Whatcom County will be following closely when the University of Washington volleyball team opens their season Friday. After making the Pac-12 All-Freshman team last year, former Lynden Christian High School star Kara Bajema, begins her sophomore season.

Expectations are high for the Huskies who enter the season ranked 3rd in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll. Washington starts off playing host to Pittsburgh at 6:00pm. On Saturday, the Dawgs host ninth-ranked Creighton.

UW Husky sophomore outside hitter Kara Bajema. Photo: Red
Box Pictures Courtesy  of UW Athletics 

Bajema returns to a squad that won the Pac-12 championship and made it to the Elite Eight last season. The outside hitter/middle blocker out of Lynden started and played in 32 of 34 matches in 2016.  She lead the team with a .356 attack percentage, earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors.

2017 University of Washington volleyball squad. Photo: Red Box
Pictures. Courtesy of UW Athletics

Washington returns all six starters from last year, including senior All-Americans Crissy Jones, Courtney Schwan, and Bailey Tanner.

(KPUG – Doug Lange; Information from gohuskies.com used in this story)