Huskies Can’t Close Out Bears In Opening 2-3 Loss

Friday, August 29

Greeley, Colo.

5:00 PM

University of Washington

0-1,0-0Big Ten

Northern Colorado

1-0,0-0Big Sky

Washington

Northern Colo.

August 29, 2025 | Volleyball

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By: UW Athletic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – In the 2025 season opener, Washington Volleyball had a 2-0 lead at Northern Colorado inside the Bank of Colorado Arena but couldn't secure the victory. Northern Colorado rallied to force a fifth set; the Huskies had two match points to try and drive the final nail, but the Bears saved both and completed the comeback, winning 22-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-23, 16-14.

It was a tough way to start the season for the Dawgs, who were in control through two sets, despite close scores in both. Washington was trying to gel with a very different lineup than one year ago. Five Huskies made their official debuts tonight and like most new units there were stretches of stellar play mixed with areas that will need to be addressed.

Washington led set five by 5-1 and 7-3 margins, but the Bears had a 5-0 run to fight back. The Huskies got two match points at 14-12, but UNC saved one with a kill and then had a block to tie it up. On the Bears' first match point, a dig from the Huskies went straight up but hit a low-hanging speaker system and that deflected the ball in a way the Huskies couldn't have expected and it fell for a kill.

Despite successful seasons and regular NCAA tourney runs, the Huskies have struggled in season openers of late, dropping to 2-4 in the last six years. Washington had not lost a 2-0 lead since the Sweet 16 in 2021, where they fell to a comeback by No. 2-ranked Texas in Austin.

The Huskies hit .220 for the match and Northern Colorado turned it around by hitting over .300 in each of the final three sets, ending up at .296 for the match. Kills were 62-53 in favor of the home team, aces were even at 11 apiece, and UW had a 10.0 to 8.0 blocks edge, with UNC leading in digs, 47-43.

Senior transfer Alexa Markley matched her career-high with 17 kills in her first match as a Dawg, hitting .378 with three aces, also a career-high, and a career-high 10 digs for her first ever double-double. Fellow senior transfer Taylor Simpson started at setter and had 43 assists, two aces and eight digs.

Julia Hunt hit .421 with 11 kills and three aces, and Kierstyn Barton led the Huskies with 19 kills, adding seven digs and four blocks. Redshirt freshman Addy Benefield started and had the first kill of the match for the Dawgs, finishing with four kills. Also debuting were true freshmen Ava Jo Berry and Simona Mateska. Berry had her first ace and four digs, while Mateska came in as a serving sub in set five.

Katy Wessels on Bear Patrol ???#PointHuskies pic.twitter.com/pltJItU4Nv
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) August 30, 2025

UP NEXT: The Huskies will drive from Greeley to Fort Collins to take on Colorado State, a 2024 NCAA tourney team, on Saturday at 5 p.m. Pacific time, streaming on Mountain West Network.