Volleyball Season Comes to an End with NCAA Loss to #3 Washington
    Huskies Take Saints in Three Games
    Janine Pesusich goes up for a block as Washington's Alesha Deesing approaches the net
     
    Janine Pesusich goes up for a block as Washington's Alesha Deesing approaches the net
      

    Dec. 2, 2005

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    Fort Collins, Colo. - Christal Morrison had 15 kills to lead #3 Washington to a 3-0 (30-21, 30-17, 30-18) win over Siena in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night in Fort Collins, Colo. The Saints saw their season come to a close after entering the Championships on a nine-match winning streak.

    "This was a great experience for our team and our program," head coach Garvey Pierre said following the loss. "Washington has a lot of experience and is one of the top teams in the nation, but I was happy with the approach our players took. We gave a great effort and really enjoyed ourselves."

    Siena actually out-hit the high-powered Huskies in the first game, but fell 30-21 after committing five service errors. The game was as close as 20-16 before Washington scored the next five points to take command, 25-16.

    Nadiege Honore had three of her team-high nine kills in the first game for the Saints.

    "Washington was very consistent," Honore said. "They adjusted well to what we were doing, but we felt like we were right there and the outcome could have been different if we had done some things differently."

    The two teams traded points for the first third of the second game with the Huskies clinging to an 11-9 lead after a Christie Gustafson kill. Washington scored eight of the next 10 points, building a 19-11 lead following four straight points off the service of Candace Lee.

    The Huskies built a 9-5 lead in the third game, but the Saints stormed back to score the next four points and tie the game behind the serving of Kathi Kobayashi. Kobayashi was perhaps the best player on the court for Siena on this night, consistently passing the ball from her libero post off the Huskies' service to setter April London with great precision.

     

     

    The Huskies put the third game away by scoring nine straight points after Kobayashi's ace had tied the game at 9-9.

    Siena did a nice job controlling Pac-10 player of the Year Sanja Tomasevic, who finished the match with nine kills in 24 attacks (.174). Alesha Dessing and Brie Haggerty added seven kills a piece in a winning effort.

    "Siena was a very good team," Washington head coach Jim McLaughlin said. "I like what (Coach Pierre) is doing. They make you play. They don't make a lot of errors and they dig well."

    Gustafson checked in with seven kills and 10 digs for Siena. Seniors Christa Glenn and Liz Hubbard each had five in the final match of their careers. Setter April London collected 28 assists and killed three of her nine attacks.

    "We were very excited to be here," Gustafson said. "We had a great season and we expect great things when we take the court. The good thing is, we are very young, and now we have the experience of playing at this level. The future looks bright."

    Notes: This was the first NCAA appearance for the Siena volleyball team since 1995...With an enrollment of 2,900 Siena was the smallest school in this year's field of 64...Washington advances to play the winner of Colorado vs. Colorado State in the Second Round Saturday at 7:30 Mountain Time.

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