The Wash. U. Bears celebrate winning their season opener over Fontbonne, Wednesday night at the Wash. U. Field House. (Photo courtesy: WashU Athletics)

by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

ST. LOUIS – The Washington University women’s volleyball team won its 2021 fall season opener Wednesday night at the Wash. U. Field House over crosstown rival Fontbonne University.

The Bears won the match with relative ease, in a three sets to none sweep, by the scores of 25-10, 25-23, and 25-19.

Senior outside hitter Michaela Bach led the way for Wash. U., with a game-high 14 kills, including four in the first set that helped the Bears jump out to a quick 17-9 edge. Wash. U. closed the first set with an 8-1 run, sparked by a huge block by junior Alaina Bohrer, who was also a key part of the offense, with eight kills of her own.

The second set began with Fontbonne taking an early lead, which it held through the frame’s first timeout at 15-11. But the Bears rallied with five straight points to take the lead.

Fontbonne continued to battle throughout the second set and scored consecutive points to tie the match at 23. But Wash. U. got the final two points on a Fontbonne service error and a kill by Bohrer to claim the second set.

The third set was also tight, but Wash. U. went on a six-point run to go up 8-2 and never trailed after that, pushing its lead to as high as 23-13. Fontbonne did rally some to make the score closer, but the Bears got a booming kill by freshman Jasmine Sells for the final point to close out the match.

Sophomore setter Alden Standley had a team-high 19 assists and senior Caitlin Lorenz had seven digs, as Wash. U. outhit Fontbonne .221 to .011.

The Bears will be back in action this weekend, when they’ll host the Bear Invite at the Wash. U. Field House. The Bears will play matches against Carroll College, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Lewis & Clark College, and Texas-Dallas.