Friday Night Highlights in NCAA Women’s Volleyball: Oct. 14

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#2 Washington Falls to #4 Cal

Two top ranked teams battled it out in Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California, with the Huskies dropping to the Golden Bears 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 27-25). Freshman Summer Ross led the Huskies with 14 kills and 14 digs. The Golden Bears were led by Tarah Murrey who put away 21 kills and 18 digs.

The first set began the battle between the two ranked teams with nine set ties and five lead changes before Cal finished the set 25-20. The Huskies took the early lead in the second set, up 6-1 before Cal called a timeout to regroup. Cal came back in to go on a small run of points. The second set was still littered with seven tied scores, but only two lead changes before the Huskies won the set with 25-22.

The third set began with the Golden Bears in the lead 5-2, and later 10-6 before the set was tied at 10-10. However, after that tie the Golden Bears never allowed the Huskies to tie them up again as they took the set 25-18. The final set of the evening showed the determination of both teams as the set score tied fifteen times with six lead changes before the Golden Bears defeated the Huskies 27-25.

The Huskies drop to 15-2 overall and 7-2 in conference play, while the Golden Bears stand at 18-2 overall and 8-2 in Pac-12 play.

#3 USC Takes #16 Oregon in Four

USC stretches its season long win streak to nine matches as they defeated the Oregon Ducks 3-1 (25-15, 25-27, 25-23, 25-21). Alex Jupiter was USC’s kill leader with 22 kills, and threw in 2 aces and three blocks to the match play. Ariana Williams lead Oregon’s hitters with 15 kills and five blocks.

USC took the early lead in the first set against Oregon. Unfortunately after the scoreboard read 6-4 for USC, Oregon was never within 3 points of USC again. The set finished at 25-15 for USC. The second set revived Oregon who after battling with USC in the beginning of the set when on a 9 point run to 18-13. USC fought back and both teams struggled to take the lead, tying twice more after 23-23 before Oregon took the second set at 27-25.

The third set saw its first and only point tie at 1-1 before USC took the lead for the remainder of the set. Oregon went on a 4 point streak to get within one point of USC at 21-20, however they weren’t able to take the lead and USC won 25-23. The final set began with five tied scores before USC created a gap at 21-17. The teams then went point for point, finishing the match for USC with the final set at 25-21. 

USC is now 14-3 overall and 9-1 in Pac-12 play. Oregon’s record is 12-5 overall and 5-4 in conference play.

#5 Nebraska Sweeps Wisconsin

Nebraska swept Wisconsin 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-21).Wisconsin was lead by freshman Ellen Chapman with 8 kills. Hannah Werth led Nebraska with 17 kills for the evening.

The first set began with both teams going back and forth for points. However once the teams were tied at 5-5, Nebraska began to separate themselves on the scoreboard, going on several small runs to 17-11. Wisconsin began to battle back to tie the set up at 21-21 before Nebraska closed out the first set at 25-21. The second set saw Nebraska with the early lead and never relinquishing it. Wisconsin was unfortunately unable to create any run of points during the set and Nebraska finished at 25-15. The final set of the evening began with a power struggle as the teams tied a total of nine times, with the final tie of the evening at 13-13. After Nebraska won the point off of a Wisconsin hitting error, to take the lead at 14-13, they never gave it back. Throughout the rest of the match Wisconsin was never within two points of Nebraska before the set finished at 25-21.

Nebraska now stands at 13-1 overall and 7-0 in the Big Ten; Wisconsin drops to 11-8 overall and 3-4 in conference play.

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