Huskies Win In Dramatic, Then Dominant Fashion

Friday, November 2

Seattle, WA

7:00 PM

University of Washington

14-9, 6-7Pac-12

Arizona State

13-12, 4-9Pac-12

Arizona State

Washington

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

November 02, 2018 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score PDF

By: UW Athletic Communications

SEATTLE – When Washington snaps a losing streak, it really snaps that streak. The Husky volleyball team saved three Arizona State set points to win a thrilling and pivotal third set, and then turned that momentum into a stunning 25-4 win in set four to put away the Sun Devils, three sets to one, at Alaska Airlines Arena.

The Dawgs (14-9, 6-7 Pac-12) ended a five-match skid in front of 2,238 fans that included some local luminaries in Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, and University of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce.

After taking set one, 25-20, the Huskies lost the second set, 18-25, and trailed by eight points in the third at 5-13. But Washington chipped away and managed to deny ASU the set on three occasions, finally winning it, 29-27, on an ace from sophomore Maria Bogomolova.

Bogomolova would then be the story in the phenomenal fourth set by the Dawgs, as she served the final 13 points in a row, as Washington played error-free in the fourth after the pressure of the third set was released. Bogomolova finished with a career-high five aces tonight, most by any Husky this season, and UW hit .522 in the final set. The four points allowed tied the school record for fewest UW has surrendered in the rally scoring era, which began in 2001. It was the fewest points ever allowed in a set to a Pac-12 opponent, as the previous 25-4 set was against Coppin State in 2013.

Washignton earned a split in the season series with the Sun Devils, getting even for an earlier loss in Tempe.

Hear from Boga after her career-high 5?? aces tonight!! #PointHuskies pic.twitter.com/Z2FgOJG5V2
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) November 3, 2018

Leading the offense tonight was junior Kara Bajema who put down 17 kills and also had a team-high 18 digs plus a season-best 6 blocks. Sophomore Samantha Drechsel hit .310 with 13 kills, and Avie Niece was a major factor at the net with a season-high nine blocks to go with seven kills, hitting .353. Freshman setter Ella May Powell had a double-double with 45 assists and 14 digs, adding three kills on four swings and three blocks.

The Dawgs hit .272 overall tonight, cooling ASU down to .207 after the Devils had started hot. The Huskies had a big serving night, hitting 12 aces, with five from Bogomolova and a career-best three from freshman Claire Hoffman.

"It's been a tough stretch here of matches, and for most of tonight it was still tough," said Head Coach Keegan Cook. "That third set was something special there, to win that in extra points, just really impressed with the last two weeks we've had in practice and really happy for the kids."

"I don't know, you lose track of time," Cook said about the fourth set run. "It was one good serve after another by Maria Bogomolova, and hitters that refused to hit the ball out of bounds. That's been a big emphasis the last week is just trying to keep our errors down. Thought we did that in the first and the fourth set. So it was fun to be a part of that."

UP NEXT: Washington looks to build on tonight's win when 21st-ranked Arizona comes to visit on Sunday for a 12 noon start. The match will be Youth Volleyball Day with Husky Volleyball water bottles for the first 500 fans.

SET 1: Drechsel landed the first kill for the Dawgs on the right side for 2-3 in the first set. Claire Hoffman finished a lengthy rally from the left and then Sanders tipped a tip over and down for 5-5. Bajema gave UW its first lead at 7-6 ending another long rally as the teams were digging in early. Niece and Bajema posted the first block of the match for a 9-7 lead. A McPherson dig led to a powerful Hoffman kill in transition and then Hoffman landed another on the next point for 13-9 Dawgs and the Sun Devils called timeout. Bajema's served forced an ASU free ball and Drechsel finished for 14-9 to end a 4-0 run. The Sun Devils pulled within one at 18-17 but Bajema finished a key point with a kill off the block. Powell then had a dig and McPherson bump set Bajema for 20-17. A Drechsel kill and an ASU error pushed it to 22-17. The Sun Devils got back within three and the Dawgs called time, then on the next point Niece and Bajema stuffed one for 23-19. Drechsel got UW to set point at 24-20 with a swing through the block. McPherson then delivered UW's first ace to end it, 25-20. The Huskies hit .310 in the first set compared to .250 for the Sun Devils, with five kills from Bajema on a .455 percentage and seven digs in the set from McPherson.

