Washington’s Season Ends In Round Of 16

Friday, December 7

Stanford, CA

3:00 PM

University of Washington

20-13

Penn State

26-7

Washington

Penn State

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

December 07, 2018 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score PDF VIDEO: Top Husky Highlights VIDEO: Post-Match Press Conference

By: UW Athletic Communications

STANFORD, Calif. – Close in all three sets, the Huskies could not get over the hump against eighth-seeded Penn State today, as their season came to a close in the NCAA Championships Round of 16. Penn State moved on to the Elite Eight with a 26-24, 25-21, 25-21 victory at Maples Pavilion while the Dawgs say farewell to senior Destiny Julye but have a bright future to look forward to with their strong finish to the season.

Washington (20-13) was playing in the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in the past seven seasons, but fell short of reaching the Elite Eight for what would have been the fourth time in that span. This was the 17th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance for the Dawgs.

While UW didn't get a set today, they were right on the cusp in all three. The Dawgs had a set point chance at 24-23 in the first set, and were down 20-21 in set two before Penn State (26-7) scored four of the last five points. In the third set, the Huskies held a 17-12 lead but the Nittany Lions scored seven straight to pull ahead and close it out.

"I thought it was a high level match," said fourth-year Head Coach Keegan Cook. "It's our third Regional in these last four years, and they all haven't been a high level on our end. So I'm certainly pleased with the effort that the kids gave. In that first set we had our chance, and the third set with the lead that we had—we're a few plays away."

The Huskies hit .227 on offense today while Penn State finished at a .337 mark. PSU had five more kills, 48 to 43, and had a slim lead in aces (5-4) and blocks (10.0 to 9.5). Penn State had 38 digs compared to 29 for the Huskies, and kept UW's swings off the floor especially during the run in the third set that got them back in front.

"Offensively I think .230 is a number that we've had to look at all year, and it represents one or two more plays that each individual needs to be able to make," Cook said. "I have a sense that I'm ready to get in the gym with them in January and get to work."

Senior Destiny Julye played her final match as a Dawg, and she contributed two kills, an ace, and four digs today. All-Pac-12 Junior Kara Bajema had 13 kills and sophomore Samantha Drechsel added nine. Freshman Claire Hoffman had seven kills and two aces.

Sophomore Lauren Sanders hit .364 with six kills and had four blocks, and junior Avie Niece had five blocks and three kills. Ella May Powell wrapped an impressive freshman season with 37 assists, three kills on six attempts, three blocks and three digs. Junior Shayne McPherson posted 11 digs out of the back row.

SET 1: Bajema had a kill from the back row on the first point and Powell dumped for a kill for 2-1. Penn State scored four to take a 3-5 lead, but Lauren Sanders finished a slide to snap that run. Niece hammered down a quick set from Powell for 6-8 Nittany Lions, but a Penn State ace made it 6-10 and the Huskies called their first timeout. PSU had a block out of the break but Hoffman got her first kill on the next point and then Drechsel and Sanders followed with UW's first block for 8-11. Hoffman followed that with a rejection for a third-straight point. Drechsel then blasted a right side swing to the floor and a tip kill from Sanders tied it up at 12-12 as UW six of seven points. A high hands kill from Bajema tied it again at 14-14. Another Bajema kill and one from Drechsel kept things tied at 16-all. Drechsel connected twice more to keep UW siding out down one at 18-19. A back row kill from Julye into the corner made it 21-22. A PSU error had it tied again at 22-22 and the Nittany Lions called timeout. Out of the break, McPherson dug one and Bajema put away the Powell set for 23-22, and PSU went right back to its second timeout. The Huskies let one get away with an unforced error to snap their run, but Drechsel got it back for set point at 24-23. Penn State tipped for a kill to tie it, and then UW overpassed the next serve and Penn State put it away for its first set point at 24-25. Hoffman tried to go offspeed but she missed it wide and Penn State had escaped with the 24-26 win. The Huskies hit .333 but Penn State hit .438 in the frame. Bajema had six kills, hitting .444, and Drechsel finished five on a .571 clip.

SET 2: A dump for Powell and a Bajema kill through the block gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead to start the second set. Up 4-1, the Huskies gave up five in a row, the last two on an ace they let go by and a shot out of bounds and UW took timeout down 4-6. Penn State got two more before Bajema tooled the block to break the seven-point skid. Niece softly finished one and a PSU error had the Dawgs down three at 8-11. Hoffman slammed a pair and then delivered an ace to make it 11-13. PSU pushed back ahead by four but Bajema used the block for another finish from the left for 13-16, then Powell flew in for a dig and Hoffman set Bajema for another rip to get back within two at 14-16. Niece then blocked a tip attempt to get UW within one. Niece and Hoffman finished to keep the Dawgs right there down 17-18. Hoffman broke through the block again for 18-19 Nittany Lions. Sanders had a huge block for 19-20 and then finished a slide for 20-21 but UW missed serves after both of those points. Bajema then tried to do too much with a broken play and hit wide for 20-23. After a timeout, Bajema tried to stuff down a tight set but followed through into the net and it was 20-24. Powell saved one with a solo block on the right side, but Penn State converted its next chance to end it, 21-25. The Huskies cooled to a .135 attack percentage in the set while Penn State hit .222. Hoffman was on the mark with four kills on five swings without an error.

SET 3: A back row kill off the block by Bajema was followed by a Sanders slide finish and a Hoffman ace as the Huskies went up 3-1 in the third. Powell dumped for a kill and then Bajema had a block that forced a PSU double for a 5-1 lead. Maria Bogomolova aced the Nittany Lions for 7-3 and PSU called timeout. Penn State fought back with three of four points, Drechsel putting a big point down for 9-7. Powell hit Drechsel again on the right side for a big swing and a 12-9 lead and then Julye served up an ace. Julye then had two digs during a long rally that Hoffman finished through the block to fire up the Dawgs at 14-9. Sanders rose up to roof the Lions for 16-11. Bajema had several swings dug on a long rally that Penn State finished to cut it to 17-14 and the Huskies took time. Penn State scored twice more to cut the Husky lead to one, and then UW made a net violation on the block and it was tied at 17-17. The run hit seven in a row and UW needed its last timeout now down 17-19 and struggling to pass. PSU let the Huskies off with a blocking error on the next point to break the 7-0 run. Hoffman ended a messy rally with a crucial stuff to keep the Huskies within one at 20-21, but Drechsel was then blocked in a one-on-one chance on the right. The Huskies gave up two straight aces at the wrong moment to fall down four match points at 20-24. The Dawgs saved the first, but Penn State converted on its next chance to end it, 21-25. Penn State hit .333 in the final set while the Huskies were at .216, with Sanders and Drechsel each killing three. Both teams had three aces, with PSU getting the key ones late.