Huskies ready for Gaels

NCAA Championship dreams continue tonight as the Washington volleyball team faces St. Mary's in the Sweet Sixteen at 7:30 p.m. in Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

"We got through last weekend and we don't really talk about it anymore," senior Sanja Tomasevic said of the team's tough victory against Kansas last Saturday. "Right now, we are trying to improve where we left off last week"

The No. 7 seed Huskies (26-2 overall) battle the No. 10 seed Gaels, that is in the tournament for the second time in school history. The winner plays either UCLA or Penn State in the Elite Eight Saturday.

Coach Jim McLaughlin sees the matchup pitting a pair of teams with similar styles against each other

"They are a lot like we are," he said. "There are going to be some familiar tendencies, which I think helps us, but maybe it helps them a little bit too; I don't know," he said.

The UW defeated Idaho in straight sets in the first round before going five games with Kansas and pulling out the victory.

The tough win over the Jayhawks helped the Huskies focus on the rest of the tournament.

"It makes us really look at the things we need to improve upon," McLaughlin said. "We didn't meet our standards, but we found a way to win, and we were good when our backs were against the wall."

With a trip to the Final Four just two wins away, the Huskies are trying to stay focused on the matches this weekend.

"If we don't win, then we are done," junior Brie Hagerty said. "We want to make it to the Final Four but we have to win, and St. Mary's is a good team so all we are concerned about is St. Mary's and playing our game."

St. Mary's (25-3) defeated Sacramento State and California in the first two rounds to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Those two wins marked the first two tournament victories in school history.

Lindsey Bogason leads St. Mary's offense with 3.68 kills per game (kpg) while Kaui Salzman adds 3.33 kpg. The No. 10 seed Gaels finished second in the WCC this season with a 12-2 conference mark.

For the Huskies, Tomasevic led the UW with 40 kills in the two matches last weekend, including a .525 hitting percentage against the Vandals. Hagerty had 37 kills while hitting .298 for the weekend.

Washington's offense will rely heavily on sophomore setter Courtney Thompson. She is second in the nation in assists with 14.70 per game.

The UW defense is anchored by junior libero Candace Lee, who is averaging 5.71 digs per game.

With two wins separating them from their first Final Four ever, the Huskies know this is a golden chance they cannot let slip away.

"Last year, when we lost to Minnesota that was when it hit us that we could have played in the Final Four," Tomasevic said. "We have a great opportunity in front of us and I hope that we can grab it."