With the shutout, the Bears kept at their best start since the 2016 season.

“I believe and this team believes that we can win a championship this year,” sophomore Abhi Ramireddy said.

As the end of the regular season quickly approaches, Washington University volleyball is in a position to enter the playoffs either through the conference’s automatic bid or by the grace of an at-large bid, thanks to the team’s No. 16 national ranking.

OUTLOOK: What has been a disappointing season thus far for Washington University’s volleyball team can be salvaged with a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. But if the No. 11 Bears fail to win their regional and advance to the national quarterfinals, it will be their third straight year of elimination in the first weekend—the first such occurrence in program history.

The sweet taste of revenge seemed so close for the Washington University football team early in the fourth quarter Saturday at No. 9 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. But in 10 minutes, the Bears’ visions of an upset were shattered by 17 unanswered Whitewater points, leading to a 17-7 loss in the season opener. A year ago, Wash. U. suffered a 34-0 to the then-No.

Kicking off the season with high hopes to win the University Athletic Association title and make it to the playoffs, the Washington University football team prepares for the season opener against No. 1 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The team will make its first appearance on Friday at 8:30 p.m.