Nine aces. That's not a typo, and it's not a slow-pitch softball game. That's what the Cougar serving crew dropped on Texas State, and it's the kind of stat that makes you read it twice. We're not going to sugarcoat it: this was a suffocation. Texas State came to Pullman looking to play, and the Cougs sent them home with a broom and a receipt. If you missed the full breakdown of how they stuffed the stat sheets, go read Cougars stuff stat sheets in a sweep over Texas State. It's worth your time.
This wasn't just a win. It was a statement. We've watched this team take punches, remember Boise State got the win, but the Cougs didn't back down? That was a moral victory in a loss. This was a physical victory in a rout. The difference matters. Against Boise, the Cougs showed grit. Against Texas State, they showed dominance. You don't serve nine aces by accident. That's a crew that has figured out its rhythm, its communication, and its finish. For the folks who remember when serving was just a side gig between tailgates, this is the kind of performance that makes you proud to have a Coug holding the tray.
Now, the practical part. What does this mean for us? It means the Cougar volleyball team, and yes, we're talking about the serving crew here, because that's the story, is operating at a level that demands attention. Nine aces in a single match is a number that gets scouted. It's the kind of stat that makes recruits in Spokane and Seattle start looking at Pullman differently. It also means the rest of the conference just got a memo: if you come to the Palouse expecting a relaxed afternoon, you're going home with a loss and a lighter stat sheet. This is the kind of momentum that builds a season. Coach Citowicki knows it, and if you want to hear what he had to say about the Texas State loss and what's next, check out Coach Citowicki on the Texas State loss and what's next for Cougar Soccer. Different sport, same lesson: the Cougs don't quit.
The takeaway is direct: watch the next match. Nine aces is a ceiling, but it's also a floor. The crew that delivered that now has a target on its back, and the question is whether they can replicate it. If they do, we're looking at something special. If they don't, the Texas State game still stands as proof that this group can execute at an elite level. Either way, we're paying attention. Go Cougs.