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Huskies Sweep Bulldogs To Finish Nonconference

by gohuskies.com
Sep 16, 2021

SEATTLE – After some intense drama earlier in the day, the seventh-ranked Husky volleyball team got out in front tonight and then never looked back, sweeping Fresno State 25-23, 25-17, 25-17 in front of 1,388 fans at Alaska Airlines Arena. Washington finishes up non-conference play with a 7-1 record and completed a 2-0 double-header today in its home opener.
 
In the matinee match, Washington battled back to fend off a serious upset bid from Montana State, winning 16-14 in the fifth set after trailing 5-10 in the last set.

 
Although the Dawgs got the sweep, Head Coach Keegan Cook said that midway through set two it still felt "like we were grinding too much. (Associate Head Coach) Tui got us on the right mindset to bring some energy and positivity, and the team responded and did a really nice job from there on out. Madi Endsley finished the match extremely well, Sam Drechsel was really good start to finish, and the middles picked up where they left off this morning."
 
The Dawgs hit .316 tonight with 37 assists from All-American setter Ella May Powell, who became the third Husky ever to pass 4,000 career assists tonight, now with 4,002.
 
Samantha Drechsel and Madi Endsley led the offense with 13 kills and 12 kills, respectively, both hitting over .300. Marin Grote hit .615 with eight kills on 13 attempts without an error, and Sophie Summers hit .625, putting down six of eight attempts with just one error.
 
The first set had plenty of drama, as the Huskies fell behind early, 2-7, but worked back even for the first time at 14-all. But the Bulldogs (3-4) went back up by two at 20-22. Washington came back with a 4-0 run on Drechsel's serve, and won the set on its second set point. Another slow start in the second set was erased by a 12-2 Husky run midway through the set, and the Dawgs controlled the third from start to finish.
 
With conference play looming, "We'll take a couple days to rest here and then assess where we need to go," said Cook. "Won't have to wait long to play a really good Utah team. These first four matches of Pac-12 play are going to be pretty intense, with three of them at home. So I'm looking forward to seeing this place filled with fans and getting after it with our team."
 
UP NEXT: Washington starts off Pac-12 play at home with a nationally televised match on ESPNU against 10th-ranked Utah. The Huskies and Utes go at it next Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m. Pacific
 

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