University of Washington
Oregon
Huskies Go Undefeated on Friday Heading Into Senior Day
April 12, 2024 | Beach Volleyball
SEATTLE---The Huskies started spring cleaning early by sweeping Oregon and Boise State 5-0 today and also beating No. 15 Georgia State in the Alki Beach Invitational, improving to a 15-10 record overall for the season. Today's 3-0 performance earned them the number-one seed in the playoffs heading into Saturday.
Oregon Dual
The sweep of the Ducks was the second in as many games against that team and comes on the heels of beating them last weekend, extending that winning streak to six.
The Beach Dawgs kicked off the first dual of the day like they had been injected with espresso, with four of the five pairs opening with a first-set victory.
Zoey Henson and Lauren Wilcock (No. 2) set the pace with a decisive victory when they went on a 7-1 run to end the first set 21-14. The skilled pair followed that up with another win. That one was 21-6.
In her match, the younger Wilcock, Sarah, followed her sister's lead while paired with Brooke Balue (No. 4). They won the first set by double digits and then held off a late run by the Ducks to prevail.
On another court, Natalie Martin and Scarlett Dahl (No. 3) battled with the Ducks across two sets but went on to win each by at least three points.
Piper Monk-Heidrich and Magdalena Rabitsch traded the first two sets with Oregon, winning one and losing one by the same score: 21-13. The duo jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the third set. They slammed the door shut with a 7-2 run that gave the pair the comeback win.
Finally, Kendall Mather and Kierstyn Barton (No. 4) finished the sweep with two close sets.
Boise State Dual
Going into the second dual of the day, the Dawgs continued their offensive outburst, posting their third straight sweep in as many matches and taking Boise State down 5-0.
Henson and Wilcock (No. 2) won the first match against the Broncos by taking the first set by 12 and then pushing their second set lead to 9, winning 21-12.
Wilcock and Balue (No. 4) quickly defeated their Bronco foes in the first set, 21-12. The duo then held off a late surge, notching the victory 21-18.
The day also saw the return of Josie Ulrich for the first time in a month. She was paired with Mather at the No. 5 spot, and brought home the dual victory, winning by six in the first set and by three in the second set.
Also against Boise State, Monk-Heidrich and Rabitsch (No. 1) won two straight sets after dropping the first set by four. The pair then won the final set by six to earn their fourth win of the dual.
Dahl and Martin (No. 3) finished the sweep dramatically, going to three sets. The pair won the first set, dropped the second one, then won in a close final set 15-13. Martin notched her 50th career win. In addition, Dahl moved past Shayne McPhherson into third place all-time as she won her 58th career dual victory.
Georgia State Dual
The Dawgs faced their first bit of adversity of the day against No. 15 Georgia State during the closest dual of the day. But they held on and battled the skilled GSU Panthers and the wind to a 3-2 finish against that team.
Henson and Wilcock (No. 1) opened the first set against Georgia State with back-to-back aces and never looked back, winning the first set by six. GSU fought to bring the second set within one multiple times, but the reigning National Pair of the Week pulled ahead 21-17, to remain perfect at home this season.
Ulrich and Mather (No. 5) took care of their opposition quickly in their match. After going up 4-3 in the first set, they never trailed. They pushed the lead to eight thenwon 21-13.
Brooke Balue and Sarah Wilcock moved into the fourth spot, and the promotion paid off. They won two straight sets after dropping a back-and-forth first set 19-21. After a 7-7 tie in the second set, the duo never relinquished, winning the second set by four. Though the Panthers came within a point four different times, the Dawgs held on.
Schedule for tomorrow:
10:00 am: Semifinal: #1 UW vs. #4 Oregon
11:15 am: Semifinal: #2 GSU vs. #3 Boise State
Results
#11 UW - 5, Oregon - 0
1. Piper Monk-Heidrich and Magdalena Rabitsch (WASH) def. Daley McClellan and Alina Valenti (ORE) 13-21 21-13 15-4
2. Zoey Henson and Lauren Wilcock (WASH) def. Jensen Kaelin and Ashley Schroeder (ORE) 21-14 21-6
3. Scarlett Dahl and Natalie Martin (WASH) def. Landree Coats and Bella Gamache (ORE) 21-18 21-17
4. Kierstyn Barton and Kendall Mather (WASH) def. Natasha George and Sophie Gregoire (ORE) 23-21 21-14
5 Brooke Balue and Sarah Wilcock (WASH) def. Presley McCaskill and Isabel Patterson (ORE) 21-11 21-18
Order of finish:2, 5, 3, 1, 4,
#11 UW - 5, Boise State - 0
1. Piper Monk-Heidrich and Magdalena Rabitsch (WASH) def. Marlayna Bullington and Sierra Land (BOI) 21-17 19-21 15-9
2. Zoey Henson and Lauren Wilcock (WASH) def. Emilia Guerra-Acuna and Ava Anderson (BOI)21-9 21-12
3. Scarlett Dahl and Natalie Martin (WASH) def. Addison Wolden and Abbie Wolf (BOI) 21-16 14-21 15-13
4. Brooke Balue and Sarah Wilcock (WASH) def. Lily Patock and Rorianna Chartier (BOI) 21-12 21-18
5 Kendall Mather and Josie Ulrich (WASH) def. Elli Wolthuis and Sharli O'Neil (BOI) 21-14 21-18
Order of finish:2, 4, 5, 1, 3,
#11 UW - 3, No. 15 Georgia State - 2
1. Zoey Henson and Lauren Wilcock (WASH) def. Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary (GSU) 21-15 21-17
2. Lila Bordis and Aree Keller (GSU) def. Piper Monk-Heidrich and Magdalena Rabitsch (WASH) 21-13 21-18
3. Savannah Ebarb and Kaylie Drysdale (GSU) def. Scarlett Dahl and Natalie Martin (WASH) 25-23 13-21 15-7
4 Brooke Balue and Sarah Wilcock (WASH) def. Ayla Johnson and Aliisa Vuorinen (GSU) 19-21 21-17 15-13
5 Kendall Mather and Josie Ulrich (WASH) def. Courtney Smith and Michaela Jefferson (GSU) 21-18 21-13
Order of finish:2, 1, 5, 4, 3,
For all the latest UW Beach Volleyball news, photos, and videos, follow on Twitter (@UW_BeachVB) and Instagram (@UW_BeachVB)
