University of Washington
Boise State
No. 8 UW Handles Boise State In Three
September 03, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2011
» Game One Recap: Muñoz Leads Sweep Of Gonzaga
SPOKANE, Wash. - A long day for the eighth-ranked Husky volleyball team ended with a straight set victory over Boise State, as UW finished up its stay at the Northwest Challenge, hosted by Gonzaga at the Martin Centre. Freshman Krista Vansant had her best numbers of the early season, with 16 kills and just one error for a .577 hitting percentage.
Earlier this afternoon, Washington had swept Gonzaga, so the Huskies head home with a 3-0 weekend after Friday's win over Portland State. The Huskies (6-0) will open the 2011 home season next Thursday against Seattle U. at 7 p.m.
Setting up Vansant was senior setter Evan Sanders, who posted terrific all-around numbers with 36 assists, eight digs, seven blocks, and an ace. Senior Bianca Rowland made her mark with eight kills without an error on 15 swings for a .533 percentage with eight block assists. The Dawgs outhit the Broncos, .343-.153, and had a big edge in kills, 45-33, and were strong on the block again with 14 team blocks to five for BSU.
The Broncos took a 3-1 lead out of the chute, but Washington quickly took a 4-3 lead on three BSU errors, the last one forced by a Barfield-Muñoz block assist. Washington then went on a 5-0 run to open up a 13-7 lead, started by a block assist from Rowland and Sanders, and followed by four straight kills, two from Vansant. An ace from Sanders pushed the lead to 15-8. The Huskies maintained that cushion, and a finish from Ross forced a BSU timeout with the Dawgs up 23-17. But the timeout proved effective, as the Broncos went on a 4-0 run to force the Huskies into a timeout of their own. Barfield got a quick kill out of the middle out of the break to end the run and get UW to set point at 24-21, and then Muñoz was credited with a solo block on the next rally to finish things. The Dawgs hit .382 in the set compared to .207 for the Broncos, with Barfield and Vansant leading with four kills apiece. Sanders assisted on 15 of the 17 kills.
After the a couple Bronco errors, a block by Sanders and Rowland made it 3-0 to start the second set. Another block, a theme of this set, came from Barfield and Sanders and made it 5-2. Ross sent one up the left sideline for a kill and a 7-5 edge, then another rejection from Ross and Barfield added one to that. The Broncos crept to within one, but a tip from Barfield and a swing from Muñoz revved UW back up to a 15-11 lead. Vansant then got a kill on a blocking error and BSU needed timeout. A back row kill from Muñoz made it 18-12 Huskies. Boise State got within 20-16, but Washington closed out the set on a 5-1 run to finish it, 25-17. Muñoz had an ace in the stretch and then Rowland and Sanders rebuffed another shot at net for set point, leading to a Rowland kill on the slide. Washington tallied nine blocks in the set which helped hold Boise State to just .048 percent attacking. Sanders was dominant at net with a solo block and five block assists.
Rowland opened the third set with two kills and then Muñoz hit for a 3-1 lead. BSU tied it up but then Washington went on a 5-0 run started by another Rowland finish, and followed by a Muñoz ace, a block from Rowland and Vansant, and then back-to-back kills from Vansant and Muñoz to force the BSU timeout. Vansant really found the range in the middle of the set, putting away three out of four points for a 13-5 lead. Freshman Kaleigh Nelson entered and got her first kill for a 15-6 advantage, then she later met up with Rowland for a block assist that made it 18-9. Sophomore Gabbi Parker got into the kills column as well at 19-10, and then Nelson hit her first career ace for a ten-point lead. Down the stretch, Vansant would add to her season-best totals with kills on Washington's final three points, as the Huskies closed it out, 25-15. The Dawgs had their best-hitting set, up at .400, with Vansant rolling to eight kills and no errors on 13 attempts for a .615 mark.
Washington will now prepare for its home opener, coming this Thursday, Sept. 8, against Seattle U. at 7 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Arena. The match is part of The Invitational At Seattle, Washington.
