Dawgs Claim BYU Invite Title With Sweep Of UMBC

PROVO, Utah – The fifth-ranked Husky volleyball team wrapped up its second tournament title in as many weeks, sweeping UMBC this afternoon at Smith Fieldhouse, the second win of the day for UW after a morning sweep of Utah Valley. The Huskies took the BYU Invitational hardware with a 3-0 weekend, having toppled Brigham Young on Friday night.

This afternoon against the Retrievers (4-3) the Huskies (6-0) spread the wealth around, with 12 players seeing the court. Junior Kim Condie got the start at libero for the first time in her Husky career. Also getting on the court for the first time this year was sophomore Justice Magraw, and redshirt freshman Jade Finau had her first career assists, with 13, as she rotated at setter all three sets with Katy Beals.

Washington hit .312 to win in straight sets, 25-10, 25-14, 25-17. UMBC was held to a negative attack mark, -.056, with 22 kills to 27 errors. Freshman Courtney Schwan led the Huskies in kills for the first time, earning 10 with seven digs and hitting .421. All-American Krista Vansant, who was named the tournament MVP, had eight kills on nine swings, with all of her kills in the first set. Lianna Sybeldon was also named to the All-Tournament Team, as she added six blocks, averaging 2.18 blocks per set for the weekend.

Vansant sent down a couple early kills to get things going in the first set. Courtney Schwan’s first kill was soon followed by a back row finish from Vansant for a 5-3 edge. Finau checked in early in the first set as part of the setter rotation. Crissy Jones hung in the air to block down a tip attempt for 8-5 Dawgs. Jones connected in transition to push the lead to 14-9, then a tough Finau serve led to a UMBC error. Sybeldon and Jones then earned a block to make it 16-9 and prompt a Retrievers timeout. A well-disguised Schwan roll shot kill made it 17-10, then the Dawgs put up a triple block with Jones, Sybeldon, and Vansant. Schwan notched an ace for 19-10, then Vansant and Sybeldon rejected another swing to extend the run. A UMBC setting error forced their last timeout as UW was up 21-10, and on a 12-1 run. Another Vansant kill and a block by Jones and Sybeldon to quash a long rally made it 23-10. Another block by Vansant and Sybeldon took the Dawgs to set point, and a final Vansant swing ended it, 25-10, as Schwan was responsible for serving out the final eight points. Washington hit .423 in the set with Finau getting the first seven assists of her career. Vansant killed all eight of the swings she took in the first set, and Sybeldon had five block assists to help put UMBC in the red with a -.074 attack percentage.

Melanie Wade posted back to back blocks to get the Huskies up early, 4-1, in set two. Kaleigh Nelson’s first kill and a block by Schwan and Sybeldon helped fuel another big Husky run, as UW reeled off six in a row to take a 12-3 lead and force the UMBC timeout. Nelson added another out of the break before Wade’s next serve drifted long to make it 13-4. Freshman Tia Scambray subbed in for Vansant at 15-5, giving the Dawgs three true freshmen and one redshirt frosh on the court at once. Scambray tooled the block for her first point, making it 16-6. Beals rotated back in and dropped an ace off the net for 18-7. A nice play late with a dig from Beals, a set from Wade, and a finish by Schwan ran the lead to 21-9. Sophomore Justice Magraw made her 2014 season debut to serve at 22-10. Two more Schwan shots helped the Huskies get to set point at 24-12. Jones punched down a Finau back set on the right side to bring the set to a close, 25-14 for the Dawgs. The Huskies held the big attacking edge in the second, hitting .391 to -.030 for the Retrievers. Schwan’s five kills led the Huskies in the second set, as she hit .714.

In the third set, the Huskies went with a lineup of Wade and Sybeldon in the middle, Scambray, Schwan, and redshirt freshman Carly DeHoog on the outside, and Beals at setter, with Condie remaining the libero. DeHoog put her first shot down for a kill, then Scambray served up an ace for a 3-1 lead. Wade banged down a Beals quick set and then dropped an ace off the net for a 5-4 Husky lead. A couple breakdowns on UMBC’s side helped UW out to the 9-6 edge. After UMBC got within one, Schwan and Wade teamed for a roof and Schwan rolled one over the block for a 14-10 lead. An ace from Wade had the Dawgs up 16-12. Sybeldon’s first kill of the evening was followed by a Retrievers swing into the net for 18-14. A low, driving float from Finau resulted in an ace, the first of her career, and gave UW more breathing room at 20-14. Magraw checked in to serve once again at 22-15, and UMBC called timeout. Magraw added a nice dig that led to a Scambray kill, as she brought UW to match point, and then ended it with a second kill, 25-17. The Huskies hit just .143 in the final set but again held UMBC to more errors than kills, hitting -.067.

Washington now heads home for its home opener this coming Thursday, Sept. 11, at 7:00 p.m. against Seattle U.