Huskies Block Back Hoosiers In Sweep

Saturday, September 2

Long Beach, CA

4:00 PM

University of Washington

4-1,0-0Pac-12

Indiana

3-3,0-0Big Ten

Indiana

Washington

September 02, 2023 | Volleyball

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By: UW Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. – In spite of starting a redshirt and a true freshman at both middle blocker spots this season, the Husky blocking game has been flexing its muscles early on this season, and tonight was Exhibit A. Washington swept future Big Ten rival Indiana in the first meeting ever between the programs, as the Huskies posted 13 blocks in the 26-24, 25-22, 25-21 win at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach.

It was the most blocks for the Huskies in a three-set match since the 2020-21 Covid season, when UW had 14 blocks in a sweep of USC on March 14. Leading the charge was senior outside hitter May Pertofsky, who won several one-on-one battles at the pins against the Hoosier hitters. Pertofsky had eight blocks, two solo and six assisted, and freshman Katy Wessels had six block assists while redshirt freshman Elise Hani had five.

WHAT. A. POINT!! The Dawg Block is officially ??#PointHuskies // @ncaavolleyball pic.twitter.com/KyTZnU6cq3
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) September 3, 2023

The Dawgs improved to 4-1 with their fourth-straight victory and open up their home schedule next Thursday against Memphis at Alaska Airlines Arena. Washington hit .292 tonight while Indiana hit at a .202 rate. The Huskies also had a 36-31 edge in digs and 6-5 edge in aces.

Pertofsky also hit .500 with eight kills on 16 swings without a miss to go with her big blocking match. Sophomore Audra Wilmes led the Huskies with 12 kills on a .286 percentage with nine digs and two aces, while Madi Endsley had 10 kills and two blocks. Molly Wilson had 34 assists and Lauren Bays anchored the back row with 10 digs.

"May did a really good job getting across," said Head Coach Leslie Gabriel. "She had some really good one-on-one blocks and took players' shots away. She does that in our gym at practice every day. I was proud of the team because I thought they played really well last night and we challenged them to come in and do what we do again today. They came out ready to go and compete which was really fun to see."

"I think they're excited to finally play on our floor and in front of our fans next week."

BAYS PUNCHES IT UP!! ? Incredible dig!!#PointHuskies // ??? ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/0Bu07cX5oM
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) September 2, 2023

UP NEXT: Washington is ready to greet the Husky faithful next week in the first three matches of the home season. Washington first plays Memphis on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., then takes on UNLV on Friday at 7 p.m. and after one day off, the weekend ends with Florida International at 12 noon on Sunday, Sept. 10.

SET ONE: Wessels grabbed the first kill of the match and Pertofsky followed for 2-0. Wilmes had an offspeed kill on the left then ripped one up the line from the right, and then drove an ace off the Hoosiers to make it 9-6 Dawgs. A Bays serve was overpassed and Hani killed a quick for 11-7 and Indiana took time. After Indiana got within one, UW went back up by four on a Wilson ace and a block from Pertofsky and Wessels to make it 17-13. Again Indiana rallied and tied it for the first time at 19-19. Pertofsky broke the 20-20 tie with a right side kill in serve-receive, then Hani and Wilson stopped the next point with a block for 22-20 to force an Indiana timeout. Out of the break, Hani killed a slide for 23-20. Endsley shoved one through the block to get the Huskies to set point at 24-22. Indiana saved both, but the Dawgs got a third chance at 25-24 after an Indiana service error. Maeve Griffin then subbed in and put a stop to things, as she floated an ace off the Hoosiers for the 26-24 win.

The Huskies hit .286 in set one as Molly Wilson racked up 15 assists in the opener. Audra Wilmes had four kills and six digs.

SET TWO: An ace from Bays and a block by Wessels and Endsley helped the Huskies out to a 4-1 lead to start the second set. Wilson dumped one to make it 6-2. Wilson connected with Pertofsky for a kill and a 10-5 lead, then Wilmes attacked an out of system bump set from Pertofsky and killed it for 11-5. But Indiana rallied back with a 4-0 run to force a Husky timeout at 11-9. The Hoosiers kept the serving pressure going and tied it at 12-all, but a one-fisted dig by Bays led to a Wilmes kill for 13-12. Wilmes then tacked on another ace for the two-point lead. Indiana gave UW three points on missed serves, then Wilmes crushed one from the left for 19-17. Pertofsky sniffed out the tip attempt and blocked it back for a big point for 21-18. Indiana took timeout, but on the next point, a Wilmes serve was overpassed and Endsley put it down and Indiana instantly took another timeout at 22-18. Indiana got a sideout, but Pertofsky solo stuffed the Hoosiers on the next point for 23-19. A 3-0 Indiana run made it 23-22, with Pertofsky coming up with the big finish to get UW to set point. Kayce Litzau checked in to serve, and after a long rally, Wilson got offensive and snuck one past the defense for the 25-22 winner.

The teams were nearly even, with UW hitting .267 and Indiana at .257 in the set, but two aces and only one service error compared to one ace and four serve errors played a part.

SET THREE: Pertofsky's sixth kill opened the third set. Like in set two, the Huskies opened a big early lead but then had to withstand a Hoosier rally. Hani had a kill and Griffin had her second ace to help open up a 7-3 lead, and then a block by Wessels and Pertofsky made it 9-4. Another Husky block by Pertofsky and Hani had it at 13-8 but that's when Indiana scored five straight to tie it and force a Husky timeout. Endsley was aggressive on a tough set out of the break for a big kill for 14-13, and a swing from Wilmes made it 16-15, but Indiana inched ahead for the first time at 16-17. UW retook the lead on another block from Pertofsky and Wessels for 18-17, then another solo roof from Pertofsky made it 20-18 and forced an Indiana timeout. ndsley crushed one down for 21-19, then Indiana missed long for 22-19 and IU used its last timeout. A long rally was ended with another UW rejection, Wilson and Hani getting it at the right pin, for 23-20, then Indiana misfired to reach match point. On the second chance, Indiana served long to end it, 25-21.

The Huskies had their best hitting in the third set, going at a .333 clip while Indiana hit .139, thanks largely to a massive seven Husky blocks in the third set, with Pertofsky in on five of those.