College | High or low, Washington volleyball has a big weekend

Huskies seniors go undefeated at home in four years of playing SoCal rivals 

• #5 Washington def. #8 UCLA 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-15, 25-20) 

College | Washington volleyball meets its Destiny in win at UCLA

Huskies freshman steps in when Courtney Schwan goes down 

• #5 Washington def. #11 UCLA 3-0 (31-29, 25-16, 25-15) 
• Sun, Oct 4 | 1:00PM | #5 Washington @ #2 USC 

Washington freshman Destiny Julye (R) and her teammates defeated UCLA 3-0 in Los Angeles
-Volleyblog Seattle photo by Leslie Hamann

LOS ANGELES--It was first set, and Washington led UCLA 21-22. Sophomore outside hitter Courtney Schwan—the Huskies best pin hitter this season—had already slipped in three roll shots for kills, and attempted another. This one was dug, and the Bruins won the point on a slide to tie the score at 22. 

But Schwan was unexpectedly finished for the night. At the end of the rally, she injured her left ankle, and had to be helped to the bench. Suddenly, the Huskies seemed in big trouble. 

In the huddle, libero Cassie Strickland turned to her teammates and said, "It doesn't matter who's on the court. We are Washington, and we fight hard right now." Her fellow senior, middle Lianna Sybledon said, "Let's do it for Courtney." 

On the bench, Washington's only freshman felt the heat of hundreds of eyes in Pauley Pavilion. Destiny Julye, a Southern California girl, was coach Keegan Cooke's only option to replace Schwan. 

Washington's Courtney Schwan (4) is comforted by teammate Crissy Jones as Schwan's ankle gets initial evaluation.
-Volleyblog Seattle photo by Leslie Hamann

Julye felt pressure even before the match began. Warming up, a contingent of almost 100 supporters cheered with every practice attack, and moaned with every miss. 62 of those fans were players and parents from Tehachapi High, 100 miles north and a two hour bus ride away. Their coach, Sheri Dees, wanted her players to see what the next level looks like, especially the size and speed of the college game. 

"Destiny looks quicker and stronger," said Dees, who had not talked with her team about the very real possibility that Julye would not play. "I wanted them to support and cheer all of Destiny's teammates," she said. 

But there she was, the set on the line, expected to carry her share of the load. Her first few attacks were tentative, but at 23-23, she stuffed UCLA's Reily Buechler and sent the sizeable purple contingent into a brief frenzy.  

"I was nervous," she admitted later, "but my coaches and teammates told me to go in and do what we do in practice." 

The Bruins tied the score at 24, then both teams played the set of the season so far. Both served tough, both passed nails, both swung hard, both dug impossible balls. "We told our hitters, swing away," said Cook. "I told them they were in a position to write their own story. 

In all, each team overcame three set points, until—with UW leading 30-29—the final kill of the set went to Julye. 

Washington's Crissy Jones celebrates a point against UCLA
-Volleyblog Seattle photo by Leslie Hamann

Sets two and three were also won by Washington, but in far less dramatic fashion, although Julye also had the final kill in the second frame. This was Washington's first match of the season against a ranked team, and a chance to win in a venue where they have sometimes struggled. There was plenty to like, but a few real keys to the match: 

LIANNA SYBELDON 

Washington's senior middle blocker is showing All-American form, and was the key to the Huskies' offense. Because her teammates passed and dug so well, setters Bailey Tanner and Katy Beals went to Sybeldon early and often, good for 13 total kills.  

The key point of the entire match may have been at 24-24 in the first set. Sybeldon clobbered a Tanner quick set, only to see the Bruins turn a spectacular dig. Moments later, Tanner set another quick, with the same result. In a decision as rare as any you'll see in college volleyball, Tanner went back to Sybeldon for a third quick, and this time it hit the Bruins' side of the court. 

"I was grateful that Bailey gave me three shots in a row," said Sybeldon. I wanted to put it away. 

WASHINGTON'S DEFENSE 

From its formidable block (outblocking the Bruins 17-8 for the match) to its relentless scrambling (61 digs in just three sets), the Huskies frustrated UCLA's hitters at every turn. Tia Scambray was credited with 5 block assists, but 3 were actually solo stuffs of much taller Bruin Hayley Lawless.  Strickland had 19 digs, but Scambray was equally tough with 12, as was Tanner with 11 digs. The Huskies out-hit the Bruins .225 to .070. 

