Washington U. Dominates UCSD : Volleyball: Bears beat Tritons, 15-11, 15-9, 15-7 to win Division III title and finish 40-0.

UC San Diego, making its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III women’s volleyball final, was nothing more than the final rung on Washington University’s ladder to perfection Saturday.

The Bears cruised past UCSD 15-11, 15-9, 15-7, for the third consecutive time this year to capture their second straight national title.

The top-ranked Bears also capped a 40-0 season, the first time Coach Teri Clemens has ever directed an undefeated team and the first time since 1956 that any volleyball team has finished a season without a loss.

“It’s a pretty awesome feeling when you think about it,” Clemens said. “It’s sweet. Really sweet.”

Although UCSD went into last year’s final with Washington as the top-ranked team and was upset in four games, the Bears left little doubt as to who was boss this season.

“Wash U. is just a lot better than we are, and there is really no question about that,” Triton Coach Doug Dannevik said. “They’ve got it all, and when they don’t make mistakes, they just don’t lose.”

The Bears made few, if any, mistakes Saturday night, and Dannevik quickly found out it was only a matter of time until Washington had successfully defended its national title.

“We hoped to be able to get into their heads and make them think a little bit, but we couldn’t do it,” Dannevik said. “They came out and did everything they always do, and that’s why they finished 40-0.”

UCSD played well early in the opening game as both teams appeared to be feeling each other out.

“We played as well as we could play early in the first game, and we were able to hang in there with them,” Dannevik said.

But the Bears quickly got on track with six straight points to lead 12-6 before closing out the 15-11 first-game victory.

Things quickly went downhill for the Tritons after that as the Bears’ All-American trio of Amy Albers, Lisa Becker and Amy Sullivan took over. Add to that the 13 kills and 10 digs of second team All-American Anne Quenette, and the Bears were overpowering.

“They were too big, too strong and too athletic for us,” Dannevik said. “But I’m very proud of this team because we weren’t supposed to do anything with no starters returning, and we wind up going to the finals again.”

Outside hitters Laura Kranz and Julie Harvey led the Tritons with seven kills apiece, and middle blockers Kristi Askeland and Jennifer Cross added six apiece.

Askeland was named to the all-tournament team with Albers, Becker, Quenette, Stony Brook’s Stasia Nikas and Calvin College’s Betsy Wilgenburg.

“I was surprised and very happy at the same time,” Askeland said. “It’s quite an honor for me.”

In addition to the perfect record, the Bears also sported a 120-6 record in games played, a statistic that further illustrated their Division III dominance.