Photo by Kurt Howard

Two Cougars (right in red) team up to try and stop Washington attackers.  Washington State has made nine postseason tournaments in a row.

WSU volleyball advances 19 times

By Tim Clinton

Washington State University spiked its way into the AIAW or NCAA tournament a total of 19 times in its volleyball history that dates back to 1973.

The NCAA tournaments included eight straight trips from 2016 to 2023.

The Cougars first made their way into the AIAW tournament in 1977, and reached the NCAA tournament in 1991, 19993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2009 before the recent string.

WSU battled into the NCAA's Regional Final in 1991 and added regional semifinal appearances in 1997, 2002, 2018 and 2023.

The 2023 Cougars put together a 26-8 overall record including a 14-6 mark within the Pac-12 conference.

They opened the NCAA tournament with a 3-0 victory over Grand Canyon University and a 3-1 win over Dayton before falling to Pittsburgh by a 3-0 score.

Former Washington State player Jen Greeny coached the team throughout the string of eight NCAA tournaments in a row after taking the reins in 2011.

Korey Schroeder led the way for the Cougars in 2024.  He served as Greeny's assistant previously in 2023.

Schroeder coached a team that had only five returning players to a 16-12 overall record and to its ninth postseason appearance in a row.

This time the trip was to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship tournament, with WSU losing its opener to Utah Valley by a 3-0 score to be eliminated early.

The Cougars are gunning for even better things this fall for 2025.  Like maybe a 10th postseason appearance in a row and a return to the NCAA tournament.