Rowland is UW-bound

Published 7:04 am Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Bianca Rowland always had the drive, the talent, smarts and pedigree to be a Washington Husky.

This summer her dreams became reality when she verbally committed to play volleyball for the University of Washington starting in the fall of 2008. She’ll be on a full-ride athletic scholarship.

The much-admired Husky women and their equally admired coach Jim McLaughlin put women’s volleyball on the map in Seattle with their first Pac-10 championship in 2004, a national championship in 2005 and final four appearance last fall.

Rowland, a senior at King’s High School, can’t wait to be a part of it. Husky coaches came to watch her play on her club team last year. When the Huskies offered her a spot after a June visit, the decision was easy.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to go there,” she said. “I’m really excited to be coached by Jim McLaughlin.”

Rowland’s dad, Ron, played running back for the Huskies from 1976 to 1978 and graduated in 1981. Her mom, Willie, was a Husky cheerleader.

Rowland, who stands 6-feet tall, has played middle blocker and outside hitter for King’s, but her future with the Huskies is as a hitter, she said.

While the Huskies are her future, Rowland is focused on her goals for the upcoming school year: helping the Knights volleyball and basketball teams win state 1A titles.

King’s finished third last year in volleyball, losing to eventual champion Colfax in the semifinals. The basketball team lost to Colfax in the championship.

The Knights know they’ll likely face Colfax again in both sports if they contend for a title. It’s something they’ve talked about since last year, Rowland said.

King’s probably has its best shot at a championship in volleyball.

“I think we’re going to be really strong this year,” Rowland said. “Everybody has improved.”

In her second year at King’s, things are much more settled for Rowland this year than last.

Last year she had to appeal to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to get her hardship transfer eligibility approved before she could play in matches. Rowland, a Lynnwood resident, previously went to Mountlake Terrace, but would have had to attend Lynnwood before she decided to transfer. Unlike last year when her first match came on Oct. 10 against Archbishop Murphy, she’s expected to be in uniform for the Knights when they travel to Yakima for the SunDome Festival Sept. 7.

“I think she’s going to be much more of an impact player than she was last season,” King’s volleyball coach Steve Bain said. “I think this year she’ll hit the ground running.”

With a future Husky contributing to an already strong King’s lineup, anything is possible for the Knights this season, even beating Colfax.