Cougars Head West For Washington State's Cougar Challenge

Thursday, August 31

Pullman, Wash.

8:30 pm

College of Charleston

Quinnipiac

Photo by: CofCSports.com

Cougars Head West For Washington State's Cougar Challenge

8/30/2017 4:26:00 PM | Volleyball

CHARLESTON, S.C. --- The College of Charleston volleyball team heads to the Pacific Northwest this weekend to participate in the 2017 Cougar Challenge, hosted by Washington State University. The Cougars will face Quinnipiac, Incarnate Word, host Washington State, and Baylor at the three-day tournament.

Match Information: Quinnipiac
Date: Thursday, August 31, 2017 | 8:30 pm ET
Location: Pullman, Wash. | Bohler Gym
Media Coverage: Live Stats

Match Information: Incarnate Word
Date: Friday, September 1, 2017 | 5:30 pm ET
Location: Pullman, Wash. | Bohler Gym
Media Coverage: Live Stats

Match Information: Washington State
Date: Friday, September 1, 2017 | 10:30 pm ET
Location: Pullman, Wash. | Bohler Gym
Media Coverage: Video | Live Stats

Match Information: Baylor
Date: Saturday, September 2, 2017 | 1:00 pm ET
Location: Pullman, Wash. | Bohler Gym
Media Coverage: Live Stats

Swinging Sophomore: Lauren Freed (Troy, Ohio) picked up the first Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week honors of her career on Monday after opening the season with three straight double-doubles this past weekend. The sophomore outside hitter is currently ranked second in the CAA with an average of 4.43 kills per set, and ranks eighth with 3.79 digs per set.

Not At Our Net: The Cougars' blocking corps is off to a tremendous start this season with 31 total blocks in 14 sets for a CAA-best average of 2.21 stuffs per frame. Senior Krissy Mummey (Hudson, Ohio) leads the way with 21 blocks and 1.50 per set, while Jane Feddersen (Leesburg, Va.) and Kennedy Madison (Evansville, Ind.) are averaging 0.62 and 0.57 blocks per frame, respectively.

Approaching A Milestone: Junior libero McKala Rhodes (Charleston, S.C.) is fast approaching a significant career milestone just four matches into the season. After tallying 12 digs in Tuesday's sweep of Charleston Southern, Rhodes needs only 33 digs to surpass the 1,000-mark for her career. Rhodes currently ranks third in the CAA with an average of 4.93 digs per set.

Scouting Quinnipiac: The Bobcats enter the weekend still in search of their first win of 2017 after falling to Fort Wayne, Toledo, SIUE, and Bryant. Natalie Alechko leads the Quinnipiac attack with an average of 3.06 kills per set, while Elizabeth Kloos and Gabby Horman are tied for the team-lead in blocks per frame (0.82).

Scouting Incarnate Word: The Cardinals are yet to take the court this season after Incarnate Word was forced to cancel its I-10 Cardinal Classic due to Hurricane Harvey. Southland Preseason All-Conference selections Autumn Lockley and Bryaunea Hall are expected to carry much of the load for the Cardinals this season, after UIW was picked to finish eighth in the race for the 2017 Southland regular season crown.

Scouting Washington State: No. 28 Washington State is off to a 2-0 start to the season following wins over American and Howard this past weekend. The Cougars are led on the attack by McKenna Woodford with an average of 3.25 kills per set, while Jocelyn Urias and Alexis Dirige lead the defense with 1.62 blocks and 6.50 digs per set, respectively.

Scouting Baylor: The Bears enter the weekend with a 2-1 record after picking up a pair of wins over Illinois State and UC Santa Barbara. Katie Staiger and Yossiana Pressley pace the Baylor attack with 4.10 and 3.00 kills per set, respectively, while Camryn Freiberg leads the Bears at the net with 2.00 blocks per frame.