State DBs for grit and toughness against Stanford’s imposing WRs | The Spokesman-Review
Mike Leach thought his defensive backs handled themselves well Saturday, even if they were constantly picked on by three Stanford pass-catchers who looked just as capable of forming an NBA frontcourt as they did a collegiate wide receiving corps.

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Basketball:

Kamie Ethridge excited to take reins of WSU women’s basketball | The Spokesman-Review
Thank goodness for Kamie Ethridge’s dogs. After a recent Saturday practice, Sky and Harley ran amok through the Washington State women’s basketball offices until Ethridge guided them into a room. “I am so sorry,” she said in a soft Texas accent to a pair of recruits and their families. There was no apology necessary, but Ethridge probably knew that already – the girls loved the dogs.

Volleyball:

Pac-12 announces volleyball players of the week | Pac-12
Offensive: Penny Tusa, SO, WSU (Long Beach, Calif.)