Huskies Sweep Portland In Season Opener

Saturday, April 1

Vancouver, Wash.

11:00 AM

University of Washington

Portland

April 01, 2017 | Beach Volleyball

By: UW Athletic Communications

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Year four of Washington Beach Volleyball had its first serve today as the Huskies handled some damp conditions, and a Portland squad with seven matches already under its belt, sweeping the Pilots at Frenchman's Bar Park in Vancouver. The Huskies saw three new combinations get their first dual match wins together, and won 10 of the 11 sets played.

A light mist persisted throughout most of this afternoon's match, but the Dawgs could wait another week for the stereotypical beach volleyball weather, as UW will be in Los Angeles and Santa Monica next week for five big matches starting with defending NCAA Champion USC on Apr. 7.

Second year head coach Jonathan Winder thought the Huskies showed good consistency for the first match of the season. "It was nice to play our exhibition yesterday to get out some of the early uncertainty," he said. "The girls played hard today and it was a little rainy and wet with changing conditions, so they had to play consistent and solid throughout the day."

The matches went on in ascending order, with the No. 4 and No. 5 matches up first, followed by the No. 3 match, then the No. 2 and No. 1 matches.

The first three Husky wins all came from new pairs. First to finish was senior Melanie Wade and sophomore Lindsay Chalmers, as the two defeated Lauren Naatz and Katie Sullivan, 21-14, 21-15. Carly DeHoog and junior Anna Crabtree, new to the squad this season, overcame Sarah Savoca and Monica Gajda, 21-16, 21-19.

The one three-setter came at No. 3, where Destiny Julye and Shayne McPherson won the first set over Katie Barker and Djudjina Milovic, 21-14, but lost the second set, 18-21. Down 5-8 in the third set, Julye and McPherson won 10 of the final 11 points to seal the win, 15-9, and clinch the overall match.

UW's top two teams from last year were back in action together today. Crissy Jones and Tia Scambray rolled out to an 11-1 lead in the first set against Tani Stephens and Cali Thompson and never looked back, winning 21-10, 21-14, at No. 1. Cassie Strickland and Courtney Schwan then completed the sweep with a 21-15, 21-19 win at No. 2 over Troutman/Robinson.

In the exhibition match, Avie Niece also teamed with Crabtree and they picked up another victory.

All in all it was a good start for the Dawgs considering the team has only been practicing in full now for the past two weeks. Said Winder, "Everybody's getting to play together for the first or second time so we're still exploring."

Washington Beach Volleyball
April 1, 2017 – Vancouver, Wash.
Frenchman's Bar Park

Washington – 5
Portland – 0

1. Jones/Scambray (Wash) def. Stephens/Thompson (UP), 21-10, 21-14
2. Strickland/Schwan (Wash) def. Troutman/Robinson (UP), 21-15, 21-19
3. Julye/McPherson (Wash) def. Barker/Milovic (UP), 21-14, 18-21, 15-9
4. DeHoog/Crabtree (Wash) def. Savoca/Gajda (UP), 21-16, 21-19
5. Wade/Chalmers (Wash) def. Naatz/Sullivan (UP), 21-14, 21-15
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 1, 2