Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Houston Baptist
WSU downs Houston Baptist 3-0 in season opener
8/27/2016 2:07:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, TX – Weber State women's volleyball team started the 2016 season off right with a 3-0 win over Houston Baptist University Friday night.
"Houston Baptist is a really good team," head coach Jeremiah Larsen said. "For us to be able to do as well as did is a testament to all the hard work our kids have put in since January. I am so happy for these women but we haven't arrive. There is still a lot of work to do and we need to continually get better every day."
The Wildcats started the first set off by going on a 6-2 run and then scored the next five points uncontested. Weber State just kept pushing the momentum and ended the first set with a 25-16 score.
HBU found a groove at the beginning of the second set as they stuck with the Wildcats at a tie score of 7-7. Weber State went on a 5-0 run that gave them the energy they needed to finish out the second set strong. A service ace by freshman Aubrey Saunders gave the 'Cats the final point claiming the second set with a 25-15 score.
Weber State had a 2-0 lead going into the third set of play.
The Wildcats showed no mercy in the third set and pushed to the end with a 25-19 score giving WSU the overall 3-0 victory. The Huskies 19 points in the third set was the most they had allowed the entire game. This was also the first time since 1998 the Wildcats won a season opener in just three sets and the first time since 2014 that they have won a season opener.
WSU had double figure kills and hit solid percentages in each set. The third set was the best of the night for percentages as the Wildcats hit .357.
Weber State had two Wildcats hit in double figures, freshman Rylin Roberts had the match high with 13 kills and 34 attacks and only one error for a .353 hitting percentage. Junior Amanda Varley also had double figure kills with 10 and 24 attacks.
Junior Taylor Kinikini had a double double on the night with 30 assists and 10 digs. Jesse Hover had the match high of 13 digs. Gneiting also put up a good show with three service aces. Senior Megan Thompson led the Wildcats in blocking on the night with 7 total on the night.
The Wildcats had 36 kills and 94 attacks to the Huskies 31 kills and 107 attacks. Weber State finished the match with a .287 percentage and HBU finished with a .056 percentage. The two teams were almost even in digs as WSU had 44 and HBU had 43. The Wildcats out blocked the Huskies 21-4.
Houston Baptist didn't have anyone with double figure kills but Ashlee Vann and Melissa Fuchs each had eight for the match high.
"We don't have a lot of time to enjoy this win because we play a really good Houston team in the morning," Larsen said.
WSU is now 1-0 on the season and will have two more matches at the Houston Marriott Westchase Invitational taking on Houston tomorrow morning and Louisiana tomorrow night. Big Sky Conference play will start Sept. 23 against Sacramento State in the first home match of the season.
