The Wash U. Lady Bears are the No. 20-ranked team in Division III volleyball and have begun their season with 11 straight wins. (Photo courtesy: Thomas Grove)

Torrance Terrell
Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS, MO — The Washington University women’s volleyball team faced a huge test on Saturday, as it began the first day of the UAA Round Robin, which is being played this weekend at the Wash. U. Field House.

The Lady Bears, who were ranked No. 20 in the country in this week’s NCAA Division III women’s volleyball poll, were scheduled to play No. 6-ranked New York University and longtime foe Carnegie-Mellon, in what may have been the two toughest matchups of the entire tournament.

But Wash. U. proved itself up to the test, as it won both games. First, defeating NYU in a thrilling five-set showdown. Then, by dispatching Carnegie-Mellon three sets to one.

In the match against NYU, Michaela Bach was fantastic. The fifth-year, hometown kid senior had a team-high 17 kills, 10 digs, and an ace. Teammate Sam Buckley was also dynamite. She had a match-high 51 assists and two aces of her own.

The Lady Bears were down two sets to one, after falling in an epic 35-33 third set won by NYU. But Wash. U. bounced back by taking a very tight fourth set, 25-23, before claiming a just as tight final set, 15-13.

Things went a little bit more smoothly in the match against Carnegie-Mellon. Wash. U. won the first two sets with relative ease. Then after falling in the third set, came back to close out the match by claiming the fourth set.

The standout players in that match were Jasmine Sells and Alaina Bohrer. Sells had a match-high 18 kills and two aces, and Bohrer was right behind with 10 kills, four blocks, and a match-high 15 digs.

The Lady Bears will close out their portion of the UAA Round Robin with a match against Brandeis on Sunday. First serve for that contest is scheduled for 10 a.m.