"Everyone's been working their butt off in practice to play defense and dig more balls, and all our hard work showed tonight," said Strickland, who credits the team's time on sand courts for its splashier defensive skills. 

HUSKIES' BENCH 

Besides Julye, two other bench players—both senior defensive specialists—came up big in the crucial first set. Kim Condie and Justice Magraw each took turns making big serves and crucial defensive plays, including a Condie ace and a Magraw pancake dig. As UW ran out of subs during the extended first set, players played out of position without missing a beat. 

Washington setter Katy Beals (L) and Justice Magraw are all smiles after a narrow first set win.
-Volleyblog Seattle by Leslie Hamann

NOTES 

• After the match, Cook said Schwan's injury will be evaluated before he can determine when she might next be available. Schwan was on crutches but in a good mood, considering. 
• Washington fans filled several rows of Pauley Pavilion. Nine Huskies went to high school in California, and folks wearing purple often cheered longer and louder than the home blue and gold. 
• Stanford fell to 1-2 in conference play for the first time in what seems like forever when the Cardinal lost 3-1 in Tempe to undefeated Arizona State. 
• If Seattle fans ever needed a reason to tape a Seahawks' game for later viewing, it will be Sunday at 1PM when undefeated Washington takes on undefeated USC at Galen Center.  

National Team | Vansant stars as USA Volleyball now 3-0 in World Grand Prix

Washington alum explodes for 18 kills in 3 sets as USA defeats Belgium

• USA def. Belgium 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-18)

Sand | Pac-12 teams have unequal facilities, schedules, scholarships

UCLA unveils new sand facility as teams move quickly to sand-only squads

College | Washington volleyball enters Bruins’ den facing history

Undefeated Huskies on same campus where longest streak ended

• #2 Washington @ #16 UCLA | Fri, Oct 31 | 6:00PM | live Internet stream

College | Washington volleyball bounces all the way back to beat UCLA

In a thriller, Huskies win the final three sets behind Vansant, Sybeldon

#4 Washington def. #20 UCLA 3-2 (18-25, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20, 15-10)

• New Mexico St @ Seattle U | Sat, Oct 4 | 1PM
• #4 Washington @ Oregon State | Fri, Oct 10 | 6PM | Pac-12 Networks
• #4 Washington @ #11 Oregon | Sun, Oct 12 | 11AM | Pac-12 Networks

Pac-12 | What we learned from Washington volleyball’s victory over UCLA

In a wildly entertaining match, Huskies prove that serving matters

• #3 Washington def. UCLA 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-21)
• next: #4 USC @ #3 Washington | November 15 | 6PM |Pac-12 Networks

Pac-12 | What we learned from Washington volleyball’s win against UCLA

Variety make a difference as Huskies win in LA for first time since 2009

• #3 Washington def. UCLA 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-13)
• next: #3 Washington @ #4 USC | October 27 | 5PM |Pac-12 Networks

It takes more than one hitter to beat the Huskies.

Friday night in Pauley Pavilion, UCLA’s Karsta Lowe was that one hitter. She took 39 swings and connected for 21 kills, dominating all but the final set in a 3-1 Washington victory (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-13).

Washington and UCLA players meet at the Pauley Pavilion net
-Pac-12 Networks

But hitters like Lowe are on the front row for only half the rotations. Eventually they get all the opponent’s defensive attention if a team doesn’t spread the offense to other options. And Lowe couldn’t do it on her own.

Washington’s usually-dominant serve and pass game was erratic on this night, as it suffered strings of too-easy serves and uncharacteristic receiving gaffes. During the first three sets, Bruins’ setter Megan Moenoa found Lowe seemingly at will, and the 6-4 junior pounded the ball over, around and off the block. In crucial runs during the second and third sets, Lowe almost single-handedly kept UCLA in the match.

Washington coach Jim McLaughlin talks with Lianna Sybeldon during a fourth set timeout
-Pac-12 Networks

The key, it seemed, was to let Lowe get her swings, while shutting down the rest of the UCLA attack. Washington’s block was huge, getting 15 stuffs, including 8 block assists from Melanie Wade and 7 from Lianna Sybeldon. Bruin hitters Maddy Klineman (.152) and Kelly Reeves (.138) committed 11 hitting errors between them, many on Huskies’ blocks. UCLA middles Zoe Nightingale and Mariana Aquino were rarely a factor.

