Sunday, November 1
Seattle, Wash.
12:00 PM
University of Washington
17-4,8-4Big Ten
3
vs
1
Maryland
12-11,2-10Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 26 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 1 |
| Washington | 24 | 28 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
November 01, 2026 | Volleyball
SEATTLE – After a "scary good" win Friday night, the Huskies turned their clocks to winning time against the Terps Sunday afternoon in Alaska Airlines Arena. The 20th-ranked Huskies had to battle again from start to finish, but pulled out a 24-26, 27-25, 25-22, 25-22 win over Maryland in front of 3,781 fans.
Washington improved to 17-4 and 8-4 in conference play, already matching their most Big Ten wins in a season with five matches still to go. It's their first 2-0 weekend in conference play since the first week, when UW opened with wins over Michigan State and Michigan.
The Huskies rarely found cruise control this weekend, but played well enough to win, and that was the bottom line for Head Coach Leslie Gabriel.
"Our conference is really good, and every team serves tough and can pass, and especially with this Big Ten tournament, teams are still fighting for their lives," said Gabriel. "We knew Maryland was going to be a good team; they run a fast offense and have some physical players. At the beginning of the match we just weren't hitting the ball in. It wasn't a clean match for us, but we played well enough to win. If we're a team that can do that, then we can stay tough and ride some of the ebbs and flows of volleyball."
Washington finished the match with 64 kills, hitting .248, while holding Maryland to a .228 hitting percentage. Four Dawgs reached double digit kills and two Dawgs finished with a double-double.
First-year Sammy Destler led the Huskies with a career-high 19 kills and 11 digs, while second-year Maija Howse added 14 kills on a .345 clip, along with five total blocks. Second-year Simona Mateska recorded 12 kills and 12 digs, reaching her 600th career kill. Second-year Julia Hunt had a season-high 11 kills while hitting .389 and added three blocks. Third-year Andrea Fabikovicová dished out 50 assists and seven digs, while first-year Kaitlyn Nguyen led the back row with 18 digs and seven assists, including her 100th career assist. First-year Hayden Conner also subbed in during set two and contributed four kills and three blocks, including a couple big quick kills late in set four.
Starting at the net against Maryland was Mateska, Katy Wessels, and Howse. Defending the back row was Fabikovicová, Destler, and Hunt with Nguyen at libero.
Set One: The Huskies had a slow start trailing 2-0 before a Howse kill put them on the board. Maryland jumped to an early 5-1 lead, but a Destler tip off the block sparked some momentum. Hunt followed with a kill and Fabikovicová added a dump before Howse hammered an overpass for a kill to tie things up at 10-10. A Fabikovicová ace brought the Huskies to an 11-10 lead. The Terps battled back to go ahead 13-12, but a Wessels kill brought the Huskies within one. Destler and Wessels teamed up for a big block to tie the set at 14-14 before a Destler kill put the Huskies ahead. Howse extended the lead to 16-14 with back-to-back kills as the Huskies continued to trade points with Maryland. Kills from Howse and Destler kept the pressure on, before Hunt came through with a kill and an ace to make it 21-19. Maryland fought back to tie the set at 22-22. Despite a strong late push, the Huskies fell just short, dropping the opening set 26-24.
Set Two: The Huskies found themselves trailing early once again, falling behind 3-0 before a Wessels kill got them on the board. Mateska and Destler added kills, while Hunt's slide brought the Huskies within one at 6-5. Maryland pushed its lead back to three at 8-5, but the Huskies responded with a Mateska kill, and a classic Hunt slide and an ace to make it 9-7. Wessels and Mateska continued to deliver kills before Howse came through with back-to-back kills to even the score at 11-11. Wessels followed with a solo block in the middle to give the Huskies their first lead at 12-11. Destler added a kill off the block, Hunt connected on another slide, and Destler came through with a back-row kill to extend the Huskies lead to 16-14. Maryland battled back to keep things tight, but Hunt kept delivering kills before Howse came up with a huge solo block to tie things at 21-21. Howse kept the energy following up with a kill to put the Huskies ahead 22-21, then put a tip into the donut to make it 23-22. Nguyen kept a ball alive to set up a Destler kill and set point at 24-23, but Maryland found some answers. Mateska delivered a clutch kill to tie things at 25-25, and first-year Hayden Connor came in to team up with Howse for a big block to put the Huskies ahead 27-26. Mateska finished it off with another kill, giving the Huskies a 28-26 victory to even the match.
