Huskies Win Bobcat Invite With Sweep Of Boise State

Saturday, September 17

Bozeman, MT

10:00 AM

University of Washington

8-2,0-0Pac-12

Boise State

8-3,0-0Mountain West

Washington

Boise St.

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

September 17, 2022 | Volleyball

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By: UW Athletic Communications

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Husky defense clamped down to secure another straight-set victory, as Washington claimed the Bobcat Invitational with a 25-13, 25-21, 25-22 win over Boise State at Montana State's Shroyer Gymnasium. The Dawgs posted 11 blocks and 47 digs and held the Broncos to an .020 attack percentage.

The Huskies finish nonconference play with a 8-2 record and have won four in a row heading into conference play, which starts at home against rival WSU this coming Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Playing its third match in just over twenty-four hours, Washington wasn't quite as sharp on offense today as its two matches on Friday, hitting .231, but UW had a big edge in kills, 44-25, and the advantage in blocks and digs.

"We say learning isn't linear, but at the same time we haven't been very patient putting a lot of work into our defense, and we've been waiting for a moment like this when both the block and the back row show up at the same time," said Head Coach Keegan Cook. "A lot of great performances that represent a lot of learning. I'd say it was a great job by our defensive specialists."

Ella May Powell had a double-double with 31 assists and 11 digs. Madi Endsley had a big match with 14 kills on a .310 attack percentage and Claire Hoffman added 13 kills and four blocks.

The block was led by sophomore Sophie Summers who rejected a career-high seven, while adding five kills. Marin Grote had seven kills on 11 swings to hit .636 with two blocks.

Sianna Houghton made her third-straight start at libero and had 13 digs and three assists. Freshman Kate Morin also had nine digs, an assist and an ace.

UP NEXT: Washington starts the 20-match run through the Pac-12 at home this coming Wednesday, Sept. 21, hosting the rival Washington State Cougars in the first half of the Boeing Apple Cup Series. The match will start at 6 p.m. and be live on Pac-12 Networks

SET ONE: The Huskies jumped out to a 6-1 lead to force an early Boise State timeout. Endsley had the first two kills, then Hoffman had a solo block followed by a pair of in-transition kills in the early run. A couple Bronco blocks cut the lead to three at 8-5. Grote had a kill on the slide but BSU got within a point at 10-9 before missing serve. Then Powell hit down an overpass for a kill after a Molly Wilson serve, and Boise State missed its next swing as UW went back up, 13-9, forcing the last Broncos timeout. BSU got the sideout but the Huskies went on another 3-0 run after that, with back-to-back rejections with Summers in the middle on both, one with Endsley and one with Bush. Endsley and Hoffman put away two more for an 18-11 lead. At 20-13, the Huskies finished on a 5-0 run to close it out, including a terrific bump set from the back of the court by Kate Morin that Hoffman put away off the block. Endsley served up an ace to cap it off, 25-13. From the 10-9 point, the Huskies put on a 15-4 run to take the set.

SET TWO: Endsley picked up where she left off in the first with a kill to open set two. Hoffman then had a solo block, and another block from Summers and Hoffman made it 3-1. Endsley gave the Dawgs a 4-2 lead but Boise State scored three-straight to go up one. Kills by Hoffman evened it up at 5-5 and at 6-6. Some fantastic defensive saves from the back row led to a stuff by Summers and Bush to tie it at 7, and then Endsley tooled the block on the right, followed by another Summers-Bush stuff for 9-7. The duo then added a third in four points for a 10-7 lead, forcing a Boise State timeout. The Broncos rallied to tie it at 11, but Endsley had a kill to regain the lead. A great dig by Morin led to a Grote tip kill for 14-12. Grote then hit down an overpass off the Endsley serve, and Boise State made a pair of errors and took timeout at 17-12. A pair of finishes for Grote and an ace by Molly Wilson got UW to 21-15. Boise State got within three, but Endsley rocketed one for set point at 24-20. UW converted its second chance on a Hoffman swing to the crosscourt corner for 25-21.

SET THREE: Morin opened the third set with an ace. On a broken play, Olivia Mikkelsen took a swing out of the back row and spun it to the back line for a kill, and then Summers and Powell teamed for a block on the next point for a 6-4 lead. A lengthy rally was ended by a tip over the block and down from Endsley for 9-7. Endsley then crashed one off the block and down and Boise State made a couple errors as UW built a 12-7 lead and the Broncos took time. The Huskies made a few errors as Boise State pulled back within a point at 13-12, but Hoffman then notched two kills in a row on the left, and Powell banged down an overpass from the Endsley serve for a 3-0 run to 16-12. A roof put up by Grote and Powell made it 18-14, and Endsley finished another for a 21-15 lead. The Broncos cut the lead in half to 21-18, but Summers responded with a big kill, tipping over the block. Summers had another quick kill from Powell for 23-19. But another 3-0 Boise State run made it 23-22 and forced UW's first timeout. Wilmes had a solid pass and Powell went to Grote for a kill in the middle to reach match point at 24-22. On the next rally, Hoffman had two swings in tough positions and the Dawgs kept the point alive and got her a third look that she ripped off the Bronco defense and out for the winner, 25-22.