University of Washington
Oregon State
Seniors Go Out With Sweep Of Oregon State
November 27, 2010 | Volleyball
Nov. 27, 2010
SEATTLE - Family and friends of the three seniors on the 13th-ranked Washington volleyball team already had a big party planned after tonight's match against Oregon State, so it was up to the Huskies to boost the celebratory atmosphere. Washington was able to take care of business in the regular season finale, defeating the Beavers 25-23, 25-17, 25-18, in front of 2,694 fans at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
Washington's senior trio of setter Jenna Hagglund, and outside hitters Kindra Carlson and Becky Perry are now all but assured of their fourth-straight NCAA Championship appearance. The Huskies finished the regular season at 21-8 and 10-8 in the Pac-10, good for fifth place alone, and will now await their NCAA tournament fate, which will be announced tomorrow at 12 noon on ESPNews. Seattle is one of four host sites for the Regional round, which follows first and second round play.
"I think we've got a chance, I really do," said head coach Jim McLaughlin, who has led UW to eight-straight NCAA tourneys. "I think the firepower is there. We had to go through some things to get the vibe right on this team. With this conference being as good as it is, you can finish in the top half and still have a chance to get to the Final Four and win it. Now as we know it's a function of getting hot, and we'll see where we have to go and we have to get hot for six games."
Carlson was the offensive star tonight for the Dawgs. The All-American from Eaton, Colorado had 19 kills in just three sets, hitting .395, and closed out the match with authority on a Hagglund set on match point. Perry added nine kills and six digs, and Hagglund dished 35 assists while directing the team to a .281 attack percentage compared to .212 for Oregon State.
"The seniors for sure have led the charge. They've been in it for all the right reasons," McLaughlin said.
The Beavers wanted to send their three seniors out with a win in what would be their last match of the season. Oregon State took an early four-point lead in the first set at 11-7. But just then the Huskies went on a 5-0 run to take back the lead. Bianca Rowland got the sideout with the kill, and then Jenna Orlandini, who led the defense with 18 digs tonight, served the run. A kill from Carlson tied it at 11 and an ace by Orlandini put UW ahead for the first time in the match. The teams traded the lead until consecutive kills by Kylin Muñoz and Carlson made it 18-17 UW and prompted OSU's first timeout. An ace from Kelly Holford and a Beaver miscue on the next point made it 21-18 Dawgs and the Beavers took their last timeout. Hagglund put away a pass up close to the net, and then served up an ace for set point at 24-20. The Beavers saved three but Carlson put it away in the end with her sixth kill of the set, 25-23.
OSU got the first point of the second set, but then the Huskies went on a five-point surge to take control early. Carlson had two kills in the run and teamed up with Rowland for a block to make it 5-1 UW. A Perry swing and an OSU error made it 10-5 and the Beavers called time. Oregon State cut the lead to three, but another Husky push was punctuated by a Rowland and Hagglund block and OSU needed time again with the lead back out to 17-11. Orlandini notched an ace for a 19-12 edge. One final Beaver gasp made it 21-17, and UW called time, but the Huskies bounded back out with the final four points to end the set. Hagglund hooked up with Carlson, then Rowland, then back to Carlson again to get to set point and OSU misfired its last swing for a 25-17 UW win. UW improved to .324 on offense in the second while OSU hit just .147, and Carlson again led with six kills while Rowland had three on four swings.
Kelcey Dunaway served several of UW's best runs tonight, and an early four-point run gave the Huskies a 5-2 lead in set three. Rowland had three kills early and Muñoz added a pair. A Perry blast made it 11-6 Dawgs and the Beavers whistled for time. But Orlandini dialed up another ace right out of the break. Oregon State trimmed the lead to two points on two occasions, but could not get any closer. Perry and Carlson came up with clutch kills each time OSU threatened. A block assist by Barfield and Carlson put it back at 20-16 and the Beavers called time again. But Perry and Carlson again terminated the next two rallies to help break it open. Barfield brought the fans to their feet for match point, and Hagglund looked for her rightside senior teammate Carlson on the next rally to end Senior Night in style with a kill straight to the floor. Hagglund had 13 assists in the third, with Carlson posting seven kills and Perry adding four more.
The NCAA Championships will begin this coming weekend with Washington ready to dance for the ninth-straight year.
