The Wash. U. Bears celebrate winning the final point of their three-set victory over Webster University, Wednesday night at the Wash. U. Field House. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Team123F
Webster20516(0)
Wash. U.252525(3)

DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS, MO — The No. 20-ranked Washington University women’s volleyball team earned itself a three sets to none sweep over crosstown rival Webster University, Wednesday night, in a non-conference match at the Wash. U. Field House.

Wednesday’s match-theme was Pride Night, as fans were invited to come out and celebrate all ways of life and love, while also showing support for a Wash. U. volleyball team that has begun the 2022 season with winning its first eight games.

The Bears (9-0) made it nine straight by taking down the Lady Gorloks by scores of 25-20, 25-5, and 25-16. Along with its perfect record so far this season, Wednesday’s win also allowed Wash. U. to remain a perfect 5-0 at home this season, with four of those wins coming as 3-0 sweeps.

Sophomore outside hitter Jasmine Sells posted a match-high 13 kills in the win, while teammate Lane Bohrer finished with six kills and six digs. Freshman Sam Buckley, who was named UAA Setter of the Week on Monday, finished the night with a team-high 22 assists.

Defensively, senior Michaela Bach led the way with seven digs, while teammates Elise Gilroy and Taryn Gurbach had six digs and five digs, respectively.

The Bears began the match by bursting ahead 8-3, and later extended its lead out to 12-6, notching seven kills in the opening 18 points. However, the Gorloks would cut the lead down to just 13-12, and would later fight back to a dead even tie at 19-19 later on.

But that was as tight as the match would get, as Wash. U. took advantage of three consecutive aces from junior Paris Nix and a kill each from Sells and Bohrer to go on a 6-1 run to win the set.

The second set was complete domination by the Bears, who used a 19-2 run to run rampant over the Gorloks. Wash. U. finished the middle stanza with a .370 hitting percentage and 12 kills in total, while Webster was limited to one kill and committed seven attacking errors.

The third set was more of the same, as the Bears battled back from an early 6-3 deficit, to go ahead 12-9 and maintain a lead they would not relinquish again. Wash. U. led 19-16, following a time out and closed out the match with a 6-0 run to seal the deal.

The Bears will get the next couple of days off, before returning to the court on Saturday for Day 1 of UAA Round Robin #1, which will be played at the Wash. U. Field House.

Saturday’s initial match might be the headline match of the entire weekend, as the No. 20-ranked team in the country Bears will host No. 6-ranked NYU. That match is scheduled to begin at noon, and will be the first of eight matches that will be played that day.

The Bears will also play Carnegie Mellon on Saturday, with that match scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.