Friday, August 30
Honolulu, HI
7:45 PM
University of Washington
vs
St. John's (New York)
No. 13 Huskies Open 2019 Season In Honolulu
August 28, 2019 | Volleyball
THIS WEEK IN HUSKY VOLLEYBALL
RAINBOW WAHINE CLASSIC
STAN SHERIFF CENTER โข HONOLULU, HAWAII
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
#13 Washington vs. St. John's โข 7:45 pm PT | Live Statsย
#21 San Diego at Hawaii โข 10 pm PT
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
#13 Washington vs. #21 San Diego ย โข 7:45 pm PT | Live Statsย
St. John's at Hawaii โข 10 pm PT
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
St. John's vs. #21 San Diego ย โข 5:45 pm PT
#13 Washington at Hawaii โข 8 pm PT | Live Stats | Live Video
SEATTLE - The 13th-ranked Washington volleyball team hits the road for the first time in 2019, and a long road it will be. The Huskies kick off their year with three matches in Honolulu this Friday-Sunday as part of the Rainbow Wahine Classic. But that is just the first of four consecutive road trips to start the year for the soon-to-be road warriors. After just one home match on Sept. 21, it's two more road trips to follow, making for 13 of the first 14 matches of the year away from Seattle.
Washington brings a much more seasoned roster into the start of 2019 compared to a year ago. Every starter returns from UW's postseason starting lineup, and the Huskies have 12 letterwinners back this year. Things came together late in 2018 for the Dawgs as they earned an NCAA second round upset at Creighton and played a closely contested Round of 16 match against Penn State. The Huskies are aiming to recapture that level and surpass it as they look to play their way back into the top-10 this season and position themselves for another postseason run.
Leading the way is a four-member senior class made up of Kara Bajema, Shayne McPherson, Avie Niece, and Cailin Onosko. Fifth-year Head Coach Keegan Cook has been thrilled with the way the four have continued to improve each and every season, and looks for the group to lead UW with their best seasons to date.
"The seniors are still improving, which is something they should be very proud of," says Cook. "They have a lot of experience; they've been in some big matches in the tournament and played against some outstanding teams, but they also have an energy and a drive right now to improve, and it's visible. To see them still making changes and improving sets a tone for the rest of the group that it's about growth, it has and will always be about growing and improving."
The seniors were freshmen when UW last visited Hawaii back in 2016, when the Huskies pulled out a five set win over the Rainbow Wahine.
The Rainbow Wahine Classic will feature the Huskies, Hawaii, St. John's, and San Diego. The Huskies will open up on Friday against St. John's, at 7:45 pm Pacific time/4:45 pm in Honolulu at the Stan Sheriff Center. On Saturday the Huskies face 21st-ranked San Diego with the same 7:45 PT/4:45 PT start time. Then on Sunday the Huskies and Hawaii meet at 8 pm PT/5 pm HT to finish the opening weekend.
All matches will be live streamed on BigWest.tv.
Washington's first opponent, the St. John's Red Storm, was picked to finish third in the Big East preseason poll behind Marquette and Creighton. Last year St. John's had the Big East Freshman of the Year in Efrosini Alexakou and the Big East Libero of the Year in Amanda Sanabia. Alexakou led St. John's last season with 3.67 kills per set. Senior setter Erica Di Maulo is also an All-Big East Team returner. St. John's was 23-12 last year, qualifying for the NIVC tournament and falling in the first round.
The Huskies and Toreros played back to back matches to open up the 2018 season, with the Huskies pulling out wins in Seattle in both. But San Diego went on to rack up 18 wins against 13 defeats and joined the Huskies in the NCAA Round of 16 by upsetting USC in the second round last year. San Diego is ranked 21st in the AVCA preseason poll, and was picked to finish second in the WCC behind only BYU. Senior middle blocker Megan Jacobsen, sophomore outside hitter Katie Lukes, and junior outside hitter Roxie Wiblin were all named to the 2019 All-WCC Preseason Team.
The host Hawaii is receiving votes in the first AVCA coaches poll after a season that saw the Rainbow Wahine go 18-9 overall and 14-2 to take second in the Big West. Hawaii made the NCAA tournament for the 26th year in a row, losing in the first round. They have a whopping nine new players this year including four transfers from Pac-12 schools, three from Oregon and one from Utah. Leading the returners is senior setter Norene Iosia who had four triple-doubles last year.
