COLLEGE NOTES: Clarkston's Skinner transfers from WSU to Ole Miss

May 7—COLLEGE NOTES

A Clarkston Bantam is headed for the SEC and multiple programs at WSU and Idaho are ensuring that area airports remain busy with an influx of transfers and signings.

Becca Skinner, who played four years of standout soccer for Clarkston High School before spending her true freshman season at Washington State, is following former Cougar coach Todd Shulenberger to Ole Miss.

Skinner announced the decision in a collaborative post with the Ole Miss women's soccer program and Shulenberger on Instagram.

"Switched to the Sip: Becca Skinner is a Rebel," the caption read.

Skinner joined former Cougs Jenna Studer and Isabelle Wright in transferring to Ole Miss after the spring semester but ahead of the fall season. Wright had transferred from WSU to Colorado State in January and made a second switch four months later.

Skinner scored more than 100 goals in high school and led the Clarkston girls soccer team to the state tournament as a junior.

At WSU, Skinner's season was cut short because of an injury.

Skinner follows the coaching staff that recruited her out of high school to a highly competitive conference.

Advertisement

"I've put everything into soccer, and I see myself going very, very far," Skinner said in a 2024 Lewiston Tribune article. "So I know this is a place I want to be. On the field, it's my space. It's my time to let go and shine. (I) definitely want to take it to the highest level possible."

Shulenberger spent 11 years at WSU, leading the Cougars to an 113-67-34 record, five NCAA Tournament appearances and a College Cup (women's soccer's Final Four) run in 2019.

WSU hired former Montana coach Chris Citowicki following Shulenberger's December departure. Citowicki infused WSU's roster with former Montana players and appeared to have retained several heavy hitters, while five players chose to follow Shulenberger to Oxford, Miss.

The number of former Cougs turned Rebels has grown to eight.

New faces on the Palouse

WSU women's soccer wasn't the only program to experience a mid-offseason exodus.

Cougar volleyball lost middle blocker Lucie Blazkova to University of Minnesota. Blazkova and her new program announced the signing on social media this week.

Blazkova was fifth in the nation with a .443 hitting percentage and second in the West Coast Conference in blocks per set (1.21) and third in total blocks (121).

To replace their all-conference player, the Cougars signed Kryssa Moerman, a 6-foot-2 all-conference player at her level, fresh off a national championship run at NCAA Division II Metropolitan State-Denver.

WSU women's basketball added Gianella Espedale, a 5-5 guard from Argentina, and Lizzy Filchagina, a 6-2 forward from Russia who spent her true freshman season at SMU (Texas) this past season.