Sept. 21, 2012
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#5 Washington at Arizona
Saturday, Sept. 22, 5:00 pm Pacific
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SEATTLE - A pivotal early match in the Pac-12 slate takes the fifth-ranked Husky volleyball team to Tucson, as Washington (10-0, 1-0 Pac-12) heads into the McKale Center Saturday for a 5 p.m. match against Arizona (9-3, 1-0 Pac-12). The match figures to be the toughest road test yet for the Dawgs, as they look to continue their early season unbeaten run.
Due to the unbalanced conference schedule which was implemented this season, the Huskies will only be stopping in Tucson and not making the usual trip to Tempe where the Sun Devils reside. This will be the only meeting this year between the Huskies and Wildcats, and Arizona State will also face UW just once, on Nov. 21 in Seattle.
Washington won its Pac-12 opener earlier this week with a 3-1 victory over Washington State. Arizona had a similar 3-1 win in its opener at home over Arizona State.
Arizona has been led offensively by sophomore Madi Kingdon, who had 20 kills in the win over the Sun Devils. Kingdon ranks third in the conference with 4.54 kills per set. Freshman Olivia Magill, a Seattle Prep grad, ranks sixth in the Pac-12 with a .409 attack percentage. Junior libero Candace Nicholson is third digs per set at 4.19.
As a team, the Wildcats are outhitting opponents by a .265-.157 mark. Arizona has won five in a row since a 4-3 start. Last season the Huskies had 3-0 wins in both Tucson and Seattle.
In Tuesday’s win over Washington State, Melanie Wade became the fourth Husky freshman to get in the mix this season, as she started and had one kill and three block assists. Wade, Lianna Sybeldon, Katy Beals, and Cassie Strickland all saw action on Tuesday and will look to pick up their first Pac-12 road win Saturday.
