Huskies Sweep Grambling To Cap Opening Week

Saturday, August 26

Hammond, LA

9:00 AM

University of Washington

2-1,0-0Pac-12

Grambling State

0-3,0-0SWAC

Washington

Grambling

August 26, 2023 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score PDF

By: UW Athletic Communications

HAMMOND, La. – Madi Endsley put down a dozen kills on a .550 attack percentage to lead the Husky volleyball team to an emphatic sweep over Grambling at the Pride Roofing University Center on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana. Washington hit .329 as a team and had a 10-1 edge in aces in posting a 25-16, 25-14, 25-9 win and ending the opening week of the season with a 2-1 record.

"All weekend I thought our serve-and-pass game was strong," said Gabriel. "I thought we won that battle in all three matches. Today one of the things we asked them to work on was off-blocker coverage, getting more rolls and tips, and I thought they did a good job of that. This group does a good job when given a specific task."

Endsley's 12 kills came on 20 swings with just one error. Audra Wilmes had seven kills in just two sets, and May Pertofsky had six kills in two sets, playing both outside and middle blocker, and hitting .545 today. Molly Wilson had 29 assists while Lauren Bays racked up 17 digs and Grace Zilbert led the serving charge with three aces.

UP NEXT: Washington remains on the road but sticks to the West Coast next week as it visits Long Beach State, which on Friday upset No. 1-ranked Texas. The Huskies will play Long Beach State next Friday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m. and then battle a future Big Ten rival in Indiana on Sept. 2 at 4 p.m.

SET ONE: The Huskies jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opener, starting with a Pertofsky kill and an ace by Bays. Hani and Barton had their first kills for 8-4. Grambling scored four straight to tie it at 8, but Endsley answered with her first kill. The teams traded sideouts back and forth. Hani killed a slide for 15-14 and then Barton served up an ace for 16-14. Hani then aced the Tigers, and Katy Wessels had a block to make it 19-15. Another tough Hani serve was overpassed and Wessels went up for the kill for 21-15. Wessels and Pertofsky assisted on a stuff for 23-16, and then Wessels had another kill set by Wilson to reach set point at 24-16. A Grambling attack error ended it, 25-16. Washington hit .296 in the opener with three kills each from Pertofsky and Endsley.

SET TWO: Barton got a kill to open the second set and then Zilbert notched an ace. Barton and Hani rejected one and then Barton had another kill for a 4-0 start for the second set in a row. Pertofsky got some time at middle blocker, and she stuffed one Tigers swing for 6-2 and then she crushed a quick set from Wilson on the next point for 7-2. Audra Wilmes checked in on the outside and had a couple quick kills to make it 11-4. Hani put down a transition kill for 13-8. Hani and Endsley met for a block for 15-9. Maeve Griffin served up an ace for 19-11. The Huskies scored the final five points of the set on Bays' serve, as Wilmes had two kills and Hani added another. The Dawgs took it, 25-14, hitting .355 with 13 kills on 31 swings. Bays had a big nine digs in the set.

SET THREE: Wilmes dropped one into the campfire to start the third set. Hani put one down for 4-2. Endsley had three kills in a row and a fourth two points later as the Huskies extended to a 9-4 advantage. A couple Grambling errors made it 12-5 Dawgs and the Tigers called time. Zilbert served up two-straight aces as the Huskies continued to pull away. A kill by Wilmes and an ace from Bays made it 18-6 and Grambling used its last timeout. Barton had an ace for 20, and Wessels had a solo block for 23-9. Endsley got the Dawgs to match point with a kill and then Maeve Griffin ended it with an ace at 25-9. The Huskies hit .333 and held Grambling to .000 in the final set, as Endsley put down seven kills in the third.