RAINBOW WAHINE CLASSIC
STAN SHERIFF CENTER โข HONOLULU, HAWAII
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
#13 Washington vs. St. John's โข 7:45 pm PT | Live Statsย
#21 San Diego at Hawaii โข 10 pm PT
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
#13 Washington vs. #21 San Diego ย โข 7:45 pm PT | Live Statsย
St. John's at Hawaii โข 10 pm PT
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
St. John's vs. #21 San Diego ย โข 5:45 pm PT
#13 Washington at Hawaii โข 8 pm PT | Live Stats | Live Video
SEATTLE - The 13th-ranked Washington volleyball team hits the road for the first time in 2019, and a long road it will be. The Huskies kick off their year with three matches in Honolulu this Friday-Sunday as part of the Rainbow Wahine Classic. But that is just the first of four consecutive road trips to start the year for the soon-to-be road warriors. After just one home match on Sept. 21, it's two more road trips to follow, making for 13 of the first 14 matches of the year away from Seattle.
Washington brings a much more seasoned roster into the start of 2019 compared to a year ago. Every starter returns from UW's postseason starting lineup, and the Huskies have 12 letterwinners back this year. Things came together late in 2018 for the Dawgs as they earned an NCAA second round upset at Creighton and played a closely contested Round of 16 match against Penn State. The Huskies are aiming to recapture that level and surpass it as they look to play their way back into the top-10 this season and position themselves for another postseason run.
Leading the way is a four-member senior class made up of Kara Bajema, Shayne McPherson, Avie Niece, and Cailin Onosko. Fifth-year Head Coach Keegan Cook has been thrilled with the way the four have continued to improve each and every season, and looks for the group to lead UW with their best seasons to date.
"The seniors are still improving, which is something they should be very proud of," says Cook. "They have a lot of experience; they've been in some big matches in the tournament and played against some outstanding teams, but they also have an energy and a drive right now to improve, and it's visible. To see them still making changes and improving sets a tone for the rest of the group that it's about growth, it has and will always be about growing and improving."
The seniors were freshmen when UW last visited Hawaii back in 2016, when the Huskies pulled out a five set win over the Rainbow Wahine.
The Rainbow Wahine Classic will feature the Huskies, Hawaii, St. John's, and San Diego. The Huskies will open up on Friday against St. John's, at 7:45 pm Pacific time/4:45 pm in Honolulu at the Stan Sheriff Center. On Saturday the Huskies face 21st-ranked San Diego with the same 7:45 PT/4:45 PT start time. Then on Sunday the Huskies and Hawaii meet at 8 pm PT/5 pm HT to finish the opening weekend.
All matches will be live streamed on BigWest.tv.
Washington's first opponent, the St. John's Red Storm, was picked to finish third in the Big East preseason poll behind Marquette and Creighton. Last year St. John's had the Big East Freshman of the Year in Efrosini Alexakou and the Big East Libero of the Year in Amanda Sanabia. Alexakou led St. John's last season with 3.67 kills per set. Senior setter Erica Di Maulo is also an All-Big East Team returner. St. John's was 23-12 last year, qualifying for the NIVC tournament and falling in the first round.
The Huskies and Toreros played back to back matches to open up the 2018 season, with the Huskies pulling out wins in Seattle in both. But San Diego went on to rack up 18 wins against 13 defeats and joined the Huskies in the NCAA Round of 16 by upsetting USC in the second round last year. San Diego is ranked 21st in the AVCA preseason poll, and was picked to finish second in the WCC behind only BYU. Senior middle blocker Megan Jacobsen, sophomore outside hitter Katie Lukes, and junior outside hitter Roxie Wiblin were all named to the 2019 All-WCC Preseason Team.
The host Hawaii is receiving votes in the first AVCA coaches poll after a season that saw the Rainbow Wahine go 18-9 overall and 14-2 to take second in the Big West. Hawaii made the NCAA tournament for the 26th year in a row, losing in the first round. They have a whopping nine new players this year including four transfers from Pac-12 schools, three from Oregon and one from Utah. Leading the returners is senior setter Norene Iosia who had four triple-doubles last year.
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballDAWGS GET IT DONE!! ๐ค
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Back in front with Set 3! Let's close it out!
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Amazing up from Alexis and Kierstyn finishes a brilliant first set from the Dawgs
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Huskies Take Set 1 vs Illinois ๐ฅ
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