Wednesday, September 25
Pullman, WA
5:30 PM
University of Washington
at
Washington State
Photo by: Red Box Pictures
No. 8 Huskies Pack Bags Again For Pac-12 Opener
September 24, 2019 | Volleyball
THIS WEEK IN HUSKY VOLLEYBALL
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
#8 Washington at Washington State • 5:30 pm | Live Stats
Pullman, Wash. • Bohler Gym
Live on Pac-12 Networks National
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
#8 Washington at #1 Stanford • 2 pm | Live Stats
Stanford, Calif. • Maples Pavilion
Live on Pac-12 Networks National
SEATTLE - After a smashing opening debut at home it's back on the road for the eighth-ranked Huskies. Pac-12 play starts with the Huskies in familiar territory: opposing arenas. First up will be the first meeting in the Boeing Apple Cup Series as the Huskies head to Pullman to take on the Cougars this Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. Something will have to give as the Huskies come in on a seven-match winning streak and the Cougars have won 10 in a row and 30 of their past 32 sets.
From there the Dawgs will be off to the Bay Area for their only meeting this season with No. 1-ranked and defending NCAA Champion Stanford this Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m.
Both matches this week will be televised on the main Pac-12 Networks channel.
Washington finished the non-conference season at 9-1 with five wins over Top-25 opponents including a home-and-home series sweep of then-No. 9 Wisconsin last week. The wins moved the Huskies up two spots in the newest AVCA coaches poll to a season-high No. 8 ranking.
Senior Kara Bajema was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for the second-straight week on Monday. She had 19 kills in each of the wins over the Badgers while hitting .356 and adding three aces, 19 digs, and 8 blocks. Senior Avie Niece averaged 2.00 blocks per set last week and that also earned her the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor, the second of her career.
Washington State reached the Sweet 16 a year ago, falling to eventual champion Stanford. The Cougars have replaced some key players from that squad and gone 11-1 thus far, their one loss coming in the second match of the season against Iowa, which UW beat in four sets. The Cougars are holding opponents to just a .107 attack percentage while hitting .251. Strong serving has also been a key, as WSU averages 2.03 aces per set. A freshman, Pia Timmer, has led the offense with 2.92 kills per set. Senior middle Jocelyn Urias contributes 2.14 kills per set and hits .299 while a freshman middle, Magda Jehlarova, is averaging 1.61 blocks per set and hitting .356. Senior libero Alexis Dirige averages 4.55 digs per set and she and Penny Tusa both average 0.45 aces per set. The Huskies and Cougars split last season, each winning at home in five sets.
Stanford is back at No. 1 in the latest AVCA rankings despite going 1-1 last week. But the win was on the road over then-No. 1 Nebraska, followed by a home loss to then-No. 12 BYU. The defending Pac-12 and NCAA Champion Cardinal have played an extremely challenging schedule, with wins already over Nebraska, Texas, Florida, and Penn State. They've gone 6-2 with the other loss against Minnesota. Stanford's senior class is looking to win a third NCAA title in their four years. Four are returning All-Americans: First Team setter Jenna Gray, First Team libero Morgan Hentz, First Team and two-time National Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer, and Second Team right side Audriana Fitzmorris. Plummer continues to excel this year with 5.37 kills per set hitting .326. The Cardinal also have a strong block with 2.80 blocks per set, with 1.38 per set from middle Holly Campbell and 1.33 from former UCLA Bruin Madeleine Gates. Hentz is averaging 5.10 digs per set. Stanford won both meetings with the Huskies last season.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
#8 Washington at Washington State • 5:30 pm | Live Stats
Pullman, Wash. • Bohler Gym
Live on Pac-12 Networks National
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
#8 Washington at #1 Stanford • 2 pm | Live Stats
Stanford, Calif. • Maples Pavilion
Live on Pac-12 Networks National
SEATTLE - After a smashing opening debut at home it's back on the road for the eighth-ranked Huskies. Pac-12 play starts with the Huskies in familiar territory: opposing arenas. First up will be the first meeting in the Boeing Apple Cup Series as the Huskies head to Pullman to take on the Cougars this Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. Something will have to give as the Huskies come in on a seven-match winning streak and the Cougars have won 10 in a row and 30 of their past 32 sets.
From there the Dawgs will be off to the Bay Area for their only meeting this season with No. 1-ranked and defending NCAA Champion Stanford this Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m.
Both matches this week will be televised on the main Pac-12 Networks channel.
Washington finished the non-conference season at 9-1 with five wins over Top-25 opponents including a home-and-home series sweep of then-No. 9 Wisconsin last week. The wins moved the Huskies up two spots in the newest AVCA coaches poll to a season-high No. 8 ranking.
Senior Kara Bajema was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for the second-straight week on Monday. She had 19 kills in each of the wins over the Badgers while hitting .356 and adding three aces, 19 digs, and 8 blocks. Senior Avie Niece averaged 2.00 blocks per set last week and that also earned her the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor, the second of her career.
Washington State reached the Sweet 16 a year ago, falling to eventual champion Stanford. The Cougars have replaced some key players from that squad and gone 11-1 thus far, their one loss coming in the second match of the season against Iowa, which UW beat in four sets. The Cougars are holding opponents to just a .107 attack percentage while hitting .251. Strong serving has also been a key, as WSU averages 2.03 aces per set. A freshman, Pia Timmer, has led the offense with 2.92 kills per set. Senior middle Jocelyn Urias contributes 2.14 kills per set and hits .299 while a freshman middle, Magda Jehlarova, is averaging 1.61 blocks per set and hitting .356. Senior libero Alexis Dirige averages 4.55 digs per set and she and Penny Tusa both average 0.45 aces per set. The Huskies and Cougars split last season, each winning at home in five sets.
Stanford is back at No. 1 in the latest AVCA rankings despite going 1-1 last week. But the win was on the road over then-No. 1 Nebraska, followed by a home loss to then-No. 12 BYU. The defending Pac-12 and NCAA Champion Cardinal have played an extremely challenging schedule, with wins already over Nebraska, Texas, Florida, and Penn State. They've gone 6-2 with the other loss against Minnesota. Stanford's senior class is looking to win a third NCAA title in their four years. Four are returning All-Americans: First Team setter Jenna Gray, First Team libero Morgan Hentz, First Team and two-time National Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer, and Second Team right side Audriana Fitzmorris. Plummer continues to excel this year with 5.37 kills per set hitting .326. The Cardinal also have a strong block with 2.80 blocks per set, with 1.38 per set from middle Holly Campbell and 1.33 from former UCLA Bruin Madeleine Gates. Hentz is averaging 5.10 digs per set. Stanford won both meetings with the Huskies last season.
Players Mentioned
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