University of Washington
Portland
Huskies Cruise Past Pilots In Straight Sets
September 11, 2012 | Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2012
PORTLAND, Ore. - A home state return proved energizing for junior Gabbi Parker and sophomore Kaleigh Nelson, as the two Oregonians helped lead the Husky volleyball team to a 3-0 win over the Portland Pilots at the Chiles Center. Parker led the way for the fifth-ranked Huskies with 11 kills with Nelson adding seven more and five block assists, as UW took the match, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22.
The win concluded Washington's non-conference schedule as the Huskies move into Pac-12 play next week with a perfect 9-0 record. UW opens up at home next Tuesday, Sept. 18, with Washington State. That match also marks the first Pac-12 Network appearance for UW.
The Huskies hit .310 for the match, their seventh time over the .300 mark in the past eight matches. UW held the edge in kills, 41-36, and held big advantages in aces (9-3) and blocks (10.0-2.0). Along with Parker, a Eugene native, and Nelson, who hails from Salem, senior Kylin Muñoz was stellar offensively with nine kills on 13 swings with just one error, a .615 attack percentage, her third-straight match hitting over .500. Freshman Lianna Sybeldon led the block with seven block assists, a season-best.
The Huskies shot out of the blocks quickly in set one, taking the first four points of the match. Kaleigh Nelson got the first kill and after an ace from Vansant, UW registered the block by Gabbi Parker and Lianna Sybeldon for the 4-0 lead. Parker and Sybeldon added a second block seconds later for 6-1, and then Muñoz and Gil teamed up on a stuff for an 8-2 edge as the size and speed of the Husky block was dominating early. The block party continued with consecutive roofs from the combo of Nelson and Sybeldon for a 13-7 edge. Held without a kill early, Vansant put down two in a row and added a second ace for a 16-8 advantage. Finishes from Parker and Gil kept the Huskies up big at 18-10, but the Pilots made a late push and trimmed the lead down to 19-15, but Muñoz finished from the right to snap the streak and then Jenna Orlandini followed with an ace to make it 21-15. Jenni Nogueras added her first ace of the night for 23-16 and Portland called a late timeout. Sybeldon got the rejection in the middle along with Nelson to get UW to set point, then Portland mishandled the next set to end it, 25-16. The Huskies had just 10 kills to get to their 25 points in the set, helped by four aces and seven team blocks. Four of the 10 kills came from Muñoz.
In set two, a handful of service errors and kills from Parker and Sybeldon had it tied at 4-4 early. Vansant sent one to the deck for an 8-6 Husky edge, but Portland tied it up at 9-9 with a kill by Autumn Wedan and an ace. Sybeldon got the lead back with a strike from the middle. Parker had a finish and a tough Sybeldon serve got the Dawgs back up 12-10. Muñoz hit from the right once again and freshman Cassie Strickland ratcheted up an ace for a 15-13 edge. A nice dig from Katy Beals led to another Muñoz finish and a 17-14 lead. The Pilots swung wide on one swing and then Vansant tossed in another ace for a 21-17 lead and UP called time. Out of the break, she got yet another ace just off the top of the tape. But Portland responded with a couple tough serves and UW called timeout leading 23-21. Parker ended a messy point with a kill off an overpass to get to set point at 24-21, then Parker put the next swing off the block and it landed wide for the kill and the set, 25-21. Washington hit an impressive .357 for the second set.
Muñoz started the third set off with another kill as her strong match continued, and Parker then belted two straight aces for a quick 3-0 lead. But it disappeared quickly on a 3-0 Portland run. Parker and Nelson hit from the left and right sides got the Dawgs the lead, then a stuff from Nelson and Gill made it 9-6. Portland tied it but UW then crept away again with a Vansant kill and a block by Muñoz and Sybeldon for a 14-11 advantage. Nelson and Sybeldon then met to reject another Pilot swing for a 16-12 lead. The Dawgs then used a 3-0 run to take a 19-13 lead on three straight kills from Nelson, Parker, and Sybeldon. Nelson added two more from the right side to keep the Huskies siding out and moving past the 20 point mark. Match point came up after a Portland service error, and Vansant put an end to it with a big swing on the right side, taking the third set, 25-22.
