Friday, August 28
Seattle, Wash.
7:00 PM
University of Washington
1-0,0-0Big Ten
3
vs
1
UC Irvine
0-1,0-0Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 25 | 14 | 10 | 20 | 1 |
| Washington | 17 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Young Huskies Win Season Opener Over UC Irvine
August 28, 2026 | Volleyball
SEATTLE – With a young and revamped roster, the Huskies opened the 2026 season with a 3-1 comeback victory over UC Irvine on Friday night at Alaska Airlines Arena. Washington saw seven different players make their official UW debuts, with first-year Kylie Kleckner pacing the attack with 15 kills, in a 17-25, 25-14, 25-10, 25-20 victory.
Washington finished the night with 50 kills and a .225 attack percentage. While Katy Wessels led the Huskies with five blocks, Kleckner led the offense with 15 kills, and Simona Mateska added 11 kills with eight digs after entering at the start of set two. Kaitlyn Nguyen tallied 15 digs and three aces, as the Huskies finished with 57 digs and eight total blocks, holding the Anteaters to .106 for the match.
The victory marked a strong start to the 2026 season for Washington in its home opener. Julia Hunt had nine kills and hit .571 with three blocks and two aces, and Maija Howse had nine kills and four blocks.
"Irvine came out on fire and played really well in the first set," said fourth-year Head Coach Leslie Gabriel. "I thought we weren't on our assignments and we couldn't slow them down. Our serving picked up and we got them out of system more. Simona came in in the second set and did the things that she does and she really helped us."
The first starting seven of the 2026 season featured fourth-year middle blocker Katy Wessels, and outside hitters Maija Howse and first-year Sammy Destler at the net. Holding down the back row was first-year libero Kaitlyn Nguyen, transfer setter Andrea Fabikovicová, and outside hitter Kleckner, with third-year Julia Hunt the other middle rotating in.
Washington opened the match serving first and battled from behind throughout the first set. The Huskies put up a defensive fight with digs from Nguyen and blocks by Wessels, while maintaining a strong offensive presence with kills by Kleckner. That grit shone through when Fabikovicová and Kleckner simultaneously pancaked to keep a ball alive, setting up a backrow kill from Destler for 10-10, but Irvine got hot and pulled away to put the Huskies in some early adversity.
The Huskies came out firing in the second set, jumping to an 8-2 lead and extending it to 15-5. With Simona Mateska entering the match, Washington continued to control the set, pushing its advantage to 22-9 before closing out a 25-14 victory. Washington hit .467 as a team in the set, recording 16 kills on 30 attempts with just two errors, all while Wessels kept up her roof at the net.
By the third set the Huskies offense became a driving force for the match. Starting with a 4-0 lead before quickly stretching it to 10-2, the Huskies carried their second set momentum into the third. Addy Azavedo entered the match immediately serving an ace before Washington pushed their lead to 15-4 and then 20-8. Washington closed the set in dominant fashion, 25-10, finishing with a .481 attack percentage and applying pressure from behind the service line.
In the fourth set Washington took an early 10-8 lead, refusing to give up the lead despite UCI's attempts to rally. The Anteaters pulled within one at 12-11, but Washington quickly regained a two point advantage at 13-11. The back and forth battle continued, with UCI staying within striking distance at 12-13 before the Huskies battled their way to 15-12. Hunt continued to make an impact offensively at the net while Addie Kanouff entered the game helping push Washington to the set point at 24-19. Mateska finished it off on UW's second match point chance.
Up Next: Washington will take on San Diego State right back in Hec Ed on Saturday night at 7 p.m., streaming on Big Ten Plus.
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 finished the night with 50 kills and a .225 attack percentage. While Katy Wessels led the Huskies with five blocks, Kleckner led the offense with 15 kills, and Simona Mateska added 11 kills with eight digs after entering at the start of set two. Kaitlyn Nguyen tallied 15 digs and three aces, as the Huskies finished with 57 digs and eight total blocks, holding the Anteaters to .106 for the match.
The victory marked a strong start to the 2026 season for Washington in its home opener. Julia Hunt had nine kills and hit .571 with three blocks and two aces, and Maija Howse had nine kills and four blocks.
Dawgs biting right back ??#PointHuskies // ?? B1G+ pic.twitter.com/UXlCt3Hl0U
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) August 29, 2026
"Irvine came out on fire and played really well in the first set," said fourth-year Head Coach Leslie Gabriel. "I thought we weren't on our assignments and we couldn't slow them down. Our serving picked up and we got them out of system more. Simona came in in the second set and did the things that she does and she really helped us."
The first starting seven of the 2026 season featured fourth-year middle blocker Katy Wessels, and outside hitters Maija Howse and first-year Sammy Destler at the net. Holding down the back row was first-year libero Kaitlyn Nguyen, transfer setter Andrea Fabikovicová, and outside hitter Kleckner, with third-year Julia Hunt the other middle rotating in.
Washington opened the match serving first and battled from behind throughout the first set. The Huskies put up a defensive fight with digs from Nguyen and blocks by Wessels, while maintaining a strong offensive presence with kills by Kleckner. That grit shone through when Fabikovicová and Kleckner simultaneously pancaked to keep a ball alive, setting up a backrow kill from Destler for 10-10, but Irvine got hot and pulled away to put the Huskies in some early adversity.
The Huskies came out firing in the second set, jumping to an 8-2 lead and extending it to 15-5. With Simona Mateska entering the match, Washington continued to control the set, pushing its advantage to 22-9 before closing out a 25-14 victory. Washington hit .467 as a team in the set, recording 16 kills on 30 attempts with just two errors, all while Wessels kept up her roof at the net.
How's THIS for a first Katy Wessels ROOOOOOF!! ??????#PointHuskies // @BigTenPlus pic.twitter.com/F3AakXYluc
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) August 29, 2026
By the third set the Huskies offense became a driving force for the match. Starting with a 4-0 lead before quickly stretching it to 10-2, the Huskies carried their second set momentum into the third. Addy Azavedo entered the match immediately serving an ace before Washington pushed their lead to 15-4 and then 20-8. Washington closed the set in dominant fashion, 25-10, finishing with a .481 attack percentage and applying pressure from behind the service line.
In the fourth set Washington took an early 10-8 lead, refusing to give up the lead despite UCI's attempts to rally. The Anteaters pulled within one at 12-11, but Washington quickly regained a two point advantage at 13-11. The back and forth battle continued, with UCI staying within striking distance at 12-13 before the Huskies battled their way to 15-12. Hunt continued to make an impact offensively at the net while Addie Kanouff entered the game helping push Washington to the set point at 24-19. Mateska finished it off on UW's second match point chance.
Up Next: Washington will take on San Diego State right back in Hec Ed on Saturday night at 7 p.m., streaming on Big Ten Plus.
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
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/ VolleyballTeam Stats
Irvine
UW
Kills
37
50
Errors
23
18
Attempts
132
142
Hitting %
.106
.225
Points
46.0
67.0
Assists
31
44
Aces
2
9
Blocks
7
8
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Sunday, August 30
Sunday, August 30
Sunday, August 30
Sunday, August 30
