University of Washington Athletics

SEATTLE - Not much gets past senior libero Cassie Strickland, and for three weeks in a row the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week award has also stopped at Strickland. She picked up the fifth honor of her career today, and becomes the first player to win three Defensive honors in a row since the award was added in 2011.

The Huntington Beach, Calif. native averaged 4.57 digs and 0.86 assists per set in Washington's sweep of then-No. 6 Stanford and California. Strickland recorded 20 digs, one assist and one service in the Huskies' 3-1 victory over the Cardinal. Against the Golden Bears, Strickland tallied 12 digs and five assists in the 3-0 win. The senior had just one reception error in 44 attempts, helping the Husky offense, which ranks second in the country with a .316 hitting percentage, hit .371 for the weekend.

Strickland is also one of the final 10 nominees for the Senior CLASS Award for women's volleyball, with fans encouraged to vote for her to help her win the award that measures success in the classroom, competition, character, and community.

Six of the 12 weekly defensive honors have gone to the Huskies this season, including two more to Melanie Wade and one to Lianna Sybeldon. Washington leads the league with 17 all-time defensive honors.

The Huskies moved up one more spot in the AVCA Top-25 to No. 2 today, and one spot up in the RPI as well to No. 6, season-highs in both. Washington visits Oregon State this Wednesday, then heads to Eugene to play Oregon on Friday afternoon.