First-Year Nguyen Ties Digs Record In Sweep

Saturday, September 19

Sioux Falls, S.D.

10:00 AM

University of Washington

9-0,0-0Big Ten

South Dakota

7-4,0-0Summit League

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Washington	25	26	25	3
South Dakota	19	24	17	0

Kaitlyn Nguyen and Simona Mateska celebrate a point

September 19, 2026 | Volleyball

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By: UW Athletic Communications

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – First-year libero Kaitlyn Nguyen had a performance worthy of her own spot on Mt. Rushmore as she tied the three-set Husky digs record in a UW sweep of South Dakota. Nguyen had 26 digs, matching a mark set back in 2008 by All-American Tama Miyashiro, and the Husky volleyball team finished an undefeated non-conference schedule with a 25-19, 26-24, 25-17 win.

Competing at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, the Dawgs completed an unblemished non-con for the second time in three years, improving to 9-0. In the pivotal moment of the match, the Huskies had a 4-0 run from down 22-24 to grab the second set, 26-24, then went on to close it out in the third.

Nguyen racked up seven digs in the first set, 10 in the second set, and nine more in set three to tie Miyashiro's record for a three-setter in the 25-point era.

History in her 9th match ??

Kaitlyn Nguyen tied our 3-set Digs record in the 25-point era with an amazing 2?6? today.

She ties the mark set by Olympian Tama Miyashiro from 2008#PointHuskies pic.twitter.com/sIn3D4X5Ho
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) September 19, 2026

The Husky defense helped hold the Coyotes (7-4) to a .107 attack percentage, while the Huskies finished at .264. Washington had a 46-31 edge in kills, a 60-54 advantage in digs and an 8.0 to 5.0 lead in blocking.

While Nguyen anchored the back line, fellow first-year Kylie Kleckner led the offense with 14 kills on a .282 percentage, including three consecutive kills to win set two from 23-24 to 26-24. During that run, Simona Mateska also came up with some outstanding digs, as she finished with 14 digs in just three sets, plus 12 kills for a double-double.

"We knew South Dakota was going to be a good ball control team and we were going to be in long rallies with these guys so we just had to play our game and ride the ebbs and flows," said Head Coach Leslie Gabriel. "We've still got to work on some things, we got hurt on some swings we shouldn't, but I was really proud of the whole team contribution.

Went for it. Took it. ??

This epic rally capped the 4-0 Husky run from down two set points to win it, 26-24.

The defense, the teamwork, the finish from the freshman!#PointHuskies pic.twitter.com/D1vDYjtEZe
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) September 19, 2026

"Maija Howse has been playing really well for us but Addie Kanouff came in and held that high standard on the right side. She and Kylie had big swings to help us win that set. We want to go for it not just at the beginning of sets but at the end when the pressure is on, so to practice that is a big deal. I love those moments for us."

Addie Kanouff subbed in starting in set two and played all of the third as she had a season-high five kills on 10 swings without an error to hit .500, adding four blocks. Katy Wessels had six kills and six blocks, hitting .357. Andrea Fabikovicová dished out 39 assists with six digs and a solo stuff. And Addy Azavedo had a career-high eight digs and was on the service line when UW rallied to win set two.

Up Next: The Huskies go back out on the road to start Big Ten play next week, traveling to Michigan State on Friday, Sept. 25, then heading on to Ann Arbor to play Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 27.

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