SET 2: A back row missile from Destiny Julye opened set two and then Bajema had a solo block for 2-0. The Sun Devils got a tape-ace for 4-all, with Drechsel regaining the lead with a right side kill. Julye snapped a 3-0 ASU run with another back row kill for 7-8. Bajema hit wide and then Drechsel got blocked as UW needed timeout down 8-12. The Huskies broke the run out of the timeout but ASU kept siding out and then used another ace off tape to extend to a five-point lead. Another ASU kill and a Husky error made it 10-17 and UW used its final timeout. It was 12-21 before Bajema had a kill and Niece had a solo block for 14-21. Bajema fired an ace for 17-23 and ASU called a timeout. Out of the break, Hoffman got a kill off the block to get back within five, but ASU killed its next swing to reach set point. An ASU kill ended it at 25-18. Arizona rolled to a .400 attack percentage in the set while UW hit just .129.

SET 3: ASU blocked the Huskies twice to start the third and took a 4-0 lead forcing a UW timeout. Yet another Sun Devils serve caught the tape and fell for an ace for 2-8, with Drechsel answering with a big sideout as UW tried to keep touch. But ASU scored four of five to extend to 5-13 and the Huskies used their last timeout. Out of the break, Niece had a solo block and then Drechsel got the most of one for 7-13. Powell dropped an ace short for a third point, and then ASU hit into the net for 9-13 and the Sun Devils called timeout. Hoffman had a nice swing from the left and then the Devils got caught in the net as the Huskies crept within three. The run continued with two straight heavy blasts from Drechsel on the right as the Dawgs got to 14-15 before ASU snapped the 4-0 Husky run. Drechsel had another kill and then Sanders tied it up at 16-all with a kill on the slide. ASU sided out but Hoffman tied it again with a sharp angle from the left. Hoffman then served up an ace to put UW in front by one at 18-17 and ASU used its last timeout. Out of the break, Powell took a swing at an overpass and killed it for 19-17. ASU snapped the run but Bajema answered with a big block on the left. Niece crushed a slide from Powell for 21-19. ASU regained the lead with a 3-0 run, as UW let a dig fall in the campfire for a heartbreaker. Niece tied it at 22-22 with a quick strike. Hoffman finished with a touch from the block for 23-all, but UW then served into the net to give ASU set point. Drechsel ended a tense rally to save it after a great dig from Powell, but ASU got another chance with a back row kill. Tough defense forced an ASU error and then Bajema swung the Huskies in front by one with a transition kill that brought the crowd to its feet. The Huskies couldn't cash in, however, and then ASU blocked Bajema for a third chance. This time Bajema converted for 27-27. UW earned a second chance with a huge triple block for 28-27. Maria Bogomolova then ended the thriller by driving a serve off the defender and down for an ace, as the Huskies finished the dramatic rally, 29-27. In the final totals, UW hit .216 in the set and ASU was at .188. Niece had four crucial blocks and Drechsel had five kills in the frame.

SET 4: Drechsel opened the fourth with a kill and finished another Powell set with authority for 3-1. Sanders killed a slide, then Hoffman had a transition kill and Julye fired an ace for 6-2 Dawgs. A block built by Powell and Sanders forced an ASU timeout at 7-3. Out of the break, Bajema delivered from the left and then Hoffman smacked an ace for 9-3. Hoffman backed it up with a second-straight ace, and then ASU hit into the net for a fifth-straight point on Hoffman's serve. Niece finished a Powell slide set to keep building the lead, and Bogomolova fired another ae for 14-4, forcing ASU's last timeout. Out of the break, Bajema terminated again, and then ASU was called out of rotation for a UW ace and 16-4. Bajema had a swing blocked up above the net but she hopped back up and spiked it down for 18-4 Dawgs. Niece and Powell then stuffed one for an eighth-straight point on Bogomolova's serve. Bogomolova kept punishing the Sun Devils with her serves, getting two more aces for 21-4. Then it was another block from Niece and Bajema and another kill by Niece. Powell won a joust at the net for match point at 24-4, Bogomolova still serving. She would finish it out, as ASU hit long on the next point to end the stunning set, 25-4. The Huskies won the final 14 points with Bogomolova serving out the final 13 points. From 6-3, it was a 19-1 roll for UW. The Huskies hit .522 in the set, making zero errors, with 12 kills on 23 swings, serving seven aces in the set without a missed serve, and adding three blocks. Niece killed all three of her swings and Bajema finished four of nine attempts.