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UW Volleyball has eye on being a national powerhouse

The University of Washington volleyball team might have surprised a few teams last season, but it won`t sneak up on anyone this fall. UW served notice a year ago that it has a program with which to be reckoned when it won the Pac-10 championship for the first time and finished third in the NCAA Tournament. The respect the Huskies earned is still evident: They start the season as the nation`s No. 2 team.

"We`re in a spot everyone wants to be," junior All-American setter Courtney Thompson, a Kentlake High product, said Wednesday during the team`s annual media day. "It`s a challenge, but that`s OK. We`ll get everyone`s best effort. That will make us better and help us in the end."

The Huskies open the season this weekend, playing host to the Husky Challenge at Bank of America Arena in the Hec Edmundson Pavilion. UW faces Gardner-Webb Friday and Montana State on Saturday. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. Wyoming also is participating in the tournament.