#12 Washington Knocks Off #17 Creighton Volleyball For Bluejay Invitational Title

OMAHA, Neb. -- No. 12 Washington defeated No. 17 Creighton Volleyball in four sets to win the Bluejay Invitational Presented by Embassy Suites - Downtown/Old Market, on Saturday, Sept. 14 in Omaha, Neb. The contest was a rematch of a Second Round match from the 2018 NCAA Tournament that was also played in Omaha.

Scores of the match in UW's favor were 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-19. Washington improved to 7-1, while Creighton is now 5-3.

Washington's Kara Bajema was named MVP of the Tournament. Creighton's Erica Kostelac and Brittany Witt were also recognized.

Washington surrendered the first point of the match, but would not trail again during the first two sets. UW served up five aces in the opening frame, including two each from Samantha Drechsel and Claire Hoffman, and hit .323 with Hoffman adding five kills.

Washington opened up a 17-8 lead in the second set while siding out on 14-of-18 chances. A kill from Bajema, her fifth of the game, gave UW the 25-17 set two win to take the momentum into the locker room.

Creighton avoided the sweep by overcoming a 16-12 deficit late in the third set. Brittany Witt served up a 5-0 run, including consecutive aces, to give CU a 19-17 lead. Keeley Davis' fourth kill of the set forced a fourth set, and came on Madelyn Cole's 14th assist of the third game.

Washington took the lead for the final time in the fourth set, using a 4-0 surge on Bajema's serve to open up a 7-5 lead. CU drew within two points at 14-12 before UW slowly pulled away to improve to 5-0 all-time inside D.J. Sokol Arena. Washington hit .323 in the fourth set compared to a .119 mark from the hosts.

Bajema and Hoffman each tallied 16 kills and combined for 19 digs. Ella May Powell had 45 assists and 11 digs, and Shayne McPherson added 16 digs. The Huskies hit .325 with 53 kills, nine aces, 56 digs and nine blocks.

Creighton was paced by 14 kills from Davis, 12 by Jaela Zimmerman and 11 from Kostelac. Witt topped CU with 16 digs and added three aces. Creighton had 54 kills, five aces, 49 digs and four blocks on .213 hitting.

The Bluejays remain at home next week when it hosts the Creighton Classic. The event starts on Thursday with a 6:30 p.m. match vs. Wichita State. Wichita State then faces Wyoming on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. before the tourney wraps up at 1 p.m. on Saturday when CU hosts Wyoming to close out non-conference action.

2019 Bluejay Invitational Summary
September 13-14, 2019 – Omaha, Neb.

Final Standings
1. #12 Washington                          3-0
2. #17 Creighton                              2-1
3. Nebraska-Omaha                        1-2
4. Drake                                             0-3

Match Scores
Friday, September 13, 2019
#12 Washington def. Drake, 3-0 (25-14, 30-28, 25-19)
#17 Creighton def. Nebraska-Omaha, 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-22)

Saturday, September 14, 2019
#12 Washington def. Nebraska-Omaha, 3-1 (25-15, 25-20, 19-25, 25-22)
#17 Creighton def. Drake, 3-1 (25-17, 25-18, 23-25, 25-9)
Nebraska-Omaha def. Drake, 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-21)
#12 Washington def. #17 Creighton, 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-19)

All-Tournament Team
Kara Bajema, Washington (MVP)
Ella May Powell, Washington
Claire Hoffman, Washington
Erica Kostelac, Creighton
Brittany Witt, Creighton
Claire Mountjoy, Nebraska-Omaha
Haley Bush, Drake

Bluejay Invitational Records Broken or Tied
None

#12 Washington Knocks Off #17 Creighton Volleyball For Bluejay Invitational Title

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Team Stats

Keeley Davis

Jaela Zimmerman

Erica Kostelac

Naomi Hickman

Players Mentioned

Madelyn Cole

Keeley Davis

Erica Kostelac

Brittany Witt

Jaela Zimmerman

Players Mentioned

Madelyn Cole

Keeley Davis

Erica Kostelac

Brittany Witt

Jaela Zimmerman