Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) led the way for the Redhawks, earning eight kills and a .400 hitting percentage. The Redhawks also received solid production from the middle, as Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) and Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) each went 4-for-8 in attack attempts without making an error. Allie Hoskins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the team with nine digs, while Jacquie Brice (Fullerton, Calif.) contributed 12 assists and eight digs.
"It's fun to play a high level volleyball team, and Washington is by far the best we have seen so far this year," head coach Shannon Ellis said. "We came in a little shell-shocked, but we regrouped and we stuck to the game plan in sets two and three, so we were able to score some points."
After the two teams split the first two points of the match, Washington scored 11 unanswered points, with Kylin Munoz leading the way with three kills. The Huskies continued to extend their lead, with Munoz earning a kill and an ace before a Seattle U attack error closed out the first set in Washington's favor.
Washington (7-0) won the first three points of the second set before the two teams started exchanging points into the middle of the set. Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) earned a block assist and a service ace to pull the Redhawks into a 13-13 tie, but consecutive kills by Lauren Barfield started a 5-0 run that gave the Huskies the lead for good. Evan Sanders and Bianca Rowland combined on a block that finished off the second set.
Seattle U came out of the locker room after the ten-minute intermission with renewed energy, as Dill earned back-to-back kills and Jaeckel followed with one of her own to help the Redhawks score the first four points of the set. Down 7-3, Washington scored six unanswered points to take the lead, but kills by Farley and Dill allowed the Redhawks to pull into a 10-10 tie. Washington would close out the match by scoring eight unanswered points at the end, helped by two service aces from Kelcey Dunaway and two kills by Summer Ross.
"It was a fun, fact-paced volleyball match, and I am proud of my team for fighting. I think this match has given us a renewed energy. We can't wait to get back in the gym to get ready for our next match," said Ellis.
Krista Vansant led the Husky offense with 11 kills, plus she earned two service aces and six digs, while Barfield finished with seven kills in nine attempts and five total blocks. Ross contributed six kills, three aces, and six total blocks, and Sanders collected 21 assists, seven digs, and two block assists before handing over the setting duties in the third set to Jenni Nogueras, who notched 14 assists and three digs.
Seattle University (1-9) welcomes Fresno State to the Connolly Center Saturday, Sept. 10, for a 7 p.m. contest. Live video streaming of the match will be available for free on GoSeattleU.com.