University of Washington
Long Beach State
Schwan, Strickland Continue To Shine In Hawaii
April 23, 2016 | Beach Volleyball
HONOLULU – Stepping up to face some of the top beach teams in the country in Hawaii this weekend, the Huskies kept things close up and down the lineup today, but lost a pair of 4-1 decisions to No. 6 Long Beach State and Grand Canyon at Queen's Beach. The major bright spot was the continued play of Cassie Strickland and Courtney Schwan, who earned both wins for the Dawgs today after nearly upsetting the No. 2 team from USC on Thursday.
Strickland and Schwan had a fairly decisive victory to start the day at the No. 2 match against Long Beach State, beating LBSU's Hudson and Konstantopolou, 21-12, 21-17. The No. 1 match was a close one, but LBSU's Nieto and Barber held off Tia Scambray and Crissy Jones, 21-17, 21-17. The three through five matches were all won by Long Beach State in straight sets.
“Everyone's been competing very hard,” said head coach Jonathan Winder. “We had some good matches against both of the teams today, but Long Beach and Grand Canyon are both pretty outstanding teams.”
The second match of the day came against the Antelopes of Grand Canyon, who are ranked 16th nationally in the DiG Magazine poll. The match was even tighter, with several deuce sets, but three of them went to Grand Canyon to keep UW from pulling off the upset.
Down a set, Jones and Scambray took their second set to 20-20 against Phelps/Dugan of GCU but fell, 20-22. Teaming up for the first time together at the No. 3 spot, Lianna Sybeldon and Justice Magraw nearly closed out a win in straight sets, but Brooke Razo and Emilee Erichsen rallied to win a 23-21 second set, and then won the third set, 15-10, after Sybeldon and Magraw had won the first, 21-19. Another deuce set came at No. 4, where Destiny Julye and Lindsay Chalmers were edged, 22-20, in the first set, before GCU secured the win with a 21-13 second set win.
But once again, Strickland and Schwan would persevere for a victory at No. 2, coming back from losing the first set to defeat Molly Turner and Aleksandra Wachowicz, 17-21, 21-19, 15-11.
Coach Winder said Strickland and Schwan have made a big jump in their partnership as well as their individual abilities.
“Cassie and country have been really tough,” Winder said. “They've been down early, and late, and they continue to fight and play really hard. They communicate well and stick to the game plan. It has been awesome for them to lead the team the way they've been playing.”
The Huskies will wrap up the Hawaii trip against Louisiana Monroe on Saturday.
Washington Beach Volleyball
April 22, 2016
Outrigger Resorts Aloha Invitational
Honolulu, Hawaii – Queen's Beach
No. 6 Long Beach State def. Washington, 4-1
1. Nieto/Barber (LBSU) def. Jones/Scambray (UW), 21-17, 21-17
2. Strickland/Schwan (UW) def. Hudson/Konstantopolou (LBSU), 21-12, 21-17
3. Thomas/Pekich (LBSU) def. Sybeldon/Tanner (UW), 21-16, 21-11
4. C. Wagner/Wilson (LBSU) def. Beals/Magraw (UW), 21-11, 21-11
5. Kruidhof/M. Wagner (LBSU) def. Chalmers/Julye (UW), 21-16, 21-14
Grand Canyon def. Washington, 4-1
1. Phelps/Dugan (GC) def. Jones/Scambray (UW), 21-14, 22-20
2. Strickland/Schwan (UW) def. Wachowicz/Turner (GC), 17-21, 21-19, 15-11
3. Razo/Erichsen (GC) def. Magraw/Sybeldon (UW), 19-21, 23-21, 15-10
4. Dickerson/Sanchez (GC) def. Julye/Chalmers (UW), 22-20, 21-13
5. Conrad/Jenkins (GC) def. Finau/Beals (UW), 21-11, 21-6
