University of Washington
Robert Morris
Volleyball Downs Robert Morris For Blue & Gold Title
September 18, 2010 | Volleyball
Sept. 18, 2010
PITTSBURGH, Penn. - It was a youth movement for the ninth-ranked Husky volleyball team, as they closed out the Pittsburgh Blue & Gold with a sweep over Robert Morris, led by several first and second year Dawgs. Sophomore Kylin Muñoz tied for the team lead with nine kills while hitting .421, redshirt frosh Jenna Orlandini had a career-best 22 digs, and sophomore Kelcey Dunaway added a career-best eight kills, as the Huskies closed out their non-conference schedule with a 25-16, 25-13, 25-20 sweep of the Colonials.
Washington laid claim to its third tournament title of the season, as they finished their stint in Pittsburgh with three sweeps, topping Pittsburgh on Thursday, Eastern Illinois on Friday, and Robert Morris this afternoon. The Huskies will head into Pac-10 play next week with an 11-0 record, heading first to Oregon to face the Beavers and Ducks. This is the second-straight season that UW has gone through its non-conference slate without dropping a set.
Despite the youthful feel of today's match, it was the three Husky seniors that earned spots on the All-Tournament Team. Senior All-American Jenna Hagglund was named tournament MVP, and outside hitters Kindra Carlson and Becky Perry also were honored.
Today the Huskies had a strong team effort, posting their second-best kill total of the year at 48 despite no individual player reaching double-figures. Hagglund passed out a season-high 42 assists, and added three kills of her own on three attempts. The West Chester, Ohio native had eight kills on eight attempts over the past two matches. Sophomore Kelly Holford also had a career-high with 11 digs and added a pair of aces. Perry was level with Muñoz for the team lead with nine kills on 20 swings for a .350 attack mark. As a team, the Dawgs hit .376 compared to .136 for Robert Morris.
The first three Husky kills came courtesy of Dunaway in the middle, then freshman Gabbi Parker lined up back-to-back kills for a 6-4 UW lead. Bianca Rowland's first slam of the day sparked a 5-0 run, where she added a second kill, and Holford notched one of her aces as UW opened a 12-7 lead. Six different Huskies got into the act with kills throughout the middle part of the set, and three straight points courtesy of Muñoz, Rowland, and Carlson respectively made it 22-14 and forced the Colonials to call time. A dump from Hagglund brought up set point, and Perry finished things at 25-16 with her second kill. Orlandini had nine digs in the first set alone, and Washington cruised to a .485 attack percentage, helped by Dunaway's four kills on four attempts.
Once again Dunaway started the second set hot, with two kills on UW's first three points. The Bainbridge Island native then served up an ace for a 7-2 lead, forcing a Robert Morris timeout. Holford's second ace of the day extended the cushion to seven points at 11-4. Perry had consecutive kills a handful of points later, and another swing from Parker found its target and made it 17-10. Washington then ran off with the set on Holford's service. Hagglund finished a Perry set to win the side out, then Holford's float serve resulted in four-straight UW kills, two from Perry, and one each from Muñoz and Rowland. Once again Hagglund found Dunaway on set point for the 25-13 win. The Huskies hit a scintillating .567 in the set, with 18 kills and just one error on 30 attempts.
The third set proved to be more of a test, as UW gave up an early two-point lead and found itself down 15-12. Hagglund and Rowland blocked the next point down to break the run, and Orlandini then served the Huskies back into the driver's seat. Carlson earned the first kill, then UW threw up two-straight blocks, the first with Dunaway and Muñoz and the second featuring Dunaway and Hagglund. One more swing from Muñoz touched down and it was 18-15 Dawgs just like that and RMU called time. An ace from Muñoz made it 21-17, then Perry earned a solo block for the third-straight match, and Muñoz responded with yet another service winner for a 23-18 lead. Perry's ninth kill brought up match point, and Rowland cashed it in with a swing of her right arm, the final score 25-20.
The Huskies will begin Pac-10 play on the road, stopping first in Corvallis to face Oregon State next Friday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. The next night they'll be in Eugene for a showdown with the Ducks at 7 Pacific.
