Huskies high in national stat rankings

The University of Washington doesn’t have a single starting server this season employing a booming jump serve (think Jill Collymore in 2009 or Kindra Carlson in 2010). Every time one of the Huskies steps to the service line, opponents can expect a jump float, usually a flat knuckleball to the deep corners. Washington’s three outside hitters—Summer Ross, Kylin Muñoz and Krista Vansant—lead the team in aces.

It must be working. Washington has the highest aces per set average of any Division 1 team in the nation. UW has dialed up 65 aces in 31 sets, a 2.1 ace/set average. No other Pac-12 team ranks in the top fifty nationally.

The Huskies can also hit and block. The team is hitting .308, good for fourth nationally (trailing only Michigan State, Hawai’i and Cal.) Washington also averages 2.95 blocks per set, the ninth-best number in the country.

The NCAA doesn’t report rankings for opponents’ hitting percentage, but the Pac-12 website lists Washington second only to Cal. The Huskies hold opponents to a meager .123.

Washington's Kelly Holford serves during a scrimmage
[Volleyblog Seattle video screen shot by Leslie Hamann]