The Cougars are back on the road, and this weekend’s stop sends them to Boise, Idaho, for the Barb Chandler Classic, held Sept. 18-20. It’s WSU’s first appearance at the event in the past decade.
Washington State enters the tournament after a strong opening at the Cougar Classic, where newcomer Gabriella Harper swept her singles matches against her opponents. Harper is one of three fresh faces on the roster this season, joining Clara Schön and Katiana Gonzalez.
WSU also brings back Yura Nakagawa, Chisato Kanemaki, Zali Morris and Ava-Monet Sycamore for another year in the program.
Boise State opens its season at the Barb Chandler Classic after winning the regular-season Mountain West Championship in the spring. The Broncos return eight players and add two newcomers.
Last season, Boise State posted an 81-24 mark in singles, with Allison Isaacs leading the way with 18 wins and Masa Viriant finishing with 14. In doubles, the Broncos went 34-23, and both Zdena Safarova and Tereza Polakova ended at 14-6.
The field also includes Washington, which finished last season 20-6 overall and 9-4 in Big Ten play before reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. Carina Syrtveit, Alexia Jacobs and Marie Weissheim are back for the Huskies after competing in the NCAA Doubles Championship last year. UW returns seven players and adds three newcomers.
Weber State also comes in with a rebuilt group after finishing last season 29-71 in singles and 7-41 in doubles. The Wildcats opened their season at the Barb Chandler Classic and went 3-10 in singles and 0-12 in doubles against Boise State, Montana State and Idaho State.
Utah rounds out the tournament lineup with three returners and seven newcomers. The Utes finished last season 76-47 in singles and 34-29 in doubles. Sara Akid returns as a senior after going 14-4 in singles and 11-6 in doubles, while Emmie Moore is also back after posting a 12-7 doubles record last season.
In Other News...
WSU Finally Found Its Offense But One Concern Still Lingers
Washington State finally got the kind of home opener it was looking for at Martin Stadium, rolling past Duquesne 48-7 behind a burst of offense that took over in the third quarter. The Cougars scored three touchdowns in that period alone, with quarterback Caden Pinnick and running back Kirby Vorhees both turning in strong performances as Kirby Moore picked up his first win as a head coach.
The win gave Washington State a much-needed jolt and offered a clearer look at an offense that can lean on the ground game when things are clicking. Still, not everything came together cleanly, and the kicking game remains a source of concern after Jack Stevens had accuracy issues that stood out even in a lopsided result. [Read more 🡒]
Washington States Biggest Early Problem Still Isnt Going Away
Washington States home opener offered a few signs of life on offense, with the Cougars taking a 14-7 halftime lead over Duquesne after leaning on the ground game. Maxwell Woods supplied a 45-yard Wildcat burst, and Caden Pinnick finished off a 19-yard touchdown run, a couple of plays that at least gave the offense a little more rhythm than it had shown at times before.
Still, the early concern around the Cougars has not gone away, because Duquesne kept finding room on the ground. The Dukes answered with a 1-yard quarterback keeper from Carson Camp, and their backs piled up 113 yards on 19 carries in the first half, a reminder that Washington States defense still has work to do even when the scoreboard is in its favor. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Built Exactly The Momentum Fans Wanted Before Arizona
Washington State got exactly the kind of response it needed before Arizona, shaking off an early tie and rolling past Duquesne 48-7 behind a barrage of points that turned a tense start into a runaway finish. After the Dukes pulled even at 7-7, the Cougars ripped off 41 unanswered points, with Caden Pinnick steering the offense and piling up 196 passing yards, two touchdown throws, 76 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
The win had a little of everything for a team looking to build confidence at the right time. Kirby Vorhees added a rushing touchdown, while Jaylen Thomas and Tank Hawkins each delivered punt return touchdowns, giving Washington State impact plays in every phase and a reminder that the margin for error can get awfully thin for opponents when the Cougars start stacking momentum. [Read more 🡒]