Set Three: Coming out firing in the third, the Huskies opened the set with back-to-back kills from Destler and Howse for an early 2-0 lead. Mateska added kills to help keep the Huskies in front, while she and Connor teamed up for a block to make it 7-6. Howse entered double digit kills before a Destler kill down the line extended the lead to 9-6. Connor added a kill, and Hunt and Destler teamed up for a block as the Huskies continued to build momentum. Mateska continued to deliver with two more kills, helping the Huskies maintain their advantage at 14-11. Maryland responded with four straight points to take a 15-14 lead, but Howse ended the Terp's streak with a kill. Connor and Howse followed with a block to even the score at 17-17, and Destler entered double digit kills to put the Huskies back in front, 18-17. The Terps made another push, taking a 21-18 lead, but Nguyen recorded her 100th career assist, setting up Destler back-to-back kills to bring the Huskies within one at 21-20. Howse added another kill before a Hunt tip into the deep corner tied things at 22-22. Hunt and Destler came up with a huge block to give the Huskies a 23-22 lead, and Howse closed out the set 25-22 with an ace.
Set Four: The Huskies carried their momentum into the fourth set, opening with a Destler kill. Connor added a kill before Hunt and Destler continued to deliver at the net, helping the Huskies build an early 6-2 lead. Fabikovicová followed with a kill to extend the advantage to 7-2, while Destler added two more kills. Mateska caught fire, recording three consecutive kills to reach double-digit kills and her 600th career kill, giving Washington a 12-6 lead. Maryland fought back, closing the gap to 13-12, but Connor answered with a kill to help the Huskies maintain their advantage. Destler followed with back-to-back kills, and Hunt slammed down an overpass to reach double-digit kills and push the lead to 17-14. Hunt continued to go down her slide, while Mateska added another kill from the outside to keep the Huskies ahead. Connor and Howse came through with key kills, helping Washington maintain a 23-20 lead. Howse delivered another kill for match point at 24-22 before Destler sealed the set with a final kill, to take the match at 25-22.
Up Next: The Huskies remain home next week, hosting Northwestern on Friday, Nov. 6, and then No. 1-ranked Nebraska on Sunday, Nov. 8, in a sold out match that will air on FS1.
For news, scores, highlights and more, download the Go Huskies app on your mobile device. Follow @UWVolleyball on Instagram, X, and Facebook and subscribe to UW Athletics on YouTube for the latest on the Dawgs.
Washington improved to 17-4 and 8-4 in conference play, already matching their most Big Ten wins in a season with five matches still to go. It's their first 2-0 weekend in conference play since the first week, when UW opened with wins over Michigan State and Michigan.
The Huskies rarely found cruise control this weekend, but played well enough to win, and that was the bottom line for Head Coach Leslie Gabriel.
"Our conference is really good, and every team serves tough and can pass, and especially with this Big Ten tournament, teams are still fighting for their lives," said Gabriel. "We knew Maryland was going to be a good team; they run a fast offense and have some physical players. At the beginning of the match we just weren't hitting the ball in. It wasn't a clean match for us, but we played well enough to win. If we're a team that can do that, then we can stay tough and ride some of the ebbs and flows of volleyball."
Composure from Maija Howse in @UWVolleyball's set point ?? https://t.co/zaT1jDj6ec
— Big Ten Volleyball (@B1GVolleyball) November 1, 2026
Washington finished the match with 64 kills, hitting .248, while holding Maryland to a .228 hitting percentage. Four Dawgs reached double digit kills and two Dawgs finished with a double-double.
First-year Sammy Destler led the Huskies with a career-high 19 kills and 11 digs, while second-year Maija Howse added 14 kills on a .345 clip, along with five total blocks. Second-year Simona Mateska recorded 12 kills and 12 digs, reaching her 600th career kill. Second-year Julia Hunt had a season-high 11 kills while hitting .389 and added three blocks. Third-year Andrea Fabikovicová dished out 50 assists and seven digs, while first-year Kaitlyn Nguyen led the back row with 18 digs and seven assists, including her 100th career assist. First-year Hayden Conner also subbed in during set two and contributed four kills and three blocks, including a couple big quick kills late in set four.
Freshman Hayden Conner breaks it down for the Terps! ???? #PointHuskies // @B1GVolleyball https://t.co/hOWC8lZOMs
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) November 1, 2026
Starting at the net against Maryland was Mateska, Katy Wessels, and Howse. Defending the back row was Fabikovicová, Destler, and Hunt with Nguyen at libero.