Once the Huskies solved their serve/pass problems, their more varied offense allowed them to counterpunch with increasing effectiveness. In each of sets two, three and four, Washington’s hitting percentage and side-out effectiveness rose, while the same stats for UCLA dropped. Krista Vansant finished with 16 kills, Kaleigh Nelson with 13 kills and Sybeldon with 12.

Sybeldon, in particular, proved an effective weapon. Both of her setters—Jenni Nogueras and Katy Beals—called her number in key moments, often stopping UCLA rallies with emphatic quicks. As she has all season, the sophomore plays offense with a contagious enthusiasm, taking pressure off the pins when tall opponents try to bunch the block.

Washington's Cassie Strickland (8) blocks UCLA's Karsta Lowe during the fourth set
-Pac-12 Networks

In the end, however, it was Vansant who made the difference. Tied at 23 in the third set, the junior slammed a Jenna Orlandini bump for a kill that seemed to shake the Bruins’ defense. In the fourth set, Vansant made the most out of every opportunity, serving tough, digging slams, powering her attack and even shutting down Lowe, who was held to just three kills—and committed three errors—in the final frame. The final set was a rout, and ended a three-year losing streak in Los Angeles (both at UCLA and USC) for Washington.

The Huskies are now 8-1 in the Pac-12 and tied with USC for the conference lead. Washington and Southern Cal will meet in Galen Center Sunday afternoon at 5PM to break that tie.

NOTES:

• Half of Washington’s roster is from California, so there were big contingents of family and friends wearing purple and gold in Pauley Pavilion.
• In other Pac-12 play, the biggest result was in Boulder, where Colorado remained undefeated at home by beating Arizona 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-23). Just last Sunday, Arizona handed then-number one USC its first conference loss. In Berkeley, Cal dealt a big blow to the Oregon Ducks with a 3-2 victory (15-13 in the fifth set), while USC swept WSU and Stanford swept Oregon State.

Pac-12 | Volleyball Power Ratings for Week Three

-photo by Shutter Geeks Photography

Conference is 62-10 so far in preseason play; a few more good matchups this weekend

Pac 12 | Amanda Gil’s final appeal denied

NCAA decides against giving Washington senior one more year of eligibility

Pac-12 | Amanda Gil: still waiting

UW star—and nation’s leading blocker—keeps busy while waiting for a final decision on her appeal for one more year.

PRO VOLLEYBALL | David defeats Goliath

A small-town team shows it can beat an opponent studded with Olympic stars

• CEV Cup Championship: Muszyna 3, Istanbul 2 (25-18, 1-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-11)

NCAA | Sweet Sixteen: Teams set for next week’s Regionals

Four seeded teams go down; Big Ten is dominant

And then there was one. 

Pac-12 | Power Rankings: Week Thirteen

Yes, it’s true: Pac-12 is the nation’s toughest conference

Pac-12 | UCLA’s new Pauley Pavilion works well for volleyball

A smart remodel of a classic arena

NCAA | Pac-12 continues to dominate week 10 coaches’ poll

Washington (17-4) hangs in at eighth

Washington's Cassie Strickland
-courtesy Shutter Geeks Photography

For the fifth week in a row, five Pac-12 teams are among the top seven in the weekly coaches’ poll is conducted by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

The Pac-12 takes over the top two spots this week, and deservedly so. That said, Stanford still has to play Oregon (this week), UCLA and USC on the road, plus Washington at home. The imbalanced Pac-12 schedule means that Oregon meets UCLA and USC only once each this season and next.

Nebraska beats Penn State and is ranked lower than the Nittany Lions? Yes, the Huskers also lost to Ohio State, but still …

Most under-rated this week: BYU and Miami (FL)

Most over-rated: Hawai’i (still no road matches against a top team), Dayton (two biggest wins are against unranked teams), and Ohio State (7 losses is too many for the Top 20)

Pac-12 | What we learned from Washington’s loss to UCLA

#6 UCLA 3, #5 Washington 1 (25-18, 25-22, 22-25, 28-26)

next: Colorado @ Washington | November 2 | 6PM

[10.29.12 | 10:00PM | CORRECTION to number of sets lost by just two points (5 not 4)]

Yes, Washington has now lost 4 of 5 after winning its first 16 in a row.

But all four losses were (a) crazy close; and (b) to the other four members of the Pac-12’s Fab Five (Stanford, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington).

Amanda Gil and Kelcey Dunaway
-courtesy Shutter Geeks Photography

Before we move on, consider: