University of Washington
California
Gritty Huskies' NCAA Run Ends In Elite Eight
December 11, 2010 | Volleyball
Dec. 11, 2010
By Gregg Bell
UW Director of Writing
SEATTLE - The seniors' tears, sniffles and flush faces told more than the scoreboard did: The Huskies' late-season volleyball magic had just run out.
Kindra Carlson did all she could with 20 kills. So did classmates Jenna Hagglund, Becky Perry and rest of their gritty teammates.
Yet they ultimately could not overcome near flawless production from California's middle, and Washington's postseason run ended with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 straight-set loss to the co-Pac-10-champion Bears Saturday night in the regional finals of the NCAA tournament at Hec Edmundson Pavilion in front of 5,363 fans.
Friday night's thrilling, four-set upset of second-seeded Nebraska seemed to sap all the energy from the unseeded Huskies, and energy was among the many things Washington needed to beat the Bears, who made few errors and methodically blocked and dug seemingly everything the Dawgs sent their way.
"Cal played awfully well. They pressured us. They played a complete game. And we did not play up to our capabilities," coach Jim McLaughlin said, after the Huskies were denied a fourth trip to the Final Four in his 10 seasons leading UW.
"Our energy level didn't match (Friday) night. (Friday) night was incredible."
Hagglund offered no excuses.
"We've got to bring the energy somehow," the assist machine said, fighting back tears. "We didn't quite get it up to the level we needed to."
The Huskies, whose season ends at 24-9, could not consistently capitalize on the power of Carlson, their All-Pac-10 hitter. They were unable to maintain the sharpness and energy level that carried them to Friday night's upset of Nebraska in the regional semifinals.
Cal's middles, Hawari, Brown, and Johnson, had 19 kills, seven blocks and just two errors.
"They were getting in the way of everything," marveled Hagglund.
She finished with 36 assists one night after she had 48 for the Huskies, the only unseeded team remaining in the tournament. They finished an uncharacteristic fifth in the Pac-10 this season. It was the first time in six years UW hadn't finished first or second in the conference.
Yet McLaughlin repeatedly declared how proud he was of this team for changing its vibe and becoming far more closely knit midway through the season.
"And that pride comes from how this team changed," the veteran coach said. "And how they changed was, they became better teammates. Going in the gym with them, it was great.
"As hard as they work, you want to get the return at the level. And when you don't, it just stinks. But that's sports."
Hagglund had 36 assists one night after she had 48 for the Huskies, who were denied their fourth trip to the Final Four in 10 seasons under coach Jim McLaughlin. They were the only unseeded team remaining in the tournament.
Carlson led all players with 20 kills and was named to the Seattle All-Region Team along with junior Bianca Rowland, who dominated for UW during the second set and wound up with eight kills and a .353 attack percentage. But rather than hit a lull, Cal wore down the Dawgs late, and UW ran out of gas for good in the third, making 10 errors to drop their overall percent down to .144.
Two of the four entrants in next week's Final Four in Kansas City, Mo., are from the Pac-10. USC, which beat Stanford in five sets earlier Saturday, will meet Cal (29-3) in one national semifinal. Texas and Penn State play the other one on Thursday.
The Bears, the tournament's seventh seed, won all three meetings with the Huskies this season. Two of those wins were in straight sets, and this one left Washington 15-3 in NCAA tournament matches at Hec Ed.
The Huskies trailed 9-4 in the third set then briefly rallied to within 10-7 on consecutive blocks by Bianca Rowland, who made the all-Seattle regional team along with Carlson. But the Bears staged their own block party to build their lead back up to 17-10 and leave McLaughlin shaking his head on the Huskies' bench.
An attack percentage of just .218 doomed the Huskies as they lost the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-20.
Down 13-12 after leading 9-8 in the second set, Washington committed a net violation to spoil a serve by Carlson. Cal then took a 19-15 lead. And after Perry served into the net and the Bears blocked for another point, Cal led 21-16.
Washington got to within 24-20 on a dink by Perry before the Bears closed out the second set 25-20 to put the Huskies' season on the brink.
The Dawgs began determined, seizing a 17-14 lead in the first set. Freshman libero Jenna Orlandini ran into a tunnel 20 feet from the court's backline trying to chase down one errant dig. Later, she blocked one Bears bullet off her collarbone area - then wouldn't acknowledge the sting. Bianca Rowland repeatedly stonewalled Cal shots early. But then Cal reeled off the next five points before McLaughlin called the Huskies over for a time out.
Yet the Bears scored on, building a 21-18 lead before Rowland spiked one to get Washington back within two. Yet a couple of setting and striking errors doomed the Huskies at the end of the opening set, won by Cal 25-21.
Washington had an attack percentage of just .150, its second lowest in 11 sets of the tournament, in that first set. Cal's was .324.
"We hit some balls out of bounds when we were right there," McLaughlin lamented. "And then they dug the heck out of it.
"Cal could win this thing."
Seattle All-Region Team
Most Outstanding Player - Carli Lloyd - California
Kindra Carlson - Washington
Lauren Gibbemeyer - Minnesota
Shannon Hawari - California
Tarah Murrey - California
Bianca Rowland - Washington
Jordan Wilberger - Nebraska