Set One: The Huskies had a slow start trailing 2-0 before a Howse kill put them on the board. Maryland jumped to an early 5-1 lead, but a Destler tip off the block sparked some momentum. Hunt followed with a kill and Fabikovicová added a dump before Howse hammered an overpass for a kill to tie things up at 10-10. A Fabikovicová ace brought the Huskies to an 11-10 lead. The Terps battled back to go ahead 13-12, but a Wessels kill brought the Huskies within one. Destler and Wessels teamed up for a big block to tie the set at 14-14 before a Destler kill put the Huskies ahead. Howse extended the lead to 16-14 with back-to-back kills as the Huskies continued to trade points with Maryland. Kills from Howse and Destler kept the pressure on, before Hunt came through with a kill and an ace to make it 21-19. Maryland fought back to tie the set at 22-22. Despite a strong late push, the Huskies fell just short, dropping the opening set 26-24.
Set Two: The Huskies found themselves trailing early once again, falling behind 3-0 before a Wessels kill got them on the board. Mateska and Destler added kills, while Hunt's slide brought the Huskies within one at 6-5. Maryland pushed its lead back to three at 8-5, but the Huskies responded with a Mateska kill, and a classic Hunt slide and an ace to make it 9-7. Wessels and Mateska continued to deliver kills before Howse came through with back-to-back kills to even the score at 11-11. Wessels followed with a solo block in the middle to give the Huskies their first lead at 12-11. Destler added a kill off the block, Hunt connected on another slide, and Destler came through with a back-row kill to extend the Huskies lead to 16-14. Maryland battled back to keep things tight, but Hunt kept delivering kills before Howse came up with a huge solo block to tie things at 21-21. Howse kept the energy following up with a kill to put the Huskies ahead 22-21, then put a tip into the donut to make it 23-22. Nguyen kept a ball alive to set up a Destler kill and set point at 24-23, but Maryland found some answers. Mateska delivered a clutch kill to tie things at 25-25, and first-year Hayden Connor came in to team up with Howse for a big block to put the Huskies ahead 27-26. Mateska finished it off with another kill, giving the Huskies a 28-26 victory to even the match.
Set Three: Coming out firing in the third, the Huskies opened the set with back-to-back kills from Destler and Howse for an early 2-0 lead. Mateska added kills to help keep the Huskies in front, while she and Connor teamed up for a block to make it 7-6. Howse entered double digit kills before a Destler kill down the line extended the lead to 9-6. Connor added a kill, and Hunt and Destler teamed up for a block as the Huskies continued to build momentum. Mateska continued to deliver with two more kills, helping the Huskies maintain their advantage at 14-11. Maryland responded with four straight points to take a 15-14 lead, but Howse ended the Terp's streak with a kill. Connor and Howse followed with a block to even the score at 17-17, and Destler entered double digit kills to put the Huskies back in front, 18-17. The Terps made another push, taking a 21-18 lead, but Nguyen recorded her 100th career assist, setting up Destler back-to-back kills to bring the Huskies within one at 21-20. Howse added another kill before a Hunt tip into the deep corner tied things at 22-22. Hunt and Destler came up with a huge block to give the Huskies a 23-22 lead, and Howse closed out the set 25-22 with an ace.
Set Four: The Huskies carried their momentum into the fourth set, opening with a Destler kill. Connor added a kill before Hunt and Destler continued to deliver at the net, helping the Huskies build an early 6-2 lead. Fabikovicová followed with a kill to extend the advantage to 7-2, while Destler added two more kills. Mateska caught fire, recording three consecutive kills to reach double-digit kills and her 600th career kill, giving Washington a 12-6 lead. Maryland fought back, closing the gap to 13-12, but Connor answered with a kill to help the Huskies maintain their advantage. Destler followed with back-to-back kills, and Hunt slammed down an overpass to reach double-digit kills and push the lead to 17-14. Hunt continued to go down her slide, while Mateska added another kill from the outside to keep the Huskies ahead. Connor and Howse came through with key kills, helping Washington maintain a 23-20 lead. Howse delivered another kill for match point at 24-22 before Destler sealed the set with a final kill, to take the match at 25-22.
Up Next: The Huskies remain home next week, hosting Northwestern on Friday, Nov. 6, and then No. 1-ranked Nebraska on Sunday, Nov. 8, in a sold out match that will air on FS1.
For news, scores, highlights and more, download the Go Huskies app on your mobile device. Follow @UWVolleyball on Instagram, X, and Facebook and subscribe to UW Athletics on YouTube for the latest on the Dawgs.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
MD
UW
Kills
55
64
Errors
22
27
Attempts
145
149
Hitting %
.228
.248
Points
72.0
79.0
Assists
55
60
Aces
8
4
Blocks
9
11
Game Leaders
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Saturday, October 31
Saturday, October 31
Saturday, October 31
Saturday, October 31
