Volleyball Defeats Washington in Four Games
November 6, 1998
CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Oregon State volleyball team (12-13, 2-12) snapped a six-match losing streak upon defeating Washington (6-11, 5-8), 3-1, Friday evening. Game scores were 15-13, 16-14, 8-15 and 15-8.
It was OSU's second victory over the Huskies this season, giving the Beavers their first season sweep over UW since 1993. The win also snapped OSU's 18-game losing streak, the longest in school history.
"It was a great team effort. They played with a lot of heart," said coach Jeff Mozzochi. "It's real easy to just wait till next year, but these guys arent going to wait. Im real proud of them."
Sarah Bjeldanes led the Beavers with 19 kills, tying UW's Leslie Tuiasosopo for the match-high. Krista Kinsman added 14 kills for the OSU, who outkilled the Huskies 63-59. Kinsman posted a match-high 22 digs, a career high and the most by a Beaver this season. Four Huskies finished with double-figure digs, as UW just barely outdug OSU, 69-68. OSU outblocked the Huskies, 11-5, led by Selina Scoble's six and Bjeldanes' five.
"We're all on a little high right now," said Bjeldanes. "(The win) gave us all a little boost. We worked real hard as a team tonight."
OSU jumped out to an early lead in game one, but quickly saw its 10-2 lead slip away to a 12-10 deficit as the Huskies went on a 10-0 run. Kiki Maroutsos then served the ball into the net to give control back to the Beavers, who scored four straight points - three of which came off two kills and a block from Bjeldanes - to regain the lead. Lisa Underhill tipped the ball over for a UW sideout, and the Huskies put another point on the scoreboard before a Bjeldanes kill gave OSU the sideout. Scoble slammed down a kill off a UW overpass to give the Beavers the victory.
Game two was tied at 11-11 when the Huskies went on a 3-0 run to jump ahead, 14-11. Just after serving an ace, Tuiasosopo had a net serve on the game-point opporunity, and the Beavers responded with a three-point run of their own to tie the game at 14-14. Bjeldanes' next attempt went wide, but Scoble's kill got the Beavers a quick sideout. OSU then scored two points off UW errors for the win.
The Huskies cruised to a 10-3 lead in the third set, and despite a late Beaver comeback, OSU could get no closer than 8-12 before Washington broke through for the victory.
The Beavers took an early 6-2 lead in the fourth game, but the Huskies rallied to take an 8-6 advantage. That was about all the Huskies could manage, however, as the Beavers went on to score the next nine points to come away with the win. Bjeldanes and Kinsman combined for six kills and two aces during the 9-0 run.
OSU returns to action Sunday, November 8 when the Beavers host Washington State at 1:00 p.m. in Gill Coliseum.
Linescore Washington 13 14 15 8 Oregon State 15 16 8 15
